With the new EU laws enforcing stricter accessibility compliance requirements, businesses are under increasing pressure to ensure their digital platforms are accessible to all users. However, this surge in demand has also led to a rise in companies offering automated accessibility solutions, marketing them as quick and easy fixes for compliance. While these tools may seem like a convenient shortcut, they often fail to meet legal standards and, in some cases, can even make websites less accessible for users with disabilities.

In this blog, our testing team explores the limitations of automated accessibility tools, the risks of accessibility overlays, and why a manual testing approach is essential for true compliance.

What are Accessibility Overlays?

Accessibility overlays are automated software solutions that attempt to modify a website’s front-end without actually fixing the underlying accessibility issues. They are often marketed as a simple way to achieve WCAG compliance without requiring code changes, offering features like:

✔ AI-generated alternative text (alt-text)
✔ Keyboard navigation enhancements
✔ Automated contrast adjustments

However, while these solutions may appear effective at first glance, they do not make a website truly accessible. Many overlays simply mask accessibility problems rather than addressing the root cause, which is why they are widely criticised by the accessibility community.

The problems with automated accessibility solutions

Although automation has a role in accessibility testing, relying on it alone is a major red flag. Businesses should be wary of companies that:

🚨 Claim to make a website fully compliant using only automated tools. Automated checks can detect only about 30% of accessibility issues, meaning the majority of barriers will go unnoticed. WCAG compliance cannot be assured without manual testing.

🚨 Offer an “overlay” as a quick-fix accessibility solution
Many overlays interfere with assistive technologies rather than improving them. Some users with disabilities even report that overlays make sites harder to use by introducing unnecessary changes that disrupt their screen readers or navigation tools.

🚨 Do not mention manual testing or real user feedback
True accessibility testing requires real-world evaluation with assistive technology users to ensure the website meets the needs of all individuals, not just what an AI tool can detect.

Why automated tools can not fully ensure compliance

Automated accessibility tools can help identify some basic issues, but they are severely limited in their ability to detect more complex accessibility barriers.

Here are two examples of what automation cannot catch:

🔍 Alt-Text Accuracy (WCAG 1.1.1: Non-Text Content)
Automated tools can check if an image has alt-text, but they cannot verify whether the alt-text actually conveys the correct meaning. For example, if an image of a "Buy Now" button has alt-text that simply says "Image1234," an automated tool would mark it as compliant, even though it provides no meaningful description.

🔍 Heading & Structure Logic (WCAG 1.3.1: Info & Relationships)
An automated tool can check if a website follows a logical heading sequence, but it cannot detect if visually structured content lacks the proper HTML tags. A list of items formatted as plain paragraphs rather than <ul> (unordered list) elements would go unnoticed, making it difficult for screen readers to interpret relationships between content.

These are just two examples of how automation falls short and why manual testing is essential.

What businesses should do instead

To ensure genuine accessibility compliance, businesses should focus on a comprehensive approach that includes:

✅ Manual Testing
Using real assistive technology, such as screen readers and keyboard navigation, to assess usability.
✅ WCAG 2.2 Standards
Testing against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to meet international accessibility benchmarks.
✅ Real User Feedback
Engaging people with disabilities to test how effectively they can navigate and interact with digital content.
✅ Code-Level Fixes
Making accessibility improvements directly in the website code, rather than relying on temporary front-end adjustments.

Final thoughts: no shortcuts to accessibility

With the new EU regulations holding businesses accountable for accessibility compliance, it’s crucial to recognise that there are no quick fixes. Automated tools and overlays may seem appealing, but they will not make a website fully compliant and, in some cases, may even put businesses at risk of breaking the law.

To truly ensure inclusivity, organisations must go beyond automation and invest in genuine, user-centered accessibility improvements. By adopting a Shift Left approach, incorporating manual testing, and making accessibility a priority from the start, businesses can create digital experiences that work for everyone, not just what an AI tool can detect.

Accessibility isn’t just a compliance requirement, it’s about building a better, more inclusive web for all.

If you need help with assessing your accessibility, contact our team today.