A visually-impaired plaintiff has filed a class action lawsuit against a company for failing to make its website accessible to blind users, raising significant concerns about digital accessibility and equal rights. On November 12, 2025, Dustin Youngren filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Stasher, Inc., alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The lawsuit highlights that Youngren, who is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate websites, encountered numerous barriers when attempting to use Stasher’s website, stasherbag.com. These barriers include ambiguous link texts, inaccessible forms, and reliance on mouse navigation which is not compatible with screen readers. As a result, Youngren was unable to complete transactions independently on the site. The complaint underscores that approximately 8.1 million people in the U.S. are visually impaired and emphasizes the necessity for websites to be designed inclusively.
Youngren argues that Stasher’s failure to provide an accessible website constitutes discrimination under both state and federal law. The ADA mandates equal access to public accommodations, including websites offering goods and services. Despite available technology and established guidelines like WCAG 2.2 for web accessibility, Stasher has not implemented necessary changes to ensure their site is usable by visually impaired individuals.
The plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction requiring Stasher to modify its website policies and practices so it becomes fully accessible to blind consumers. Additionally, Youngren requests compensatory damages for those affected by this alleged discrimination and seeks certification of the case as a class action representing all similarly situated individuals.
Represented by attorney Michael Ohrenberger from Equal Access Law Group PLLC, Youngren aims for systemic change through this legal action. The case ID is 1:25-cv-13862.
Source: 125cv13862_Dustin_Youngren_v_Stasher_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
