My name is Luna. I am a blind 29-year-old from Brisbane, Australia, and I love clothes! No really, just ask my partner, or my family. The other day, I found myself exploring an online department store, eager to shop for some new clothes. During my virtual journey, I stumbled upon a skirt that caught my attention. I read the product description, and as is my routine, I uploaded the pictures to an application I rely on for visual assistance. I discovered that the skirt came in two colors: Black and something called Papaya. Navigating to the image of the “papaya” colored skirt, I uploaded it to my image recognition application and was informed that the skirt was orange in color. Wait, hold up a minute… Wow! Papaya fruit is orange? This is something I never knew. In that moment, I was made more aware of something that I’d tolerated but never given much thought to. Shopping for clothes as a blind girl is horrible! Imagine logging onto your favorite site for purchasing clothes and finding all of the images blanked out or replaced by text that read something a little like “New Floral Maxi Skirt multi.jpg.” You’d be confused, wouldn’t you? This is the experience that I, and many blind people who enjoy shopping online, face every time we look at clothing or any other products online.

As someone who loves clothes and who is currently finding her identity through fashion, the lack of accessibility on fashion sites across the internet is disheartening. Like anyone, I long to be able to sit and scroll through clothes for hours. I long for the experience of adding things to my cart and wish list, and more importantly, I want to know what clothes I’m looking at!

In creating this petition, I am asking the petition recipients for the following:

1.

Provide Detailed Image Descriptions: Ensure that all items presented on the website have detailed image descriptions that change when new colors, prints, or patterns are selected.

2.

Implement Clear Color Descriptions: When describing clothing colors, use clear and consistent language so that blind shoppers can make informed choices about the colors they desire.

3.

Enhance Navigation: Improve website navigation to make it more accessible for screen readers and assistive technologies, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for all customers.

4.

Offer Size and Fit Information: Provide accurate size charts and comprehensive fit descriptions to help blind shoppers make the right choices when selecting clothing.

5.

Accessible Checkout Process: Make the checkout process user-friendly for all customers, including those who rely on screen readers, and eliminate barriers like CAPTCHAs that can be difficult to navigate.

By implementing these changes, you can not only make the world of online fashion more accessible to blind shoppers like me but also set a standard of inclusivity that promotes equal access for all. Your support will not only enhance our shopping experience but also contribute to a more equitable and inclusive digital landscape.

This petition doesn't have to stop at fashion; it can expand into all areas of online shopping, promoting inclusivity and equal access for all.

Join us in making online fashion a truly inclusive space where everyone can express themselves through clothing without barriers