A new lawsuit claims that a major online retailer’s website excludes blind and visually impaired individuals from independently accessing its products and services, raising questions about compliance with federal disability law. The complaint was filed by Lisa Anderson on March 16, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Miss Amara, Inc.
According to the court filing, Anderson is legally blind and relies on screen-reading software to navigate websites. She alleges that Missamara.com, operated by Miss Amara, Inc., contains significant access barriers that prevent her and other visually impaired individuals from fully using the site. The complaint states that these barriers violate Anderson’s rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying equal access to goods and services offered through the website.
The lawsuit describes several specific issues encountered by Anderson while attempting to shop for a rug on Missamara.com. On November 3, 2025, she tried to make an online purchase but was unable to complete it due to inaccessible features. These included ambiguous or non-descriptive link texts, identical alternative text for different product images, lack of confirmation messages after adding items to the cart, and interactive elements without proper labels or state announcements for screen readers. As a result, Anderson could not determine if her actions were successful or obtain necessary information about products.
The complaint details how such access barriers force visually impaired customers to rely on sighted assistance or shop at traditional stores instead of independently using online platforms. It also notes that accessible technology is available and used by other retail websites but has not been implemented by Miss Amara. The filing cites guidelines established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), known as WCAG 2.2, which provide standards for web accessibility widely adopted by businesses and government agencies.
Anderson argues that Missamara.com’s design choices—such as requiring mouse use for transactions—exclude those who cannot use a mouse due to visual impairment. She contends this exclusion violates both state and federal laws intended to ensure equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in public accommodations.
The legal action seeks certification as a nationwide class action representing all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access Missamara.com but were denied full enjoyment of its goods and services during the relevant statutory period. Common questions identified include whether the website qualifies as a “public accommodation” under the ADA and whether it denies equal enjoyment of goods or services based on disability.
Anderson requests several forms of relief from the court: a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting further violations of the ADA; an order requiring Miss Amara to bring its website into full compliance with accessibility requirements; declaratory judgment confirming that current practices are discriminatory; certification of a class action; pre- and post-judgment interest; costs; attorneys’ fees; expert fees; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The complaint emphasizes that unless changes are made, Anderson—and others similarly situated—will continue to be deterred from accessing or purchasing from Missamara.com independently. It asserts that these alleged violations are ongoing and have caused concrete harm including emotional distress.
Lisa Anderson is represented by Alison Chan of Equal Access Law Group PLLC. The case number is 1:26-cv-2949.
Source: 126cv02949_Lisa_Anderson_v_Miss_Amara_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
