Accessibility overlays

Accessibility overlays under the microscope: real help or false security? So-called accessibility overlays are a supposedly simple solution for implementing the provisions of the Accessibility Improvement Act.

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What are accessibility overlays?

Accessibility overlays are technologies designed to improve the accessibility of web content. They offer extended configuration options that are intended to repair non-accessible content and enable people with disabilities to access content.

The providers of such solutions, which are often sold commercially, advertise that they can be easily integrated into existing content and that the use of their overlays enables important accessibility goals to be achieved. The scope offered ranges from simple assistance and improvement of accessibility to full compliance with guidelines.

An evening desk scene. A small lamp provides light, a website can be seen dimly on the computer monitor.

A carefree all-inclusive package?

Despite many promises, accessibility overlays are not yet able to achieve conformity with the directive. This is primarily due to the fact that the European standard to which the BFSG refers (EN 301549) does not support partial conformity.

Overlays would have to be able to cover every acceptance criterion. A single unfulfilled criterion can lead to the entire page being deemed inaccessible. Many criteria cannot be repaired retrospectively by overlays, but must be considered and implemented as part of the development process by both designers and developers.

Curious? Read more now.

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