Accessibility overlays
type: TechArticle
description: Third-party JavaScript widgets that claim to make a site WCAG-compliant at runtime. They do not work, often harm screen-reader users, and attract lawsuits.
language: en
is part of: Web Specification Studio
author: Web Specification Studio
publisher: Web Specification Studio
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
date modified: 2026-05-29T10:57:27.000Z
citation: Overlay Fact Sheet
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: Overlay Fact Sheet
citation: WP Accessibility Knowledge Base
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: WP Accessibility
citation: WebAIM — Survey of Web Accessibility Practitioners #3 (overlay findings)
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: WebAIM
citation: Equalize Digital — Accessibility Checker documentation
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: Equalize Digital
citation: EU Web Accessibility Directive
  type: CreativeWork
  publisher: European Commission

Web Specification Studio
type: WebSite

Web Specification Studio
type: Organization

breadcrumb
type: BreadcrumbList
item list element: Home
  type: ListItem
  position: 1
  item: https://webspecification.com/
item list element: Spec
  type: ListItem
  position: 2
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/
item list element: Accessibility
  type: ListItem
  position: 3
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/accessibility/
item list element: Accessibility overlays
  type: ListItem
  position: 4
  item: https://webspecification.com/spec/accessibility/accessibility-overlays/