Higher Ed Accessibility Lawsuits, Complaints, and Settlements

Higher educational institutions face liability for inaccessible web content and technologies.

Atlantic Cape Community College (ACCC)

Atlantic Cape Community College Consent Decree (PDF)
Atlantic-Cape Community College Accused By Activists Of Discriminating The Blind - Bruce Gordon
National Federation of the Blind and Two Blind Students Resolve Complaint Against Atlantic Cape Community College - National Federation of the Blind
ACCC Press Release (PDF) - Dan Goldstein and Trevor Coe
Blind Students' Lawsuit Leads to Big Changes at N.J. County College - Kelly Heyboer

Arizona State University

Arizona State Settlement Agreement - A.D.A.
Advocates for the Blind Sue Arizona State U. Over Kindle Use - Marc Beja
Colleges Lock Out Blind Students Online - Marc Parry
Lawsuit Over Kindle Navigation by Visually Impaired Settled - Jacqui Cheng

California Community Colleges State Audit

California Community Colleges State Audit (PDF)

Capella University/WebCT (La Marca v. Capella University)

Capella U. Settles Lawsuit Against Former Student - Brock Read
Lawsuit Charges Online University Does Not Accommodate Learning-Disabled Students - Dan Carnevale
Web CT Criticisms - Wikipedia

Case Western Reserve University

Complaint Filed Against Case Western Reserve University - Reading Rights
Case Western Reserve University Letter of Resolution - U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

Finlandia University

Letter of Disposition to Rev. Dr. Philip Johnson President Finlandia University (PDF) - Office for Civil Rights
Resolution Agreement Finlandia University (PDF) - Office for Civil Rights

Florida State University

$150,000 Settlement Reached in Blind Florida State Students’ E-Learning Suit - Marc Parry
Blind Florida State U. Students Sue Over E-Learning Systems - Jie Jenny Zou
Blind Students Sue Florida State University over Inaccessible Math Courses - Steve Noble
Florida State University Resolves Litigation with Students - National Federation of the Blind
Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Florida State University - Department of Justice
Settlement Agreement Between The United States Of America And Florida State University Dj No. 205-17-13 - ADA

Harvard

Statement of Interest of the United States of America (PDF) - Department of Justice
Complaint Against Harvard (PDF)
- Report and Recommendation Denying MIT’s Motion to Dismiss/Stay (PDF)
Deaf Advocates Sue Harvard, MIT For Better Webcast Captions - Kurt Orzeck
Harvard & MIT Sued Over Lack of Captions - Tim Lohman
- Harvard and MIT Face Lawsuit for Lack of Online Captioning - Dian Schaffhauser
Harvard and M.I.T. Are Sued Over Failing to Caption Online Courses - Tamar Lewin
NAD Lawsuit Against Harvard and MIT Moves Forward, Obligation to Ensure Equal Treatment Applies in Emerging Technologies - Jean Peterson
NAD Sues Harvard and MIT for Discrimination in Public Online Content - National Association of the Deaf
United States Reaches Settlement with Provider of Massive Open Online Courses to Make its Content Accessible to the Disabled - Department of Justice
- edX to Improve Access to MOOCs for People With Disabilities (CHE) - Ryan C. Fowler
- EdX Settles Inaccessible Online Courses Case - Tim Lohman
- edX Settlement Agreement (PDF)

Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)

Law School Admission Council Settlement Agreement
Blind Students Sue Over Online Law School Applications - Adrian Roselli
Blind Students Sue Law Schools Over Online Applications - Sophia Li
LSAC Agrees To Pay Over $9 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Testing Accommodations And Commits To Substantial Injunctive Relief - Seyfarth Shaw
LSAC Inaccessible Web Lawsuit - Cynthia Waddell

Louisiana Tech University

Los Angeles Community College District

National Federation of the Blind and Two Blind Students File Suit Against Los Angeles Community College District - The National Federation of the Blind New!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Statement of Interest of the United States of America in MIT Case (PDF) - Department of Justice
Complaint Against MIT (PDF)
- Report and Recommendation Denying MIT’s Motion to Dismiss/Stay (PDF)
Deaf Advocates Sue Harvard, MIT For Better Webcast Captions - Kurt Orzeck
Harvard & MIT Sued over Lack of Captions - Tim Lohman
Harvard and MIT Face Lawsuit for Lack of Online Captioning - Dian Schaffhauser
Harvard and M.I.T. Are Sued Over Failing to Caption Online Courses - Tamar Lewin
NAD Lawsuit Against Harvard and MIT Moves Forward, Obligation to Ensure Equal Treatment Applies in Emerging Technologies - Jean Peterson
NAD Sues Harvard and MIT for Discrimination in Public Online Content - National Association of the Deaf
United States Reaches Settlement with Provider of Massive Open Online Courses to Make its Content Accessible to the Disabled - Department of Justice
- edX to Improve Access to MOOCs for People With Disabilities (CHE) - Ryan C. Fowler
- edX Settlement Agreement (PDF

McNeese State University

McNeese State University Settlement Agreement

Mesa Community College and Maricopa

Mesa Community College and Maricopa Community Lawsuit (PDF)

Miami University (Ohio)

Miami University et al. Consent Decree (PDF) - Department of Justice
Miami University Agrees to Overhaul Critical Technologies to Settle Disability Discrimination Lawsuit - Department of Justice
ADA Lawsuit Settlement Compels Miami University to Make Digital Content Accessible - Emily Griffin
Blind Student Settles Suit Against Miami University - Associated Press
Complaint Against Miami U (PDF) - Department of Justice
Motion to Intervene: Miami U (PDF) - Department of Justice
Blind Student Files Discrimination Suit Against Miami University - National Federation of the Blind
Blind Student Sues Miami University over Alleged Discrimination - Maxim Alter
Complaint: Aleeha Dudley Plaintiff Miami University, And Dr. David C. Hodge, in his official capacity as President of Miami University, Defendant (PDF) - National Federation of the Blind
Justice Department Moves to Intervene in Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Alleging that Miami University Uses Inaccessible Educational Technologies and Course Materials - Department of Justice
Miami University Reaches Justice Department Consent Decree to Improve Technology Access for Students with Disabilities - Karen Farkas

Mt Hood Community College

Mt. Hood Community College Investigation (PDF) - Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Mt Hood Community College Settlement Agreement (PDF) - OCR

New York University

Letter of Complaint to New York University (PDF) - National Federation of the Blind
Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the Blind - National Federation of the Blind of Greater Louisville
As Schools Shift to Google Apps, Blind Students Object - Mark Jaycox
Colleges Discriminate Against the Blind With Google Apps, Advocates Say - Marc Parry
Exclusion of Google Docs Avoids ADA Challenges - Columbia Spectator
Google Apps Inaccessible To Blind Students
NFB: Google Apps Accessibility Not There Yet - Jarret Cummings
NFB Google Apps Concerns Continue - Jarret Cummings
- Google Response on NFB Google Apps Concerns - Jarret Cumming

Northwestern University

Letter of Complaint to Northwestern University (PDF) - National Federation of the Blind
Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the Blind - National Federation of the Blind of Greater Louisville
As Schools Shift to Google Apps, Blind Students Object - Mark Jaycox
Colleges Discriminate Against the Blind With Google Apps, Advocates Say - Marc Parry
Exclusion of Google Docs Avoids ADA Challenges - Columbia Spectator
Google Apps Inaccessible To Blind Students
NFB: Google Apps Accessibility Not There Yet - Jarret Cummings
NFB Google Apps Concerns Continue - Jarret Cummings
- Google Response on NFB Google Apps Concerns - Jarret Cumming

Ohio State

Ohio State University Consent Decree (PDF) - United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Deaf Sports Fan Files Complaint against Ohio State University - National Association of the Deaf
Deaf Fan Sues Ohio State University
Score for Accessibility: OSU to Provide In-Stadium Captions - National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

Pace University

Pace University Complaint - Reading Rights
Pace University Letter of Resolution - U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

Princeton University

Princeton University Letter of Resolution - U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
Princeton University Complaint - Reading Rights

Penn State University

National Federation of the Blind Files Complaint Against Penn State - National Federation of the Blind
Compliant Filed Against Penn State Regarding Web Accessibility - Michael Fiend
Penn State Accused of Discriminating Against Blind Students - Marc Parry
NFB and Penn State Resolve U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Complaint - Educause
Settlement Between Penn State University and National Federation of the Blind - Pennsylvania State University

Reed College

Reed College Complaint - Reading Rights
Reed College Letter of Resolution

South Carolina Technical College System

Civil Rights Agreement Reached with South Carolina Technical College System on Accessibility of Websites to People with Disabilities
Dear Colleague Letter - Department of Justice, Office of Civil Rights
Joint "Dear Colleague" Letter: Electronic Book Readers - Department of Justice and U. S. Department of Education
Compliance Review South Carolina Technical College System - U. S. Department of Education
Resolution Agreement South Carolina Technical College System OCR Compliance Review No. 11 - 11 - 6002 (PDF) - U. S. Department of Education

University of California Berkeley

University of California at Berkeley Letter of Findings (PDF) - Department of Justice
- A Statement on Online Course Content and Accessibility - Public Affairs, UC Berkeley
- Berkeley Will Delete Online Content - Carl Straumsheim New!
- Campus announces restriction of public access to educational content - Revati Thatte New!
- Some Tough Love: Stop the Excuses, Already - Karl Groves
- University May Remove Online Content to Avoid Disability Law - Scott Jaschik
- Faculty Response to DOJ Online Access Response - The Faculty Coalition for Disability Rights at UC Berkeley
- DOJ vs. UC Berkeley: Forcing Online Content to Be Accessible - Tanya Roscorla
- UC Berkeley Decision Results in Universal Inaccessibility - Cyndi Rowland New!
- UC Berkley To Remove More Than 20,000 Online Videos From Public Access In Response To DOJ Captioning Demand - Minh Vu New!
Press Release from DRA Legal for Alternate Format Services - Disability Rights Advocates
UC Berkeley Settlement Sets Precedent - Mark Miller

University of Cincinnati

University of Colorado

Digital accessibility initiative update: Department of Justice inquiry closed - University of Colorado
DOJ letter closing its investigation of the University of Colorado at Boulder (PDF)
CU-Boulder Student Seeks Accessibility Through Federal Complaint - Sarah Kuta
DOJ letter to CU-Boulder - Matt Sebastian
Chancellor's Corner: Improving our Digital Technology Accessibility - University of Colorado
Moving Ahead on ADA Technology Issues - University of Colorado
Jones appointed Chief Digital Accessibility Officer - University of Colorado
Timeline - University of Colorado

University of Kentucky

University of Maryland

Questionable Captions - Allie Grasgreen
National Association of the Deaf (NAD) lawsuit against the University of Maryland College Park
Caption lawsuit expands, plaintiffs file two additional complaints - "Along with failing to provide captioning for announcer’s comments on scoreboards and Jumbotrons, the university lacks captioning on media published on the athletic department’s website" - Annika McGinnis

University of Montana

Agreement Requires UM to Improve Accessibility - Montana Kaimin
Disabled UM Students File Complaint Over Inaccessible Online Courses - Keula Spaller
University of Montana Reaches Agreement to Develop New Accessible Technology Policies - Global Accessibility News
UM Agreement to Improve Services to Students With Disabilities - University of Montana
UM Reaches Agreement to Develop New Accessibility Policies, Disability Training - The Missoulian
University of Montana Resolution Agreement (PDF) - U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

University of Phoenix

University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

University of Virginia's Darden School of Business Letter of Resolution (PDF) - Office for Civil Rights
Darden School of Business Complaint - Reading Rights

Youngstown State University

Youngstown State University Gets Schooled by DOE for Non-Compliant Website - Bureau of Internet Accessibility
Youngstown State University Settles Federal Complaint Over Accessibility of Website for People with Disabilities - U.S. Department of Education
Youngstown State University Resolution Letter (PDF) - U.S. Department of Education
Youngstown State University Resolution Agreement (PDF) - U.S. Department of Education

Related References

IT Accessibility Risk Statements and Evidence (By Topic) - Laura Carlson
IT Accessibility Risk Statements and Evidence (PDF) - EDUCAUSE Publication
Legal Settlement Agreements that Reference WCAG - Laura Carlson
Accessibility, Accreditation and the Evolution of Digital Technologies - Heather Mariger
Accessibility Lawsuits, Complaints, and Settlements - Temple
ADA Compliance Is a ‘Major Vulnerability’ for Online Programs - Marc Parry
ADA Web Accessibility Regs Likely Just A Matter of Time - Jarret Cummings
Joint "Dear Colleague" Letter (Electronic Book Readers) - Office of Civil Rights
Legal Cases by Issue - University of Washington
Legal Costs Can be Big to Defend Inaccessible Web Content in Postsecondary Education - Linda Goetze
Legal News - Access Technology Higher Education Network (ATHEN)
Recent Legal Issues in Higher Education and Web Accessibility - Cyndi Rowland
Web Accessibility Law in Higher Education - Jonathan Whiting