A visually impaired woman has taken legal action against a popular bagel company, alleging that its website is inaccessible to those who rely on screen-reading software. Tanisia Bowman filed a class-action complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 20, 2026, accusing Gotham Bagels, Inc. of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to make its website accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals.
Bowman, who requires screen-reading software to navigate online content due to her visual impairment, claims that Gotham Bagels’ website presents significant barriers that prevent her and others from independently accessing the goods and services offered. According to the complaint, these barriers include a lack of alternative text for images, inaccessible forms, and navigation elements that are not compatible with keyboard-only use. “The access barriers make it impossible for blind and visually-impaired users to even complete a transaction on the Website,” Bowman states in her filing.
The lawsuit highlights that approximately 8.1 million people in the United States are visually impaired, with around 260,000 residing in Illinois alone. Despite readily available technology that can make websites accessible, such as alternative text and resizable text options used by other retail websites, Gotham Bagels allegedly relies on an exclusively visual interface without meaningful accommodations for screen-reader users.
Bowman seeks a permanent injunction requiring Gotham Bagels to modify its website policies and practices to ensure accessibility for blind and visually-impaired consumers. She also demands compensatory damages for herself and other class members who have faced discrimination due to these accessibility issues.
In addition to injunctive relief and damages, Bowman requests declaratory relief affirming that Gotham Bagels’ website violates federal law by denying equal access to visually impaired individuals. The complaint emphasizes the importance of web accessibility as a fundamental aspect of modern commerce and daily living for all individuals.
Represented by Michael Ohrenberger of Equal Access Law Group PLLC, Bowman aims to secure justice not only for herself but also for others similarly affected by digital accessibility barriers. The case is presided over by judges at the Northern District of Illinois under Case No.: 1:26-cv-1926.
Source: 126cv01926_Tanisia_Bowman_v_Gotham_Bagels_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf