Arizona State University (ASU) participated in a trial pilot program that provided textbooks to students via the Kindle DX, which renders electronic books into visual text. The Kindle DX has a text-to-speech function, but there is no audio option for its menus and controls. As a result, it’s inaccessible to people who are blind.

The only classes that participated in the pilot program at ASU were classes taken by Honors College students. No blind students tried to enroll in any pilot course.

ASU student Darrell Shandrow, who is blind, claimed the pilot program violated federal laws against disability discrimination. Even though he wasn’t in the Honors College, he said he had the right to sue because the school’s use of inaccessible technology made him feel unwelcome and offended him. He also claimed he had suffered an economic injury, since the school used his tuition payments to support inaccessible technology.

The court rejected Shandrow’s claims on the basis that he lacked standing to sue. He did not identify any school policy that would impact him in any way, the court reasoned. And he didn’t have standing just because he paid tuition that helped fund the Kindle DX pilot program, the court said.

Cite: National Federation of the Blind v. Arizona Board of Regents.

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