Automated widgets Do Not Make Your Website WCAG Compliant
The Federal Trade Commission recently dropped the hammer against the most prominent player in the accessibility widget arena, accessiBe. Ruling that accessiBe must pay $1 million and refrain from making any further misleading claims, this is a dramatic development in the online accessibility space. To understand the significance, it’s helpful to have the complete picture of how we got here.
What are accessibility widgets?
Accessibility widgets provide an overlay with which users can interact to modify some of the appearances and functions of a website. A user can toggle a switch to enhance visuals for users who have visual impairments, reduce flashing elements for users that suffer from seizures, optimize the website experience for those who navigate with keyboards, etc. All of these functions can certainly be beneficial for users with disabilities. And they can make websites more accessible than they currently are. However, more accessible does not mean compliant with accessibility laws and WCAG standards. And this is apparently part of what landed accessiBe in hot water.
The problem with widgets
Making a website accessible can be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. There must first be a manual audit (or combination of automated and manual) of the website to find every issue that doesn’t meet accessibility standards. That is followed by the remediation process which often requires dozens of developer hours to complete. The cost is usually well into five figures territory. Possibly six, for large and very complex sites.
When widgets came along, they were touted as a quick and inexpensive alternative to manual accessibility work. About $2000/year and you drop in a line of code into your website, and that’s it. It sounded like a great solution. But web accessibility experts immediately started warning anyone who would listen that widgets do not make your website compliant. The widget makers claimed otherwise.
When lawsuits began to target websites with accessibility widgets present, the writing was on the wall and it became clear that a widget does not necessarily make you safe from litigation. Despite all of this, widgets were still thriving and new companies with widgets continue to enter the market. It’s understandable when you’re looking at $2k and a 10 minute install vs. $20k and a 10 week remediation process that one may be tempted to go the fast and cheap route. But, according to UsableNet’s report on web accessibility lawsuits, over 25% of all accessibility lawsuits filed in 2024 targeted websites that have accessibility widgets installed. So while they may be cheaper and faster, it doesn’t appear that they are saving companies from getting sued.
When it comes to accessibility, there are no shortcuts
There really is no way around it. For businesses, an accessible website is not only important, it’s required by law. And lawsuits are coming fast and furious. Over 4,000 in 2024. So business owners and website managers need to take it seriously. Build website accessibility audits and remediation into your budgets. And start now, because it’s better to get ahead of it than to be scrambling while you have a lawsuit hanging over your head.
