A lawsuit claims that a major online retailer of gourmet snacks is failing to provide equal access to its website for blind and visually impaired customers, raising questions about compliance with federal disability laws in the digital marketplace. The complaint was filed by Tazinique Echols on March 20, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Nuts To You, Inc.
According to the court filing, Echols brings this civil rights action on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, arguing that Nuts To You, Inc.’s website (https://www.nutstoyou.com/) is not fully accessible or independently usable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The complaint alleges that this lack of accessibility denies such individuals equal access to goods and services offered through the website and constitutes a violation of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The document outlines that approximately 8.1 million people in the United States are visually impaired, including 2 million who are blind. In Illinois alone, about 260,000 individuals are visually impaired according to cited reports. Echols describes herself as legally blind and reliant on screen-reading software to navigate websites. She claims that despite advances in assistive technology and established web accessibility guidelines—such as those published by the World Wide Web Consortium (WCAG 2.2)—the defendant’s website contains significant barriers that prevent independent use by visually impaired consumers.
The complaint details several specific issues encountered by Echols while attempting to shop online at Nutstoyou.com on March 6, 2026. These include inappropriate or missing alternative text for images, improper heading hierarchies making navigation difficult, interactive elements inaccessible via keyboard controls, sub-menus dependent on mouse usage rather than keyboard navigation, search suggestions not focusable using keyboard commands, inconsistent focus order when dialogs open, carousel regions non-compliant with accessibility standards, ambiguous link texts lacking descriptive information about their destinations, redundant links leading to confusion during navigation, unexpected pop-up windows without prior warning causing disorientation, and a general requirement to use a mouse rather than allowing full keyboard interaction.
Echols asserts that these barriers effectively prevent her—and others similarly situated—from browsing products or completing purchases independently on the site. She notes that if the website were accessible according to established standards like WCAG 2.2 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, she would be able to make purchases online without assistance from sighted companions or needing to visit physical stores.
The legal arguments center around Title III of the ADA (42 U.S.C. § 12182), which prohibits discrimination based on disability in places of public accommodation—including websites offering goods and services to consumers nationwide. The complaint cites guidance from the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division stating that ADA requirements apply equally to web-based offerings from public accommodations.
Echols seeks both declaratory and injunctive relief from the court: an order requiring Nuts To You, Inc. to bring its website into compliance with ADA standards so it is readily accessible and usable by visually impaired individuals; certification of a nationwide class action comprising all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted but been denied access; compensatory damages for unlawful discrimination; pre- and post-judgment interest; costs; reasonable attorneys’ fees; expert fees; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The case is being handled by Alison Chan of Equal Access Law Group PLLC as attorney for Echols. The case number is 1:26-cv-3180.
Source: 126cv03180_Tazinique_Echols_v_Nuts_to_You_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
