Ditch Overlays, Embrace the Real Fix
Why overlays are actually bad for businesses and users
Accessibility shortcuts? Buckle up, we are tearing down the illusion.
For starters, disregard a mindset of “click and voila” then magic happens. Overlays might claim instant inclusivity, but they’re more like digital band-aids covering gaping accessibility wounds. Following are reasons why overlays, often falsely referred to as quick fixes, actually harm both businesses and users:
- Forget Privacy: Overlays behave as a peeping Tom that can snoop on user data, potentially violating privacy laws. Not cool.
- Incomplete Picture: Overlays only catch a fraction of accessibility issues, leaving 40-70% of problems lurking in the shadows. Simply put, it does not get the job done.
- False Alarm: Overlays give a fake sense of security, making one think their site is accessible when it’s not. It is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
- Tech Tangle: Overlays often clash with assistive technologies, forcing users to learn a new system for every site visited. Talk about frustrating those that we want to help.
- Expert Eye Roll: Accessibility pros frequently diss overlays for introducing more bugs than they fix and perpetuating discrimination. Yikes.
Have no fear because there is a better way. Instead of masking problems, let’s fix them at the root. Here is a recipe for true accessibility:
- Listen Up: Talk to real users with disabilities. Understand their needs and preferences. Bonus points for building trust and loyalty.
- Accessibility Audit Time: Hire a pro to scan your site for accessibility roadblocks. Think of it as a digital deep clean.
- Prioritize the Fixes: Not all issues are created equal. Focus on the biggest offenders first.
- Roll Up Your Sleeves: Time to remediate and implement the fixes. Restructure design, rewrite content, and clean up code.
- Test, Test, Test: Use screen reader software to see if the website works effectively for everyone.
- Accessibility Is Not a One-Shot Deal: Keep testing, learning, improving, and evolving. Maintenance matters.
By ditching the overlay illusion and embracing a multi-step approach with real user insights and professional audits, you are creating a website that is welcoming to all visitors. That is not just good business, but it is also the right thing to do.
In the end, overlays are a dead-end and not a shortcut. By investing in true accessibility, you will have a website that succeeds for everyone.
This knowledge sharing blog is one part of a series of content we have produced on overlays. In addition to this resource blog, we also offer:
- Website Accessibility Overlays – In this video, we explain what an overlay is and give you a sneak peak of our team members, Marty Molloy and Kristen Witucki, diving into the usability and effectiveness of web accessibility overlays.
- Accessibility Overlays: A Lived Experience – In this video, Tamman teammate Kristen Witucki, a woman who is blind, guides us through her everyday experience using website accessibility overlays. Watch to see if they deliver as promised.
- The One About Overlays – Are overlays a quick fix or a legal landmine? Our podcast explores why they’re a flawed solution for digital accessibility. Tamman advocates for a real fix, not a shortcut.
- The Myth of Accessibility Overlays – Overlays are often touted as a quick fix for digital accessibility. However, they’re not a silver bullet. In this blog post, we’ll debunk the myths surrounding overlays and explore why they fall short in achieving true accessibility.
- Overlay Overconfidence – Our team member Kristen brings her lived experience as a blind woman to address how overlays, a tempting shortcut for businesses, often fail to deliver on their promises and why it’s necessary to prioritize users in building true accessibility.
