On Monday, the United States Supreme Court will be considering whether or not disability rights activists can sue hotels for disability-related discrimination even if they are unable to book a reservation after conducting an online search. This decision will have far reaching implications for many businesses and people with disabilities in the United States.
At the center of the legal argument is the Web Accessibility Initiative from the U.S. Department of Justice, which set new rules in 2016 that require public entities such as hotels, apartment complexes, and medical facilities to provide accessible online services for disabled citizens. Although the rule was put in place to protect the rights of those with disabilities to be able to access equal services, there are currently several cases in different jurisdictions that are testing whether this rule applies in situations where individuals have the intent to book a reservation but are unable to do so, due to an inaccessible website.
If the Supreme Court rules that disability rights activists can sue for discrimination in such a situation, it could open the door for other types of intent-based actions, such as those related to race, gender, or sexual orientation. These could also lead to legal action in cases where online searches for rental properties, apartments, and other services make it difficult or impossible for some groups of people to seek the service they need.
This ruling will also have a great impact on businesses, who may need to update their websites to comply with federal accessibility guidelines in order to avoid facing legal action. This could mean substantial changes for many businesses in how they market and conduct online searches, and the potential legal costs that they may have to incur for violations.
What is certain is that this landmark case will affect the legal rights and obligations of not only disability rights activists but businesses and individuals nationwide, so all eyes will be on the Supreme Court as they make their decision.
