A new class action lawsuit alleges that a major grooming products company’s website denies equal access to blind and visually impaired consumers, raising questions about digital accessibility requirements under federal law. The suit was filed by Kenneth Henderson on March 20, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Wahl Clipper Corporation.
According to the complaint, Henderson is legally blind and requires screen-reading software to access online content. He claims that Wahl Clipper Corporation’s website, https://wahlusa.com, is not designed or maintained in a way that allows him or other visually impaired individuals to independently navigate or complete purchases. The filing states, “Defendant is denying blind and visually impaired individuals throughout the United States equal access to the goods and services Defendant provides to their non-disabled customers through the Website.”
The complaint outlines several specific barriers encountered by Henderson while attempting to shop for shaving products on the site. These include incorrectly formatted lists, ambiguous link texts, inaccessible drop-down menus, lack of alternative text for images, improper keyboard navigation order, device-specific functionality requiring mouse use, and insufficient prompts or labels for online forms. Henderson reports that these issues prevented him from browsing product categories logically or completing a transaction without assistance from a sighted person.
Henderson argues that these obstacles violate Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability in places of public accommodation. The lawsuit asserts that websites serving as commercial platforms must be accessible to all users regardless of visual ability: “Unless Defendant remedies the numerous access barriers on its Website, Henderson and Class Members will continue to be unable to independently navigate, browse, use, and complete a purchase on the Website.”
The filing references guidelines established by organizations such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), specifically version 2.2 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2), as well as standards promulgated under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. These guidelines recommend features like alternative text for images, keyboard-accessible navigation elements, descriptive links, accessible forms, and logical focus order for interactive components—all measures intended to make websites usable by those relying on assistive technologies.
Henderson’s complaint details his personal experience attempting to purchase grooming products from Wahlusa.com on January 26, 2026. He describes encountering navigation problems due to sub-menus that could not be accessed via keyboard commands and illogical tab order that made browsing difficult: “Focus moved illogically between elements… This caused confusion and made it difficult for him to browse and filter products.” Henderson also notes an interest in returning to the site if accessibility improvements are made.
The suit seeks certification as a nationwide class action representing all legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted but been unable to access goods or services through Wahlusa.com during the relevant statutory period. Common legal questions identified include whether defendant’s website qualifies as a place of public accommodation under federal law and whether it denies full enjoyment of goods or services in violation of ADA requirements.
In addition to declaratory relief confirming defendant’s obligations under federal law, Henderson requests preliminary and permanent injunctions requiring Wahl Clipper Corporation to bring its website into compliance with ADA standards so it becomes fully accessible for visually impaired users. The complaint also asks for compensatory damages on behalf of affected class members who have experienced unlawful discrimination.
The legal action further alleges intentional discrimination by maintaining an inaccessible website despite knowledge of potential harm: “Defendant engaged in acts of intentional discrimination… constructed and maintained a website that is inaccessible… failed to take actions to correct these access barriers in the face of substantial harm.”
Henderson is represented by Alison Chan of Equal Access Law Group PLLC. The case number is 1:26-cv-3129.
Source: 126cv03129_Kenneth_Henderson_v_Wahl_Clipper_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf