Joe Dolson explains why accessibility overlays should not be welcome. ⛔
Overlays are software that, typically by using JavaScript, attempts to automatically resolve accessibility issues on a site. As Joe points out:
“Using an overlay takes away choices and decision making… the development team doesn’t learn anything from the process. In order to make their next site accessible, they pay the overlay company more money; and this cycle has no end.”
This Overlay Fact Sheet provides a good start. It explains what overlays are, along with the pros and cons of using them. Ultimately, “while the use of an overlay may improve compliance with a handful of provisions in major accessibility standards, full compliance cannot be achieved with an overlay.”
