If you see a “failed” accessibility report from a third‑party scanner while accessWidget is installed, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the real, user‑side experience. Most automated scanners crawl pages in a default state, without activating accessWidget or simulating real assistive-technology behavior. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how these tools operate and why their findings can be misleading for websites using accessWidget.

Why third‑party scanners show “failures”

Marketing tactic

Reports like these are often generated by automated testing tools used for marketing or sales outreach, not for compliance verification. Their goal is to prompt website owners to purchase alternative accessibility products or services rather than to deliver a comprehensive accessibility audit.

Tests only server output

Tools like this assess only the website’s static server output, not the dynamic, user‑side browsing session. accessWidget operates at the browser level, where accessibility adjustments are applied for each user. Since these scanners don’t run within a browser or activate accessWidget, they overlook all client‑side modifications. Essentially, they test your site as if accessWidget weren’t there.

Cannot recognize client‑side remediations

Because these tools aren’t actual browsers, they can’t detect browser‑based (client‑side) accessibility remediations. They simply scan raw code, missing the adjustments applied during live sessions. A scan that ignores the client side provides an incomplete and inaccurate picture.

Faulty testing practices

Automated testing tools are not real users. They don’t interact with the site like a person using a keyboard or a screen reader would. Because accessWidget only activates when accessibility needs are detected—or when a user profile is manually selected—these automated tools never trigger it. Their findings therefore represent the inactive state of your site, not the accessible experience real users encounter.

How accessWidget actually works

accessWidget customizes your website’s accessibility experience for users with disabilities who rely on assistive technology. For example:

• When a motor‑impaired user navigates with a keyboard, accessWidget detects this behavior and automatically enables relevant accessibility features.
• When a screen‑reader user visits your site, accessWidget optimizes the site’s structure and ARIA attributes for proper announcement and navigation.

These features are applied in real time within the user’s browser per user session, not on the server. Automated scanners that fail to simulate such interactions will always miss these live remediations.

How to see accurate results

For accurate accessibility results, use accessScan to understand the real experience your visitors get when accessWidget is active. accessScan simulates user interaction and provides a more complete picture of your site’s accessibility status.