Resources
Why We Do Not Recommend Accessibility Overlays
An overlay is a script or widget added to a website. It claims to fix accessibility automatically. It does not.
The problem
What overlays cannot do
- They do not change the underlying code. The barriers are still there.
- They can interfere with the screen readers and other tools that people with disabilities already use.
- They do not make a site conform to WCAG.
Enforcement
Regulators have acted on overlay claims
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission ordered an overlay vendor, accessiBe, to pay $1 million over misleading claims that its product made websites compliant. The order was finalized in April 2025.
What works
Durable accessibility comes from fixing the source
- Fix the code, content and documents themselves.
- Test with real assistive technology, not only with automated tools.
- Train the staff who publish content, so new pages and documents stay accessible.
- Re-test on a set schedule.
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