There are some companies that claim to fix accessibility issues with one line of code and tout easy ADA and Section 508 compliance. Usually the solution comes in the form of a widget that loads atop your website and acts as an overlay. There are many issues with this approach, which I’ve written about at length.
From a legal standpoint, it’s worth noting that these overlay widgets are consistently cited as an accessibility barrier in ADA lawsuits (yes, you read that right). One of the largest companies even has an open class action lawsuit for breach of contract regarding the compliance claims for their accessibility product.
I love automated tools for accessibility testing and frequently use products like WebAIM’s Wave tool or Deque’s axe DevTools to get a general sense of what issues exist on a page. However, these are diagnostic and issue tracking tools, not solutions.
Fixing accessibility errors requires manual changes to your website’s design, code, and content. Maybe artificial intelligence will be able to make these fixes in the future, but so far that’s not possible.
All I ask is that you remain cautious of these company’s claims as you consider a solution that’s the best fit for your business.
Don’t Miss Out
Get practical accessibility tips in your inbox every week.