--- title: The First 2019 Mobile App ADA Claim is likely to be the first of many description: ADA website claims are quickly rising. With the Ninth Circuit Court's ruling on Robles v Domino's, ADA mobile inaccessibility claims may be next. image: https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Does%20Your%20Website%20Represent%20Your%20Inclusive%20Brand.jpg --- - [skip to menu](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-first-2019-mobile-app-ada-claim-is-likely-to-be-the-first-of-many#nav) - [skip to content](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-first-2019-mobile-app-ada-claim-is-likely-to-be-the-first-of-many#main-content) - [skip to footer](https://blog.usablenet.com/the-first-2019-mobile-app-ada-claim-is-likely-to-be-the-first-of-many#footer) Test the accessibility of your website for free! Try UsableNet AQA. 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More claims are likely to follow as an ADA litigation trend.  ADA Website Accessibility Claims, usually involving visually impaired persons, typically focus on inaccessibility of business websites based on the ability of  screen-reading software to read the sites. With the [Robles v. Domino's](https://blog.usablenet.com/dominos-case-delivers-a-win-for-web-accessibility) Pizza ruling, the courts have effectively extended accessibility guidelines to mobile apps. ## **Why Mobile Apps? ** Mobile apps have become a fundamental part of everyday life for millions of users. But with no formal legislation around accessibility requirements, many companies have forgotten the disability community when designing and building their native apps.  Apps, similar to web sites, have a set of design and coding guidelines that companies can follow to ensure accessibility for users of all abilities. Leading bands such as Uber and [Chase have commited to accessibility](https://www.chase.com/digital/resources/accessibility) and operate fully accessible native apps, but many other industry leaders have not taken this step for their mobile apps.  ## **Mobile Apps and the ADA** The DOJ started to include Native App accessibility as part of ADA-related Web Accessibility claims in a number of cases as early as 2014, with the landmark lawsuit between the [National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and H&R Block](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-enters-consent-decree-national-tax-preparer-hr-block-requiring).  In January 2019, in [Robles v. Domino’s Pizza](https://blog.usablenet.com/dominos-case-delivers-a-win-for-web-accessibility), the Ninth Circuit held that Title III of ADA applies to Domino's websites and *mobile applications*. This has bolstered the position of plaintiffs to file (ADA)-based discrimination alleging mobile app inaccessibility.  ## **How hard is it to make Apps Accessible?** The good news is that designing and developing accessible apps is not much harder than building an app in the first place. The key is to start with the right foundation and to follow the right guidelines ([WCAG](https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/mobile/)). The bad news is that is is easier to start with accessible design than it is to make changes to code and update design after the fact. The difference between creating Native Apps versus websites is the importance of design over code. Code issues are easy to find with free tools from Apple (to test iOS) and Google (to test Android). But the design review for apps must include interface ease-of-use, color contrasts, organization, predictability of features and more. ## **The Next Step ** UsableNet provides a fast and effective Audit service reviews both the native app code and design aspects against the mobile accessibility standards established under the WCAG. Audits include detailed design markup of the Apps interface to pinpoint where changes are needed. Native teams can also get training from UsableNet and Helpdesk to find and develop solutions to identified accessibility issues. UsableNet can provide ongoing support and documentation to support any legal needs. [Contact us](https://usablenet.com/contact) to learn more about UsableNet audit services to support website and moble app accessibility.  ![UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/UsableNet%20Logo%20150%20x%20150.png) ### [UsableNet](https://blog.usablenet.com/author/usablenet-1) Founded in 2000, UsableNet created some of the first tools and platforms to make websites accessible and usable for all people. Starting out, we worked with government agencies as well as universities and corporations. Today, accessibility has become important to almost all companies. We provide accessibility solutions to Fortune 1000 companies, small and medium enterprises, government, and education organizations across industries including retail, travel, hospitality, food services, automotive, financial services, and healthcare. - - - - ### Related posts ![Mobile Ticketing Accessibility: Buying Haunted House Tickets with a Screen Reader](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen%20Shot%202020-04-24%20at%204_54_10%20PM.png) [Mobile Ticketing Accessibility: Buying Haunted House Tickets with a Screen Reader](https://blog.usablenet.com/mobile-ticketing-accessibility-buying-haunted-house-tickets-with-a-screen-reader) Oct 23, 2025 ![Restaurant App Accessibility: A Screen Reader Experience When Menus Won’t Scroll](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Pretty%20waitresses%20working%20with%20a%20smile%20at%20the%20coffee%20shop.jpeg) [Restaurant App Accessibility: A Screen Reader Experience When Menus Won’t Scroll](https://blog.usablenet.com/restaurant-app-accessibility-a-screen-reader-experience-when-menus-wont-scroll) Oct 9, 2025 ![Mobile App Accessibility Guidelines: Best Practices for EAA Compliance](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Photo-122.jpg) [Mobile App Accessibility Guidelines: Best Practices for EAA Compliance](https://blog.usablenet.com/mobile-app-accessibility-guidelines) Aug 13, 2025 ![Mobile App Accessibility: The 6-Step Checklist](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/shutterstock_1284650413.webp) [Mobile App Accessibility: The 6-Step Checklist](https://blog.usablenet.com/mobile-app-accessibility-techniques-for-inclusive-design-part-1) Apr 22, 2024 ### Sign Up for the UsableNet Blog ### Recent Posts ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Check-in, Messaging, and In-Stay Barriers for Blind Guests](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-check-in-and-in-stay-barriers-for-blind-guests) Jul 15, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Beachside-min.jpg) [Hotel Website Accessibility: Browsing Room Options](https://blog.usablenet.com/hotel-website-accessibility-browsing-room-options) Jul 14, 2026 ![feature image](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Registration%20-%20Midyear%20Report.png) [Inside the 2026 Midyear Numbers: The ADA continues to be the ONLY true enforcement around](https://blog.usablenet.com/inside-the-2026-midyear-numbers-where-digital-accessibility-litigation-is-going) Jul 8, 2026 ### Posts by Topic - [Web Accessibility (311)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/web-accessibility) - [User Experience (113)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/user-experience) - [ADA Lawsuits (45)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-lawsuits) - [ADA Website Compliance (38)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/ada-website-compliance) - [European Accessibility Act (34)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/european-accessibility-act) - [Mobile Web (30)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-web) - [Mobile Apps (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/mobile-apps) - [Retail (27)](https://blog.usablenet.com/topic/retail) ![](https://blog.usablenet.com/hubfs/Consultation%20Icon.svg) Need to improve digital usability, accessibility or performance? 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