Overlays are not the solution to your accessibility problem

In the long run they will hurt, not help your approach to people with disabilities

Sheri Byrne-Haber, CPACC

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Accessibility overlays are tools that detect and dynamically repair HTML accessibility issues in non-mobile environments. And what accessibility manager in their right mind WOULDN’T want a solution that does that? Write an annual check and presto change-o your site is accessible which means you don’t get sued. Unfortunately that’s a little too good to be true.

How can you fix what you can’t detect?

The industry is largely in agreement that only 30ish % of accessibility issues can be detected through code analysis. That means 70 % of accessibility issues can’t even be *detected* via code analysis much less fixed.

How can an overlay:

  • Make an non-responsive website responsive

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Sheri Byrne-Haber, CPACC
Sheri Byrne-Haber, CPACC

Written by Sheri Byrne-Haber, CPACC

LinkedIn Top Voice for Social Impact 2022. UX Collective Author of the Year 2020. Disability Inclusion SME. Sr Staff Accessibility Architect @ VMware.

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