Answers

Are accessibility overlay widgets EAA compliant?

In short: No overlay can guarantee EAA compliance. The EAA and EN 301 549 expect the service itself to be accessible, measured against WCAG 2.1 AA. Overlays run a script on top of the page but leave the underlying HTML, CSS and ARIA unchanged, so the barriers in your code remain. Compliance comes from fixing the source.

Last updated: 1 October 2026

What an overlay does

An overlay is a third-party JavaScript snippet that adjusts the page in the visitor's browser — adding ARIA attributes, guessing alt text or offering a toolbar for contrast and font size. It runs after your page loads and does not change the code you ship.

Why that falls short

Automated repair cannot know what an image, form or custom control means, so generated fixes are often wrong or incomplete.
People who use assistive technology usually have their own settings already; an extra toolbar does not fix missing labels or keyboard traps.
If the script fails to load, the page is back to its inaccessible state.
In January 2025 the US FTC reached a $1 million settlement with accessiBe over claims that its overlay made websites compliant.

What to do instead

Scan your pages to find code-level issues, fix them in your templates and components, and cover what automation cannot see with manual keyboard and screen-reader testing. The result persists and can be described honestly in your accessibility statement.

Official sources

See where your site stands

Our free automated scan checks your page against machine-testable WCAG 2.1 AA rules in about 20 seconds — no signup, no overlay.

Scan your site free →

FAQ

Can I keep an overlay while I fix my code?

You can, but it does not count as the fix. Do not describe your site as compliant because an overlay is installed — your accessibility statement has to reflect the real state of the code.

Is NormHarbor an overlay?

No. We do not add any script or widget to your site. NormHarbor scans your HTML, CSS and ARIA and tells you what to change in your code.

General information, not legal advice. National transposition laws differ — consult a lawyer for a binding assessment of your business.

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