Ashley Bahena, a visually-impaired individual, has filed a class action lawsuit against Riverbend Home Center, LLC, accusing the company of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to make its website accessible to blind and visually-impaired individuals. The complaint was filed on February 20, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The lawsuit highlights that Bahena and other visually-impaired individuals are unable to access and use Riverbend Home Center’s website due to significant accessibility barriers. These barriers include a lack of alternative text for images, inaccessible forms, and navigation elements that cannot be used with screen-reading software. As a result, Bahena claims she was unable to complete an online purchase independently. The complaint argues that these issues violate the ADA’s requirement for equal access to public accommodations and calls for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
Bahena’s legal team points out that there are well-established guidelines for making websites accessible, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which many businesses follow. Despite this, Riverbend Home Center allegedly failed to implement these standards on its website. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction requiring the defendant to modify its website policies and practices to ensure accessibility for blind and visually-impaired users. Additionally, Bahena is seeking compensatory damages for herself and other class members who have experienced discrimination due to these accessibility barriers.
In addition to injunctive relief and damages, Bahena requests that the court certify this case as a class action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a) & (b)(2) or (b)(3). This would allow other similarly situated individuals across the United States who have faced similar challenges accessing Riverbend Home Center’s website to join the lawsuit. Bahena is represented by attorney David B. Reyes from Equal Access Law Group, PLLC.
This case is being heard in front of Judge [Name] under Case No.: 1:26-cv-1934. It underscores ongoing legal battles regarding digital accessibility and highlights the importance of ensuring equal access for all individuals in an increasingly digital world.
Source: 126cv01934_Ashley_Bahena_v_Riverbend_Home_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
