Website accessibility remediation
We fix code, components and content in any CMS or framework, then retest until every issue is closed.
Why it matters
Accessibility overlays: why one line of code won't make you compliant
An accessibility overlay is a script — usually one line of JavaScript — that adds a toolbar to your website and tries to repair accessibility problems automatically in the visitor’s browser. Many are marketed as an instant route to ADA and WCAG compliance. They aren’t.
The FTC weighed in
In January 2025, the Federal Trade Commission announced a proposed order against accessiBe, one of the best-known overlay vendors, finalized on April 22, 2025. The FTC alleged that accessiBe misrepresented its AI-powered product’s ability to make any website WCAG-compliant, and misrepresented paid endorsements as independent reviews. The order requires accessiBe to pay $1 million and prohibits it from claiming that its product can make websites WCAG-compliant.
Websites with overlays still get sued
Plaintiffs’ firms routinely file against websites that have overlays installed — hundreds of such lawsuits are filed each year. Some complaints specifically argue that the overlay itself interfered with the user’s screen reader.
Why overlays can’t fix accessibility
- They can’t know your intent. An overlay can guess alt text for a product photo, but it doesn’t know which details matter, or whether an image is decorative.
- They can’t fix complex interactions. A checkout that traps keyboard focus, a custom dropdown with no roles, a form that doesn’t announce errors — these need code changes.
- They don’t touch your PDFs, videos or third-party embeds.
- They can conflict with assistive technology. Screen reader users already have their own tools; overlays can override or confuse them.
- They can break. If the script fails to load, everything it “fixed” is broken again.
What the accessibility community says
Hundreds of accessibility practitioners and people with disabilities have signed the Overlay Fact Sheet, which urges site owners not to rely on overlays. In 2021 the National Federation of the Blind ended accessiBe’s convention sponsorship over concerns about its product and conduct toward blind users.
What actually works
- Audit your site with manual and automated testing.
- Remediate the code, content and documents.
- Verify with screen readers and keyboards.
- Maintain with monitoring and training.
It takes longer than pasting a script. It’s also the only approach that removes the barriers — and the risk. See our remediation service.
Frequently asked questions
Are accessibility overlays illegal?
No. Installing one isn’t illegal. The problem is that overlays don’t make an inaccessible site conform to WCAG, so they don’t remove legal risk — and vendors that claim otherwise can face action, as the FTC’s 2025 order against accessiBe shows.
Are any toolbar features useful?
Features like text resizing or contrast switching duplicate what people’s browsers, operating systems and assistive technologies already do — usually better. Users with disabilities generally prefer a site that works with the tools they already use.
Find out where you stand, in writing.
Send us a few URLs or sample PDFs. Within two business days you get a free, plain-English snapshot of your biggest accessibility risks and what it takes to fix them.