Accessibility overlay
Also known as: Accessibility widget, overlay tool
An accessibility overlay is a third-party script that adds a floating "accessibility" button to a site, promising instant compliance. In practice, overlays don't fix the underlying code and are widely criticised.
In plain terms
Overlays market themselves as a one-line, instant fix. But they can't repair bad HTML, they often clash with the real assistive technology people already use, and disabled users overwhelmingly report they make sites harder to use. Hundreds of accessibility experts have publicly recommended against them.
Why it matters
Overlays give a false sense of safety — and they haven't stopped lawsuits; sites using them still get sued. Real accessibility comes from fixing the code, not layering a widget on top.
A site adds an overlay and still fails an audit, because the underlying buttons still have no labels and the overlay can't supply meaningful ones.
Related terms
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