The Accessibility Overlay Trap: Why "One Line of Code" Won't Save You

You've probably seen them: that little circular icon in the bottom corner of a website that opens a menu promising to make the site accessible. Install one line of JavaScript, and your site becomes "100% ADA compliant" and "protected from lawsuits." It sounds too good to be true.

That's because it is.

What Are Accessibility Overlays?

Accessibility overlays (also called widgets or plugins) are third-party tools that promise to automatically fix accessibility issues on your website. Companies like UserWay, accessiBe, AudioEye, and others market these as quick, easy solutions - just add their code to your site and you're done.

These tools typically provide a toolbar that lets users adjust text size, change colors, enable a "screen reader," and other features. Behind the scenes, they claim to automatically repair accessibility problems in your underlying code.

The Problem: They Create More Issues Than They Solve

Here's what the accessibility community - including hundreds of experts, people with disabilities, and organizations like the W3C - has been shouting from the rooftops: overlays don't work, and they often make things worse.

They Interfere with Actual Assistive Technology

People with disabilities already use assistive technology customized to their needs - screen readers like JAWS, NVDA, or VoiceOver, browser extensions, operating system accessibility features. Overlays often conflict with these tools, creating confusion and barriers rather than removing them.

Many blind users have created browser extensions specifically to block accessibility overlays because they interfere so much with their actual screen readers.

They Can't Fix the Underlying Problems

Automated tools cannot reliably:

• Add accurate alt text to images
• Fix form labels and error handling
• Repair keyboard navigation issues
• Handle modern JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular
• Address semantic HTML structure problems
• Fix complex interactive components

These require human judgment and proper code. A script running in the browser can't truly fix these fundamental issues.

They Don't Protect from Lawsuits - They Attract Them

This is perhaps the most damaging false claim. According to UsableNet's 2024 report, 25% of all digital accessibility lawsuits specifically targeted websites using overlays. Not protected by them - targeted because of them.

Serial plaintiffs and their attorneys have learned that overlay icons are a reliable indicator of accessibility problems. Tools like BuiltWith make it trivial to find all websites using a specific overlay product, creating an easy target list for lawsuits.

The Legal Reckoning

AccessiBe: $1 Million FTC Fine

In April 2025, the Federal Trade Commission fined accessiBe $1 million for false advertising. The FTC found that accessiBe "misrepresented the ability of its AI-powered web accessibility tool to make any website compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for people with disabilities."

UserWay: Class Action Lawsuit

In July 2024, Bloomsybox (an online flower delivery service) filed a class action lawsuit against UserWay. Here's what happened:

1. Bloomsybox researched accessibility solutions and chose UserWay based on promises of "full compliance" and lawsuit protection
2. After just six months with the overlay installed, they were sued for accessibility violations
3. UserWay claimed they needed the annual subscription (not monthly) for legal support
4. Bloomsybox paid for the annual plan, but UserWay's "legal support" consisted of generic information - no actual protection
5. The lawsuit alleges UserWay violated consumer protection laws through false advertising

Level Access, a previously reputable accessibility company, bought UserWay in 2023 - a move that shocked the accessibility community since Level Access had previously spoken out against overlays.

What the Experts Say

The Overlay Fact Sheet, created by accessibility expert Karl Groves and signed by over 800 professionals worldwide, provides a clear statement: overlays are not an effective means of ensuring accessibility.

Signatories include:

• Contributors and editors of WCAG, ARIA, and HTML specifications
• Accessibility experts from companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, BBC, and Shopify
• People with disabilities who use assistive technology daily
• Disability rights lawyers
• Consultants from over 20 countries

In a WebAIM survey, 72% of people with disabilities said accessibility overlays were "not at all" or "not very" effective.

Real-World Example: How Overlays Fail

Accessibility consultant Adrian Roselli documented testing UserWay on a real website. When he enabled UserWay's "accessibility for visually impaired" option:

• The site logo became invisible
• White text on dark green became white text on light green - worse contrast, not better
• Navigation icons turned into black boxes with no visible text
• The overlay widget itself covered up important page content
• The UserWay interface used white text on lime green - failing its own contrast standards

When he tested with the WAVE accessibility checker, UserWay was actively manipulating the results - adding black backgrounds behind text to hide contrast errors from automated testing tools, without actually fixing the underlying problems.

Why Do Overlays Exist Then?

Follow the money. Overlays are a recurring revenue business model that preys on legitimate fears:

• Website owners fear lawsuits
• They know accessibility is important but seems overwhelming
• Overlays promise an easy, cheap solution
• Monthly subscriptions provide predictable income for overlay vendors

The marketing is sophisticated and plays on these fears. But the product cannot deliver what it promises.

What Actually Works

Real accessibility requires:

Proper Code and Design

Build accessibility into your site from the start. Use semantic HTML, proper ARIA attributes, and follow WCAG guidelines. This is what we've been discussing throughout this advent calendar.

Manual Testing

Automated tools can catch some issues, but human testing - especially by people who actually use assistive technology - is essential.

Ongoing Commitment

Accessibility isn't a one-time fix. As you add content and features, you need to maintain accessibility. This includes training content creators to write alt text, use proper heading structure, and create accessible documents.

Professional Audits

If you need help, hire actual accessibility professionals - not overlay salespeople. Real experts will audit your site, identify specific issues, and provide a remediation plan.

If You're Currently Using an Overlay

Don't panic, but do make a plan:

1. Get a real audit - Find out what accessibility issues your site actually has
2. Prioritize fixes - Focus on the most critical barriers first
3. Remove the overlay - Once you've addressed real issues, remove the overlay that's been masking (not fixing) problems
4. Be transparent - Add an accessibility statement to your site acknowledging you're working on improvements

The Bottom Line

Accessibility overlays are digital snake oil. They prey on legitimate concerns, make false promises, interfere with real assistive technology, and leave your site just as vulnerable to lawsuits as before - sometimes more so.

The disability community has been clear: they don't want overlays. They want websites that are built accessibly from the ground up. Hundreds of accessibility experts have signed statements against overlays. The FTC has fined overlay companies for false advertising. Lawsuits continue to pile up against businesses that relied on overlays.

If someone tries to sell you an accessibility overlay, ask yourself: why would 800+ accessibility experts, including people with disabilities, W3C contributors, and Fortune 500 accessibility leads, all sign a statement against these products?

There are no shortcuts to accessibility. But the good news is that building accessible websites isn't as hard as overlay vendors want you to believe - it just requires commitment, knowledge, and doing the work properly. That's what this advent calendar is all about: understanding the actual requirements and implementing them correctly.

Save your money. Skip the overlay. Do it right. And if you need help, contact us to get started on an Accessibility Audit!