Q: Is this product any different to existing accessibility overlay products and the known huge problems/liability?
I am curious if your tool is any different to existing accessibility overlay products (including SaaS options) on the market. As in, does it operate the same way and pose the same legal risks for customers and accessibility problems for users.
The problem is that these have been wholesale rejected by the disability and accessibility community. They often interfere with screenreaders and built-in accessibility features, actually making websites *less* accessible, while not fixing more fundamental issues that can't be resolved with a widget.
For your reference (and that of anyone else reading), you can google "should I use an accessibility overlay" for an overview. A lot also shows up if you google "accessibility overlay lawsuit".
SupportWebability
May 8, 2025A: Thank you for raising such an important concern. You're absolutely rightâmany accessibility overlay products have been criticized by the disability and accessibility community for interfering with screen readers, masking deeper accessibility issues, and offering a false sense of compliance.
Thatâs why weâve built our product differently, with multiple layers of support that prioritize real accessibility improvements:
1. Audit & Actionable Guidance: Our tool identifies the key accessibility issues on your site and gives you a prioritized list of what to fix. These are real, code-level problems that overlays alone can't solve.
2. AI-Powered Fixes: Where appropriate, our system can automatically apply certain improvements.
3. Optional Overlay Widget: We provide a customizable widget that gives users additional control (text size, contrast, etc.), but itâs designed not to interfere with screen readers or browser-level accessibility tools.
These three levels work together to help you build a truly accessible siteâstarting with foundational fixes, not cosmetic ones.
And finally, if you've implemented all of these efforts and still face a legal challenge, reach out to us. We offer a Proof of Effort Toolkit containing documentation that demonstrates the steps you've taken toward compliance.
jennifer77PLUSWe work within the neurodiversity and disability space - I'd love to connect and discuss your product more and will be testing it out, too. Maybe even an collaboration if it's better than the existing offers.
Thatâs amazing to hear!
Weâd love to connect and explore how we can support the incredible work you're doing in the neurodiversity and disability space. Accecibility's a mission that deeply resonates with us, and we're always looking for meaningful collaborationsâespecially with organizations that are driving real impact.
Let's set up a time to chat,please email us at support@webability.io.