American Airlines will pay $200,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit alleging the airline failed to accommodate a blind employee at its Fort Worth location, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.
According to the EEOC, the employee developed cortical blindness and requested screen reader software that would convert computer text into synthesized speech, allowing her to perform her job. She also asked to be transferred to another position.
The lawsuit alleged American kept the employee on unpaid, involuntary leave for nearly four years before firing her without helping her use the software or finding another reasonable accommodation.
Under a two-year consent decree, American also agreed to incorporate Web Content Accessibility Guidelines into new reservation software it expects to launch in 2027. The company will conduct an accessibility audit and address barriers affecting blind and visually impaired employees.
American will also train human resources employees on accommodation requests, post a notice about disability discrimination and provide the EEOC with reports on relevant accommodation requests.
