When it comes to making websites accessible, many businesses turn to web accessibility overlays, believing they’re a simple and quick fix. These tools promise to enhance usability for people with disabilities by adding features like text size adjustments or color contrast options. However, beneath this shiny exterior lies a troubling reality. Far too often, overlays create more problems than they solve, leaving users frustrated and excluded.

Instead of providing real solutions, these overlays can break essential functions on a website, making it even harder for people to navigate. Imagine a visually impaired user trying to read a page only to find that the overlay has garbled the text or made buttons unclickable. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a barrier that undermines the very purpose of accessibility. With countless users reporting negative experiences, the reliance on overlays is more than just misguided—it can be harmful.

In this article, we’ll explore why web accessibility overlays often fall short of their promises and what businesses can do to truly support all users. Let’s take a closer look at the pitfalls of these quick fixes and uncover the importance of genuine web accessibility.

What Are Web Accessibility Overlays?

Web accessibility overlays are tools or widgets that website owners can add to their sites to enhance accessibility. They typically involve inserting a small JavaScript code snippet into your site, which then adds a floating button or widget. When users interact with this button, they can adjust various aspects of the site’s appearance and functionality—like changing text size, altering color contrasts, or enabling screen reader compatibility.

The appeal of these overlays is their promise of quick, low-cost accessibility improvements. They offer an attractive option for businesses looking to make their sites more inclusive without undergoing a major redesign. However, while the intention behind these tools is good, the reality often falls far short.

Overlay’s Intended Purpose

The goal of web accessibility overlays is to make websites more accessible to people with disabilities. For instance:

• Visual Impairments: Users who have difficulty seeing might benefit from high-contrast modes or text enlargement.
• Motor Impairments: Customizable interface elements can help users navigate the site using alternative input methods.
• Cognitive Impairments: Simplified navigation and text-to-speech features can make content more understandable.

In theory, these overlays should help users interact with a website more effectively by allowing them to tailor the site to their needs.

The Reality: Why Overlays Often Fall Short

Despite their good intentions, web accessibility overlays often fail to deliver on their promises. Here’s a closer look at why:

Broken Functionality

Many users with disabilities find that these overlays break essential website functions. For example, after activating an overlay’s high-contrast mode, a screen reader might start reading out garbled or irrelevant text. Interactive elements like forms or buttons may become unusable or misaligned. This can make the website even less accessible than it was before the overlay was applied.

Limited Customization

While overlays offer some level of customization, they usually fall short of addressing all accessibility needs. For instance, they allow users to change text size but do nothing to improve keyboard navigation or fix structural issues. This limited scope can be frustrating for users who need more comprehensive adjustments to navigate the site effectively.

Disruptive Presence

The floating button or widget that overlays add can sometimes interfere with the user experience. For example, it might obscure important content or navigation options. Users who rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation may find the overlay itself to be a barrier rather than a help.

Overlay’s Provide a False Sense of Security

Relying on overlays can give website owners a misleading sense of security. Just because an overlay provides some accessibility features doesn’t mean your site is fully accessible. True accessibility involves more than just adding a few features—it requires thoughtful design and regular testing to ensure that all users can interact with your site effectively.

Common Issues with Overlays

To better understand the real-world impact, let’s explore some common issues faced by users with disabilities when dealing with web accessibility overlays:

1. Navigation Problems: Overlays often disrupt keyboard navigation. For users who rely on keyboards instead of mice, this can make it challenging to move through the site or interact with elements. Buttons and links might become unreachable or behave unpredictably.
2. Inconsistent Text Appearance: Overlays might change text size or color, but they often don’t adjust all text elements uniformly. This inconsistency can make reading difficult, especially for users with low vision who rely on specific text settings.
3. Broken Links and Forms: Features like forms and links can become broken or non-functional when an overlay is applied. This issue can prevent users from completing actions like submitting information or navigating through pages, leading to frustration and abandonment of the site.
4. Visual Overlaps: High-contrast modes or other visual changes introduced by overlays can sometimes cause elements to overlap or become misaligned. This can make content harder to read and interact with, defeating the purpose of the accessibility improvements.

Firsthand User Experiences

As highlighted in the New York Times article, For Blind Internet Users, the Fix Can Be Worse Than the Flaws,  and echoed by accessibility advocates, overlays often complicate rather than simplify website navigation.

Patrick Perdue, a 38-year-old blind user from Queens, sums it up well: “I’ve not yet found a single one that makes my life better.” Many like him find themselves spending more time navigating around these overlays than actually using websites effectively.

Last year, over 862 advocates and developers urged organizations to reconsider their use of overlays, citing practical ineffectiveness and potential accessibility flaws in an open letter. Even the National Federation of the Blind has condemned these tools, describing them as inadequate solutions.

Brian Moore, a 55-year-old blind user  from Toronto, raises a critical question: “If you can’t fix the basic issues, what value are you adding?”

Why Overlays Are Seen as a “Quick Fix”

Web accessibility overlays are often chosen as a quick fix because they appear to offer a fast, cost-effective solution. For businesses, especially those with limited budgets or technical resources, these tools seem like an easy way to address accessibility concerns without a full site overhaul.

However, this approach is problematic for several reasons:

Superficial Solutions

Overlays generally provide superficial solutions rather than addressing underlying accessibility issues. Real accessibility involves more than just adding features—it requires a deep understanding of diverse user needs and thoughtful site design.

Potential for Increased Barriers

As highlighted by user experiences, overlays can sometimes introduce new barriers or exacerbate existing ones. This can lead to increased frustration and exclusion for users who rely on accessibility features.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

Relying on overlays alone may not meet legal standards for accessibility under regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A genuine commitment to accessibility involves more than just using tools—it requires ensuring that your site is fully accessible to all users.

The Path to Genuine Accessibility

So, what should you do instead of relying on overlays? Here are some steps to take:

1. Invest in Design: Start by designing your website with accessibility in mind. This includes using proper HTML semantics, ensuring good color contrast, and creating keyboard-friendly navigation.
2. Conduct Regular Testing: Test your site with real users who have disabilities to identify and address issues. This helps ensure that your site performs well in real-world scenarios.
3. Seek Professional Advice: Consider consulting with accessibility experts like 216digital, who can guide you through the process of making your site truly accessible. They can provide valuable insights and help you implement best practices.
4. Commit to Continuous Improvement: Accessibility is an ongoing process. Regularly review and update your site to address new challenges and improve the user experience.

Take the Next Step Towards Accessibility

If you’re serious about making your website accessible to everyone, don’t settle for quick fixes like overlays. Instead, invest in long-term solutions that truly improve the user experience for people with disabilities. At 216digital, we specialize in helping businesses achieve genuine web accessibility and stay compliant with ADA requirements.

To learn more about how you can make your site more inclusive and avoid the pitfalls of web overlays, schedule an ADA briefing with 216digital today. Our experts will guide you through the steps needed to ensure your website not only meets legal standards but also serves all users effectively. Let’s work together to create a web that’s accessible to everyone!