The Accessibility Trap: Why 'Quick-Fix' Overlays Are Costing Credit Unions in 2025

Credit unions pride themselves on being a trusted community partner, but in 2025, many are facing a new challenge: a surge in ADA website lawsuits. A growing number of these cases target credit unions that have tried to take a shortcut to compliance by using accessibility overlays.

These overlays, or widgets, are marketed as an easy, one-click solution to make a website ADA-compliant. They promise to fix issues with things like contrast, text size, and keyboard navigation. They sound great, right?

But here's the reality: they don't fix anything. They’re a legal landmine, and here’s why savvy credit unions are moving past them.

A False Promise of Protection

Think of an overlay as a fresh coat of paint on a crumbling wall. It looks good at first, but it doesn't solve the underlying structural issues. These overlays don't actually change your website's core code. They just add a new layer on top, leaving fundamental accessibility problems—like poor keyboard navigation or missing alt text on images—unaddressed.

Legal experts and courts are increasingly seeing through this "quick-fix" approach. They're ruling that true compliance isn't about appearance; it's about providing genuine access. And the lawsuits prove it—many new cases are specifically citing the use of these widgets as a failed attempt at compliance.

The Conflict with Real Users

For a website to be truly accessible, it has to work with the assistive technology people with disabilities actually use, like screen readers and voice-control software. Overlays can sometimes interfere with this technology, creating frustrating new barriers for the very people they are supposed to help.

So what's the real solution? It's not a shortcut, but a commitment to building a website that's truly accessible from the ground up. This means:

Auditing Your Website: Get a professional to do a real, in-depth check of your site's code.

Fixing the Foundation: Tackle the underlying issues, making sure your site works seamlessly with existing assistive technologies.

Educating Your Team: Train your developers and content creators on how to build with accessibility in mind.

By prioritizing true digital accessibility, you're not just avoiding a lawsuit—you're living up to the core credit union value of serving every member of your community.

Ready to build a website that's a model of trust and inclusion? Let's talk about a redesign that's built on a solid foundation, not a faulty shortcut. Fill out our contact form today to start a conversation about a truly accessible website.