The Impact of Web Accessibility Overlays | Master’s Thesis by Daniela Kubesch
October 21, 2025
This thesis investigates the impact of accessibility overlays on the usability and user experience (UX) for individuals with permanent visual impairments, thereby addressing a gap in academic research. Given the rise in visual impairments due to population growth and ageing, this focus is relevant and timely. The conducted research involved an evaluation study that comprised two parts: a technical evaluation of accessibility overlays against the WCAG 2.1 standard, and a user study that assessed the usability and UX of 21 individuals with permanent visual impairments when interacting with websites that employ an accessibility overlay. Furthermore, interviews with two accessibility consultants and two accessibility overlay company representatives provided supplementary information to the discussion.
Source: The Impact of Web Accessibility Overlays | Master’s Thesis by Daniela Kubesch
To say that accessibility overlays are controversial in the accessibility industry is to put it mildly. Overlays underwhelm, as Adrienne Roselli put it in a talk here on Conffab, available with a free membership.
This master’s thesis on the topic recently caught our eye.
So, what did it conclude? Well, you’ll have to read the conclusion to find out.
