Should Gift Cards Be ADA Compliant? Courts Aren’t Sure
A series of lawsuits seek to make gift cards accessible to the blind.
So thoughtful of you.
Photographer: Bloomberg/BloombergIn this season of giving, nothing says I-waited-until-the-last-minute-and-didn’t-have-time-to-think-seriously-about-what-to-get like a gift card. In both their solid and virtual forms, the cards have become a ubiquitous sign of the holiday season. But does the law require that they be available in braille?
That’s the theory of a recent flurry of lawsuits arguing that the popular stocking stuffers are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Although the legal and practical issues are complex, and merchants warn of the expense, the lawsuits carry a certain egalitarian appeal. They also raise important questions about Christmas itself — and the evolution in how we give gifts.