New Jersey Company Sued By the EEOC for Disability Discrimination
On July 17th, 2025, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that a company in New Jersey is facing a lawsuit for disability discrimination. Pearson Education, Inc. allegedly failed to make a good faith, interactive effort to provide reasonable accommodations to blind employees. Here, our New Jersey disability discrimination attorney discusses the allegations in more detail.
A New Jersey Education Employer Allegedly Discriminated Against Blind Workers
A recent lawsuit from the EEOC alleges that a New Jersey-based employer discriminated against blind job applicants and employees. Indeed, the EEOC filed a federal lawsuit against Pearson Education, Inc. for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agency contends that the Newark-based company failed to provide blind or visually impaired employees with equal access to essential employment information. Pearson allegedly used third-party online platforms for benefits, leave, and training that were not compatible with screen reading software, making them inaccessible. Despite being aware of the issue, Pearson reportedly did not offer reasonable accommodations to affected workers. The lawsuit seeks monetary relief and a court order preventing further discrimination. Litigation is currently pending.
An Overview of the Rights of Blind Workers Under the ADA
There are many people of working age in New Jersey and New York who have significant visual impairments. That a person is blind does not make them unqualified to work. It is an outdated, inaccurate, and offensive stereotype. The ADA prohibits discrimination and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations that enable qualified people to perform their job and access the full benefits of employment. Here are some of the key things that blind workers should know:
- Equal Access: Blind people must have an equal chance to apply for and obtain employment. Employers that are covered by the ADA must ensure that application processes, including online forms or testing, are accessible through screen readers or assistive technology. One of the core goals of the ADA is to ensure that disabled job applicants and employees have a fair and equitable opportunity to compete for positions.
- Reasonable Accommodation: Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so causes undue hardship. For blind workers, such an accommodation may include screen reading software, accessible formats for documents, Braille materials, or other types of assistance in the workplace.
- Freedom from Discrimination and Retaliation: It is illegal for an employer to treat a blind employee unfairly because of their disability including in hiring, promotion, termination, or any other employment decision. Beyond that, workers who request accommodations or report accessibility issues are protected from retaliation by an employer.
Speak to Our New Jersey Disability Discrimination Lawyer Today
At Poulos LoPiccolo PC, our New Jersey disability discrimination attorney is always ready to go the extra mile to protect the rights of clients. If you have any questions or concerns about a disability discrimination case, please do not hesitate to contact us today for a fully confidential initial consultation. We handle disability discrimination cases statewide in New Jersey.
Source:
eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-sues-pearson-education-disability-discrimination
