A message from Able Access, June 2026
Accessibility Overlays: Overhyped & Overused
The internet has come a long way from “Hello, World” web pages and GeoCities fan sites. Whole industries rely on their digital storefronts to reach and meet the needs of their consumers. But in the rush to set up shop, customers with disabilities get left out when websites get designed without accessibility in mind. Many businesses and even public agencies will use accessibility overlays or additional toolbars on their websites, thinking they’re providing a one-stop shop for anyone to have access to the tools they need to use the website. In reality, these tools often compete with or directly fight against the assistive technology already in use by the customer. Think of it like this: installing these tools for the benefit of users with disabilities would be like adding a kennel of trained service dogs in your restaurant and making it the rule that any person who enters with a service dog must instead use yours. Wear glasses? Well, to eat here, you’re going to have to leave yours in the car and let our host pop a pair of contacts on you. Diabetic? You’ll be using our insulin today. It would be a hard sell for most folks. Instead, invest your resources into developing accessible digital products and working with accessibility professionals at every step from design to deployment. If you’re interested in learning more about what you can do to maximize your site’s accessibility, talk to us at Able Access about how we can support you and make sure your work works for everyone!