Questions
Frequently asked questions
How the before/after witness works, why it is independent, what the evidence is, and how your data is handled.
What does OverlayRiskWitness actually do?
It runs a vendor-independent before/after test on a web page that uses an accessibility overlay. It loads the page with the overlay active, runs axe-core, then loads the same page with the overlay blocked and runs axe-core again. It records the rule-by-rule difference, captures timestamped DOM snapshots and screenshots, and packages everything into a downloadable Risk Packet. It also quotes your own public accessibility statement back against what the page actually does.
How is the witness independent?
The test is run by you, the site owner or your agency — not by the overlay vendor. accessiBe and UserWay sell monitoring dashboards alongside the overlays themselves, so their data shows whether their own product appears to work. OverlayRiskWitness has no stake in the overlay and no stake in the outcome. The evidence lives outside the vendor dashboard and outside any single scanner, which is what makes it usable as a neutral record.
What exactly is in an evidence Risk Packet?
A Risk Packet contains, for each tested page: the axe-core results with the overlay on and off, the rule-by-rule diff between those two runs, timestamped DOM snapshots and screenshots as exhibits, and the relevant lines of your public accessibility or compliance statement quoted against what the page does. Every finding is tied to a specific page URL and a timestamp so the record is reproducible later.
Is this legal advice? Are you saying I am not compliant?
No. OverlayRiskWitness provides independent, automated evidence documentation only. We observe and record what changes when the overlay is on versus off, and we quote your public statement back. We do not determine legal compliance, we do not issue a legal conclusion about your overlay vendor, and we do not provide a compliance certification. Your counsel reads the packet and decides what it means for your specific situation.
Which accessibility overlays are supported?
The witness detects and tests the major widget-style overlays, including accessiBe and UserWay. If no supported overlay is detected on your page, we tell you that and we do not charge you — there is nothing to run a before/after comparison against.
What is the free witness and what does it cost?
The free witness scans one page with no signup and shows you one real before/after finding so you can see how it works before paying. The Risk Packet is $49 one-time and runs the full evidence packet across your high-risk pages. Drift Monitor is $99 per month and re-runs the witness on up to 20 pages on a recurring schedule. Agency Watch is $249 per month for multi-client monitoring.
What counts as a page in the packet?
A page is one URL tested with the overlay on and off. The Risk Packet runs up to 10 high-risk pages — typically your homepage, checkout, contact, login, and any page your accessibility statement explicitly names. Drift Monitor and Agency Watch let you choose which pages to watch.
Is there a refund if you find nothing?
If the witness detects no supported overlay on your site, we will not charge you. If your overlay is detected and the packet runs, it is non-refundable — the evidence was captured and timestamped on your behalf. The free one-page witness lets you see a real finding before you pay.
Can I cancel a monitoring plan at any time?
Yes. Drift Monitor and Agency Watch are month-to-month. Cancel from the dashboard and your plan ends at the current billing period — no penalty and no hoops.
How do you handle and store my data?
We store the evidence packet — page URLs, axe-core findings, timestamps, and snapshot hashes — so you can access and share exhibit links later. We do not store full page content or personal data about your visitors, and card data is held by Stripe, never by us. Data lives in a Supabase Postgres project protected by row-level security. See the Security page for the full set of controls.
Where does the scan run, and where is AI involved?
Scanning runs on Browserbase, a hosted headless browser, which loads your page with the overlay on then off and runs axe-core both times. AI is used only for paid Risk Packets, where the Claude API reads your accessibility statement and quotes the relevant claims back. The free witness is a deterministic axe-core finding state with no AI step.
Do I need technical skills or to install anything?
No. There is no code to install, no browser extension, and no accessibility expertise required. You submit a URL and read the resulting findings and packet. It is built for the non-technical buyer who is responsible for the public accessibility claim.
Still have a question? See how it works, security, or contact us.
OverlayRiskWitness provides evidence documentation, not legal advice. Your counsel decides what the evidence means.