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This is an out of court investigation initiated by the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (DOJ) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The review was undertaken to determine whether individuals with disabilities had full and equal enjoyment of the goods and services offered by CVS through its Vaccine Registration Portal.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, the DOJ determined that portions of CVS’s Vaccine Registration Portal were not accessible to some individuals with disabilities, in violation of the ADA. Individuals who used screen reader software encountered accessibility issues, including incorrectly labeled radio buttons, checkboxes, and form fields, an insurance information interface that lacked completeness for screen reader users, and images that were not adequately described for those using screen readers. Additionally, individuals with disabilities who navigated websites without a mouse faced significant challenges, as they would need to press the Tab key numerous times to move through controls, leading to navigation difficulties. As a result, individuals with disabilities could not fully and equally access the Vaccine Registration Portal to obtain information about COVID-19 vaccinations, or schedule vaccination appointments in a private and independent manner.
The parties reached a settlement agreement on April 11, 2022. CVS pledged to conform to the industry standard, voluntary Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, using automated testing, user feedback, and independent consultants. CVS agreed to test the accessibility of the Vaccine Registration Portal every thirty days, and the testing would be conducted by individuals with different disabilities. CVS also agreed to provide annual training on accessibility guidelines to all individuals involved with the design, development, maintenance, and management of the Vaccine content on CVS’s websites. CVS agreed to submit reports every three months for the term of the agreement, beginning June 1, 2022. The agreement was to last for thirty months, ending in October 2024.
As of December 2023, reporting is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Simran Takhar (12/30/2023)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:39 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Rhode Island
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
CVS Pharmacy, Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Provide antidiscrimination training
Order Duration: 2022 - None
Issues
General/Misc.:
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Disability and Disability Rights:
Screen readers and similar accessibility devices
Discrimination Basis: