Why Accessibility Overlays Fall Short - and What to Do Instead

A lot has been written about "disability dongles" a term coined by Liz Jackson to describe tools that claim to solve problems for disabled people but often fail to deliver.

One example is the stair-climbing wheelchair. It seems like a great solution but is too expensive, impractical, and, for many users, unsafe.

Many websites rely on the digital equivalent of such dongles - accessibility overlays. These widgets promise to make websites more accessible by allowing users to adjust text size, change colours, or provide basic image descriptions.

They also claim to protect website owners from legal risks by bringing sites into compliance with accessibility standards like WCAG. At first glance, it sounds like a win-win.

But here’s the problem. These widgets don’t work as advertised.

Why Overlays Fail to Deliver

Accessibility is complex. Real accessibility requires:

• Custom descriptions for unique images that provide meaningful context.
• Buttons and links designed for seamless keyboard navigation.
• Forms that are fully understandable to screen readers.
• And the list goes...

No widget can automate this work, not even AI-powered widgets. Overlays apply generic fixes without understanding your website’s specific needs.

That “picture of an ocean” on your homepage? A widget might label it as "ocean," but it won’t explain its relevance to your content.

Overlays promise compliance, but their claims are misleading. They don’t make your website accessible, they don’t lower your legal risk, and they may even increase it.

U.S. lawsuits have proven that relying on these tools is not a safeguard against litigation.

A Better Solution

Instead of relying on ineffective quick fixes, we offer a comprehensive service designed to:

• Identify real accessibility barriers in your website’s code.
• Provide actionable insights so you can begin addressing these barriers meaningfully.
• Enhance the user experience for disabled people, ensuring your site is more accessible and reducing the risk of costly lawsuits.

Accessibility is not just about avoiding lawsuits - it’s about creating a better experience for all users. Let us help you do it the right way.

Ready to begin making your website more accessible and inclusive? Let us help you deliver a better experience for all users and begin meeting compliance standards.

Contact us today at hello@canaxess.com.au to start transforming your site.