Re: Clarification on AI-Based Accessibility Overlays and WCAG Conformance

A big no to overlay technologies. They do not do anything good to make a website accessible. In fact those who need options listed such as resize text etc would have their own settings on browser and device.

Also these overlays cannot meaningful alt text to images etc. they can’t set focus to dialog etc.

Hope this helps,
Vasu

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________________________________
From: Mario Toscano <mario.toscano@spindox.it>
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2025 8:24:24 PM
To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Subject: Clarification on AI-Based Accessibility Overlays and WCAG Conformance


Dear all,



I am reaching out to ask for clarification regarding the use of AI-based overlay tools for web accessibility.



Many current solutions on the market claim to make a website accessible through overlay that adds functionalities such as:



  *   text resizing,
  *   color contrast adjustments,
  *   screen reader support,
  *   keyboard navigation,
  *   and simulation of assistive technologies.



However, these tools do not modify the original source code or semantic structure of the website.



My questions are:



  1.  According to WCAG 2.1 or 2.2, can a website that relies solely on such AI overlay tools be considered conformant at Level AA?
  2.  Is the use of such AI-based overlays sufficient for public or private and private organizations to legally declare conformance with WCAG standards?
  3.  Will future versions of WCAG (e.g., WCAG 3.0) possibly include such overlays as acceptable methods of achieving compliance, even if the underlying code remains unchanged?



Thank you very much for your tim.



Best regards





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Mario Toscano

SW QA Deputy Director



Mobile: +39 340.9569893

E-mail: mario.toscano@spindox.it<mailto:mario.toscano@spindox.it>

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariotoscano1/



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