Comparisons tidyDOM vs Accessibility Widgets

A number of products have appeared on the market that claim to provide a quick fix for accessibility issues by simply installing a javascript snippet. Some services, like accessiBe, go even further and claim to make website WCAG compliant on-the-fly using “AI”.

While this is very compelling marketing, anyone who has done accessibility remediation work knows that this is a dubious claim. Compliance with most WCAG guidelines requires serious human thought, consideration, and conversation to solve. You can see the depth of discussion in places like WebAIM mailing list as an indication of the knowledge required to implement WCAG guidelines.

tidyDOM is built as a tool that helps empower human experts to bring sites into WCAG compliance and provide a quality experience to visitors that have physical or cognitive challenges.

If you are determined to use one of these automated solutions, we highly recommend consulting your legal council to evaluate whether the service you have chosen provides any protection from demand letters and lawsuits in the U.S.

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Further reading:

• An open letter about accessibility overlays [overlayfactsheet.com]
• People With Disabilities Say This AI Tool Is Making the Web Worse for Them [vice.com]
• The Trouble with Accessibility Overlays [logictran.com]
• Overlay Accessibility Solutions Fail ADA Website Compliance [propellermediaworks.com]