Although text describing each field is displayed on the computer screen, the method AOL has used to display the text does not provide screen access programs with sufficient information to tell the blind user which piece of data is being requested in each blank field. Therefore, blind users are denied the independent ability even to sign up for the AOL internet service. Locating the space for entering a keyword search or a web address cannot be directly accomplished by a blind user, but with trial and error and a great deal of difficulty, a blind user can bring up the browser and give it an instruction. However, unlike other web browsing software, AOL's browser operates in such a way that screen access software does not register that a browser is running. The screen access software feature for tabbing through hypertext links, a common way for blind users to explore a web page, can also fail to activate because the screen access software can fail to register that the user is running a browser.
Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law.