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WCAG Clear

Do accessibility overlays make a website compliant?

By WCAGCLEAR Nerds. Published , updated .

Short answer: no overlay can guarantee compliance. Overlays add a script that tries to patch a page in the browser, but they do not fix the underlying code. In 2025 the FTC finalized an order against one vendor over claims that its AI tool could make any site WCAG compliant.

What is an accessibility overlay?

An overlay is a third-party script, usually shown as a floating accessibility button, that changes a page after it loads. Typical features include text resizing, contrast toggles and automated guesses at alt text or labels. The site's own HTML, design and content stay the same underneath.

Some features, like text resizing, duplicate settings that browsers and operating systems already provide. Automated repairs depend on guesses that can be wrong.

What did the FTC say about overlay claims?

In January 2025 the FTC announced a proposed order requiring accessiBe to pay $1 million to settle allegations that it misrepresented the ability of its AI-powered tool, accessWidget, to make any website WCAG compliant. The FTC approved the final order on April 22, 2025. It bars accessiBe from claiming its automated products can make any website WCAG compliant unless it has evidence to support the claim, and from presenting paid or connected reviews as independent.

The order concerns one company's marketing claims. It is a useful reminder to ask any vendor for evidence before trusting a compliance promise.

What should I do instead of an overlay?

Fix the source. Correct contrast in your design tokens, write real alt text, label every form field, make components keyboard accessible and test key tasks with a screen reader. These fixes live in your code, work for every visitor and do not depend on a script loading.

  • Scan your top pages to find the common errors.
  • Fix templates and components first, so each fix repeats across the site.
  • Test with a keyboard and a screen reader.
  • Publish an accessibility statement and respond to reports.

Frequently asked questions

Can an overlay make things worse?
It can. Overlays can conflict with screen readers and other assistive technology that users already rely on, and automated guesses can add wrong labels. Test any tool with real assistive technology before using it.
Are all accessibility tools overlays?
No. Testing tools like axe, WAVE and Lighthouse find issues so you can fix the code. Overlays try to change the page for visitors instead of fixing it.
Does WCAG Clear sell an overlay?
No. WCAG Clear is a free checker and set of guides that help you find and fix issues in your own code.

Check your own page

Run a free scan to see which of these issues appear on your site.

Check a site

Sources

  1. FTC Approves Final Order Requiring accessiBe to pay $1 Million (April 22, 2025), Federal Trade Commission
  2. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, W3C
  3. Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA (March 18, 2022), U.S. Department of Justice, ADA.gov

This guide is educational and is not legal advice. Talk to an attorney about your legal obligations.