American Council of the Blind of Metropolitan Chicago vs. City of Chicago

In September 2019, DRA and Proskauer Rose LLP, on behalf of the American Council of the Blind of Metropolitan Chicago and three individual plaintiffs, filed a landmark class action lawsuit against the City of Chicago. The lawsuit alleged that Chicago ignores blind pedestrians in its pedestrian planning, ignoring their safety needs and sometimes actively making it harder for them to cross streets safely and independently, all in violation of federal law.
In particular, Chicago has neglected to install accessible pedestrian signals (APS), devices that convey street crossing information to blind pedestrians through audio and vibro-tactile means. At the time the case was filed, less than one half of one percent of Chicago’s 2,800+ signalized intersections were equipped with APS.
The federal Department of Justice joined the suit shortly after it was filed following its own investigation into the City’s policies and practices.
In March 2022, a federal judge certified a class comprising all blind or low-vision pedestrians who use the City of Chicago’s signalized pedestrian intersections.
In April 2023 a federal court ruled that Chicago’s systemic, decades-long failure to incorporate APS at intersections constitutes discrimination toward blind and low vision pedestrians under federal disability rights laws.
In March 2025, the court issued a proposed remedial plan order and invited the parties to proposed revisions. The court entered the final remedial order in May 2025. Read the Court’s Remedial Order.
Under the Court’s order, Chicago must equip at least 71% of its signalized intersections with pedestrian signals with APS in the next 10 years. Chicago will then have another 5 years to install APS at all remaining signalized intersections, unless it can show that blind pedestrians already have meaningful access to the pedestrian grid. The Court’s order establishes benchmarks for the minimum number of APS that can be installed annually, a process for community members to request APS at specific intersections, and a requirement to prioritize APS installation at the most dangerous intersections.
The City must also establish an effective APS compliance program to ensure it installs APS correctly, repairs maintenance issues promptly, and solicits and analyzes complaints and repair requests. The Court will also appoint an Independent Monitor to oversee Chicago’s compliance.
The order also calls for the City to work with the blind community. The City must establish an APS Community Advisory Committee comprised of members from Chicago’s blind community and organizations that serve the community, and engage with a Certified Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist to provide expertise on APS installation and maintenance.
Having APS installed at these intersections means that Plaintiffs and class members who for years have resorted to taking circuitous routes to avoid particularly unsafe intersections, or who have avoided walking altogether, will have newfound security accessing a fundamental part of Chicago civic life: walking city streets.
Case Files
Press Releases
- June 2, 2025: Court Orders Chicago to Install Thousands of Accessible Pedestrian Signals
- March 18, 2025: Court Proposes Plan for Chicago to Install 1,700+ Accessible Pedestrian Signals Over the Next 10 Years
- April 6, 2023: Court Rules That Chicago’s Intersections Must Be Made Accessible for Blind Pedestrians
- March 8, 2022: Class of Blind Pedestrians Achieve Certification in Lawsuit Challenging Exclusion from Chicago’s Pedestrian Safety Program
- September 23, 2019: Blind Pedestrians Sue About Exclusion from Chicago’s Pedestrian Safety Program
Media Coverage
- June 5, 2025: Chicago Crusader
Court Orders Chicago to Install Thousands of Accessible Pedestrian Signals - June 4, 2025: WGN Radio Chicago
Chicago to Install Additional Crosswalk Signals - June 4, 2025: WBEZ Chicago
The Rundown – Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - June 4, 2025: Legal Newsline
Court Orders Chicago to Make Thousands of Intersections Safer for the Blind - June 4, 2025: Streetsblog Chicago
Today’s Headlines for Wednesday, June 4 - June 4, 2025: Planetizen
Chicago Judge Orders Thousands of Accessible Ped Signals - June 4, 2025: Block Club Chicago
City Must Add 1,700 Crosswalk Signals to Help Blind, Visually Impaired People Under Judge’s Order - June 4, 2025: CBS Chicago
City of Chicago Ordered to Install a Whole Lot More Audible Crosswalk Signals for Visually Impaired - June 4, 2025: WBEZ Chicago
The Rundown – Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - June 4, 2025: Legal Newsline
Court Orders Chicago to Make Thousands of Intersections Safer for the Blind - May 29, 2025: Streetsblog Chicago
Today’s Headlines for Thursday, May 29 - May 28, 2025: WGN9 Chicago
Judge’s Remedial Order Puts City of Chicago on Path to Install Accessible Pedestrian Signals - March 20, 2025: Block Club Chicago
Chicago to Add Audible Crosswalk Signals to Aid Blind, Visually Impaired Under Judge’s Order - March 19, 2025: Chicago Sun-Times
City Ordered to Speed Installation of Signals to Assist Visually-Impaired Pedestrians - March 18, 2025: Chicago Tribune
Judge Orders Chicago to Install Audible Crossing Signals for the Blind and Visually Impaired - March 14, 2025: WTTW Chicago
Judge Orders Chicago to Speed Up Efforts to Make Crosswalks Accessible to Blind Pedestrians, Just 85 of 2,713 Intersections Upgraded - March 5, 2025: Chicago Tribune
Visually Impaired Students Learn to Navigate Chicago Streets Without Audible Warning Signals - January 16, 2024: WTTW Chicago
Despite Decades of Cries for Help, Chicago Failed to Aid Blind Pedestrians. Now, City Wants Lengthy Timeline to Fix Problem - September 12, 2023: The Progressive
So Sue Me - May 13, 2023: Tampa Bay Times
Opinion – We Need Better Crosswalks for Legally Blind People Like Me - May 8, 2023: NTD News
Landmark Win for Chicago’s Blind Pedestrians - May 5, 2023: AP News
Listen Both Ways – Blind Walkers Winning Safer Road Crossings - May 4, 2023: The Progressive
The Right to Cross the Street - May 2, 2023: Legal Reader
Court Rules Chicago’s Intersections Must Be Made Accessible for Blind Pedestrians - April 14, 2023: Cities Today
Chicago Loses Case Over Pedestrian Signals for the Visually Impaired - April 13, 2023: Route Fifty
Cities Put on Notice to Install Signals to Help Blind Pedestrians Cross Streets - April 13, 2023: Streetsblog Chicago
Federal Judge Ruled That Chicago’s Failure to Install APS Is Discrimination Against the Blind - April 13, 2023: Chicago Tribune
Chicago Doesn’t Have Enough Traffic Signals That Help Blind Pedestrians, Judge Rules - April 10, 2023: NewCity
Today in the Culture – Judge Sounds off on Audible Crossings - April 10, 2023: Planetizen
Chicago Found Liable for ADA Violations - April 10, 2023: WBEZ Chicago
Not-So-Walkable City? Chicago Must Make Crosswalks Accessible to Blind Pedestrians, Judge Rules - April 7, 2023: WTTW Chicago
Chicago’s Failure to Make Crosswalks Accessible for Blind Pedestrians Broke the Law - April 7, 2023: Roads & Bridges
Court Rules That Chicago’s Intersections Must Be Made Accessible for Blind Pedestrians - April 7, 2023: Forbes
In Tech And Other Coverage Areas, Newsrooms Are Missing Big Stories By Ignoring Disabled Journalists - April 7, 2023: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Chicago’s Shortage of Signals for Blind Violates Disability Law, Judge Holds - April 7, 2023: FOX32 Chicago
Judge Rules Chicago Violated the Americans With Disabilities Act - April 7, 2023: Smart Cities Dive
Chicago’s Lack of Accessible Pedestrian Signals at Crosswalks Violates ADA, Federal Judge - April 7, 2023: WGN Chicago
How Most Chicago Crosswalks Violate the Americans With Disabilities Act - April 7, 2023: NBC5 Chicago
Chicago Ordered to Install More Audible or Vibrating Crosswalk Signals - April 6, 2023: Washington Times
Judge Rules That Chicago Violated Disabilities Act by Not Providing Proper Signals for the Blind - April 6, 2023: Chicago Sun Times
Chicago Crosswalk Signals Violate Disabilities Act, Federal Judge Rules - April 6, 2023: CBS Chicago
Judge Rules Chicago Has Violated ADA, Must Install More Audible Crosswalk Signals - April 5, 2023: U.S. Department of Justice
City Of Chicago Held in Violation of Americans with Disabilities Act - April 5, 2023: WGN9 Chicago
Federal Judge Finds City of Chicago Liable, Violated Americans With Disabilities Act - April 5, 2023: Cook County Record
Federal Judge Says Chicago Liable to Upgrade Thousands of Street Crossings to Make Them ‘Accessible’ for Blind People - April 5, 2023: NY Daily News
Justice Department Holds Chicago in Violation of American With Disabilities Act - January 27, 2023: WTTW Chicago
Chicago’s Plan to Make Crosswalks Accessible for Blind Pedestrians Moving at a Crawl - March 21, 2022: Smart Cities Dive
Dive Brief - March 21, 2022: Legal Reader
Blind Pedestrians Achieve Class Certification in Suit Over Exclusion from Chicago’s Pedestrian Safety Program - March 17, 2022: Chicago Reader
Lawsuit to Force Chicago to Retrofit Intersections for Vision-Impaired Pedestrians Advances - March 17, 2022: Lexblog
Proskauer Secures Class Certification for Visually Impaired Chicagoans - March 15, 2022: WTTW
City Facing Class Action Suit Over Lack of Accessible Signals for Blind Pedestrians - March 12, 2022: USA Today
More Cities Are Embracing Accessible Pedestrian Signals but Blind Americans Say It’s Not Enough - March 8, 2022: Cook County Record
Judge OKs Class Action Demanding Chicago Install Devices to Help Blind Pedestrians at Intersections - March 7, 2022: Bloomberg Law
Blind Chicago Resident Class Proceeds in Crosswalk Access Suit - April 14, 2021: Smart Cities Dive
DOJ Joins Lawsuit against Chicago for Lack of Accessible Crosswalks - April 12, 2021: WTTW
Justice Department Joins Lawsuit Over Accessibility of Chicago Crosswalks - April 12, 2021: Law Street
DOJ Wants to Join ADA Suit Against Chicago for Discrimination - April 9, 2021: Politico
Illinois Playbook - April 9, 2021: Roads & Bridges
Discrimination Suit Brought against Chicago over Pedestrians with Visual Disabilities - April 9, 2021: Streetsblog Chicago
DOJ Lights a Fire under Chicago Officials to Speed Up Accessible Pedestrian Signal Installation - April 9, 2021: WBBM
Justice Department Joins Lawsuit against City of Chicago Regarding Accessible Pedestrian Signals at Intersections - April 9, 2021: NBC5 Chicago
Chicago Lacks Crosswalk Signals for Visually Impaired - April 8, 2021: CBS2 Chicago
DOJ Moves to Intervene in Lawsuit against City of Chicago Claiming Crosswalk Signals Are Not Accessible for the Visually Impaired - April 8, 2021: U.S. Department of Justice
Justice Department Moves to Intervene in Disability Discrimination Suit Against City of Chicago Regarding Pedestrians with Visual Disabilities - September 24, 2019: WTTW
Class-Action Suit Says Chicago’s Lack of Blind-Accessible Crossing Signals Violates ADA - September 24, 2019: Chicago Tribune
Chicago Has 2,672 Intersections with Traffic Signals, but Only 11 Feature Sounds to Help Blind Pedestrians, a New Lawsuit Alleges - September 24, 2019: Smart Cities Dive
Disability Rights Group Sues Chicago over Pedestrian Signals - September 24, 2019: Streetsblog Chicago
Disability Rights Group Is Suing Chicago over Lack of Accessible Pedestrian Signals - September 24, 2019: Smart Cities World
Lawsuit for City of Chicago over Pedestrian Signal Accessibility - September 24, 2019: Curbed Chicago
Chicago Makes It Harder for Blind Pedestrians to Cross Streets Safely, Lawsuit Says - September 23, 2019: CBS2 Chicago
Group Files Lawsuit Against City Over Lack Of Accessible Crosswalk Signals