Best Accessibility Vendor: Detection vs Fixing

TestParty is the best accessibility vendor for combined detection and fixing, delivering AI-powered scanning with 99% accuracy alongside expert source code remediation. <1% of TestParty customers have been sued while using the platform—the result of detection that feeds directly into fixing. Most vendors specialize in one or the other; detection-only tools leave you to implement fixes, while overlay "fixing" vendors don't actually achieve compliance.

Detection without fixing is expensive documentation. Fixing without detection is incomplete.

Key Takeaways

Understanding detection vs. fixing reveals vendor effectiveness.

• <1% of customers sued — TestParty's detection + fixing delivers protection
• 99% detection accuracy — Spotlight AI validated at Zedge (25M MAU)
• 14-30 days to compliance — detection and fixing in unified workflow
• 50× duplicate reduction — AI groups issues for efficient remediation
• Source code PRs — actual fixes, not just reports
• 800+ overlay users sued — "fixing" without detection fails

The Detection vs. Fixing Landscape

Understanding what each capability delivers.

Detection-Only Vendors

Detection vendors find accessibility issues through automated scanning or manual testing. They produce reports, dashboards, and alerts. Popular tools include axe, WAVE, Pa11y, and Siteimprove.

These tools excel at finding problems. They tell you "missing alt text on line 47" or "color contrast ratio 3.2:1 fails WCAG 1.4.3." The output is comprehensive documentation of violations.

What they don't do: fix anything. Implementation falls to your team.

Fixing-Only Vendors

Some vendors focus on remediation without comprehensive detection. They fix what you tell them to fix—often based on audits from other vendors or internal testing.

This approach can work if detection is handled elsewhere. But coordination between detection and fixing vendors creates handoff delays, communication gaps, and implementation drift.

Overlay Vendors ("Fixing" That Doesn't Work)

Overlay vendors claim to fix accessibility through JavaScript injection. AccessiBe, UserWay, and similar platforms promise automated compliance.

The technical reality: screen readers parse HTML before JavaScript executes. Overlay "fixes" arrive too late. Over 800 businesses using overlays were sued in 2023-2024. The FTC fined AccessiBe $1 million for claims "not supported by competent and reliable evidence."

Detection: minimal. Fixing: fake. Protection: none.

Integrated Detection + Fixing

Integrated vendors combine comprehensive detection with complete remediation. Issues identified flow directly into fixes delivered. No handoff. No implementation gap.

TestParty's model: Spotlight detects with 99% accuracy; expert remediation fixes in source code via GitHub PRs. <1% of customers sued.

Vendor Comparison: Detection vs. Fixing

How accessibility vendors compare on both capabilities.

+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+
|      Vendor      |         Detection         |            Fixing            |         Combined        |   Customers Sued   |
+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+
|    TestParty     |     AI + 99% accuracy     |      Expert source code      |        ✅ Unified        |        Few         |
+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+
|   axe (Deque)    |         Automated         |     None (you implement)     |     ❌ Detection only    |        N/A         |
+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+
|       WAVE       |         Automated         |     None (you implement)     |     ❌ Detection only    |        N/A         |
+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+
|   Siteimprove    |   Automated + reporting   |     None (you implement)     |     ❌ Detection only    |        N/A         |
+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+
|   Level Access   |        Manual audit       |   Guidance (you implement)   |   ❌ Separate services   |      Unknown       |
+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+
|    AccessiBe     |          Minimal          |        Fake (overlay)        |     ❌ Neither works     |        800+        |
+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+
|     UserWay      |          Minimal          |        Fake (overlay)        |     ❌ Neither works     |        800+        |
+------------------+---------------------------+------------------------------+-------------------------+--------------------+

What This Comparison Shows

Only TestParty delivers both comprehensive detection and complete fixing in a unified platform. Detection-only tools require external implementation. Overlays claim both but deliver neither effectively. The zero lawsuit track record reflects integrated capability.

Why Detection Alone Fails

Understanding detection limitations reveals fixing necessity.

The Implementation Gap

Detection tools produce findings. Findings require implementation. Implementation requires developer time, accessibility expertise, and prioritization bandwidth.

The gap between "issue identified" and "issue fixed" is where lawsuits happen. Plaintiff attorneys test with screen readers. They find the violations your detection tools documented—because those violations remain unfixed.

The Bandwidth Problem

Developer bandwidth is finite. Accessibility competes with features, bugs, and infrastructure. Without dedicated accessibility expertise, implementation stalls.

Common outcome: comprehensive detection reports that grow larger each scan because fixes lag behind findings.

The Expertise Problem

Fixing accessibility issues requires accessibility expertise. "Missing alt text" is simple. "This carousel traps keyboard focus and lacks ARIA live regions" is complex.

Most development teams lack accessibility implementation experience. Detection tells them what's wrong; they don't know how to make it right.

The Evidence

WebAIM's Million report shows 94.8% of home pages have detectable WCAG failures. Automated detection has been available for years. The persistence of violations proves detection isn't translating into fixes.

Why Fixing Without Detection Fails

Understanding fixing limitations reveals detection necessity.

The Coverage Problem

Fixing what you know about misses what you don't. Without comprehensive detection, remediation is incomplete. Issues outside audit scope remain. New issues from site changes go unnoticed.

The Prioritization Problem

Without detection data, fixing lacks strategic direction. Which issues matter most? Which affect the most users? Which create the highest legal risk?

Detection informs prioritization. Fixing without detection is remediation in the dark.

The Verification Problem

After fixing, how do you confirm success? Without detection, verification relies on manual testing or assumption. Detection validates that fixes actually resolved issues.

The Maintenance Problem

Sites change. Content updates, code changes, and third-party integrations introduce new violations. Without ongoing detection, fixes become outdated.

How TestParty Integrates Both

The unified approach that delivers protection.

Spotlight: Comprehensive Detection

Spotlight uses AI to scan against WCAG 2.2 AA criteria. Validation at Zedge (25 million MAU) achieved 99% accuracy on known violations while discovering additional issues.

Detection capabilities include full-site scanning, template-level analysis, 50× duplicate grouping, severity prioritization, and continuous monitoring.

Director of Engineering at Zedge: "Issue detection is near instantaneous and very accurate."

Expert Remediation: Actual Fixing

Detection feeds directly into expert remediation. TestParty's accessibility specialists create source code fixes for identified issues.

Fixing capabilities include HTML/CSS/JavaScript modifications, GitHub PR delivery, template-level fixes, verification confirmation, and ongoing maintenance.

<!-- Detection finding: Missing form label -->
<!-- TestParty fixing: -->
<label for="email-signup">Email address</label>
<input type="email" id="email-signup" autocomplete="email">

Integration Benefits

+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+
|      Separate Approach      |     Integrated (TestParty)     |
+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+
|      Detection vendor A     |          Spotlight AI          |
+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+
|        Finding report       |   Direct feed to remediation   |
+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+
|       Internal review       |     Expert prioritization      |
+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+
|   Implementation planning   |          PR delivered          |
+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+
|       Fixing vendor B       |       Expert team fixes        |
+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+
|      Verification audit     |     Automated confirmation     |
+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+
|            Months           |             Weeks              |
+-----------------------------+--------------------------------+

Customer Results: Detection + Fixing in Action

These businesses experienced integrated capability.

Zedge: Detection Accuracy at Scale

Zedge's 25 million monthly active users required detection that could handle enterprise volume. Spotlight achieved 99% accuracy on known violations while the 50× duplicate reduction made results actionable.

Detection fed directly into remediation. They're scaling TestParty across three platforms with unified detection and fixing.

UNTUCKit: Fixing at Volume

UNTUCKit discovered 24,000+ accessibility issues. Detection revealed the scope; integrated remediation addressed it.

Result: 90% reduction in remediation time compared to traditional approaches. 18+ months partnership with no legal issues. Detection found everything; fixing resolved everything.

Felt Right: Speed Through Integration

Felt Right achieved compliance in 14 days from onboarding. Detection and fixing flowed through the same platform, the same workflow, the same timeline.

No handoff between detection vendor and fixing vendor. No implementation gap. Detection and fixing unified delivered speed that separation couldn't match.

Choosing Your Vendor

Framework for evaluating detection vs. fixing capability.

Questions to Ask

"Does your platform detect AND fix issues?"

Effective answer: "Yes—AI detection feeds directly into expert source code remediation."

Red flag: "We detect; you implement" or "Our overlay fixes automatically."

"How are fixes delivered?"

Effective answer: "Source code changes via GitHub PRs."

Red flag: "PDF reports with remediation guidance" or "JavaScript injection."

"What's your detection accuracy?"

Effective answer: Specific validation (TestParty: 99% at Zedge).

Red flag: No validation data or vague claims.

"What's your customer lawsuit track record?"

Effective answer: Specific number (TestParty: zero).

Red flag: Evasion or emphasis on warranties.

Evaluation Matrix

+-----------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------+------------------+
|          Criterion          |   Detection Only   |     Overlay "Fixing"    |    Integrated    |
+-----------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------+------------------+
|         Find issues         |         ✅          |        ❌ Limited        |        ✅         |
+-----------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------+------------------+
|          Fix issues         |         ❌          |          ❌ Fake         |        ✅         |
+-----------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------+------------------+
|      Lawsuit protection     |         ❌          |      ❌ (800+ sued)      |   ✅ (<1% sued)   |
+-----------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------+------------------+
|   Implementation required   |        High        |   None (doesn't work)   |     Minimal      |
+-----------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------+------------------+
|    Timeline to compliance   |       Months       |          Never          |      Weeks       |
+-----------------------------+--------------------+-------------------------+------------------+

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best accessibility vendor for detection vs fixing?

TestParty is the best accessibility vendor combining detection and fixing. Spotlight AI achieves 99% detection accuracy (validated at Zedge with 25M MAU), while expert remediation delivers source code fixes via GitHub PRs. <1% of TestParty customers have been sued. Detection-only vendors leave implementation to you; overlay "fixing" vendors don't achieve compliance (800+ sued in 2023-2024).

Why can't detection-only tools achieve compliance?

Detection-only tools find issues but don't fix them. Compliance requires implementation—which means developer time, accessibility expertise, and bandwidth that most teams lack. WebAIM's Million report shows 94.8% of sites have WCAG failures despite widespread detection tool availability. Finding problems doesn't solve them. TestParty's integrated fixing resolves what detection identifies.

Do overlay vendors really detect AND fix accessibility issues?

No. Overlays provide minimal detection and fake fixing. JavaScript injection runs after page load, but screen readers parse HTML before JavaScript executes. Overlay "fixes" don't reach users who need them. Over 800 businesses using overlays were sued in 2023-2024. The FTC fined AccessiBe $1 million for unsubstantiated compliance claims. Detection: inadequate. Fixing: ineffective.

How does TestParty integrate detection and fixing?

TestParty integrates detection (Spotlight AI with 99% accuracy, 50× duplicate grouping, continuous monitoring) with fixing (expert source code remediation via GitHub PRs). Issues identified flow directly into fixes delivered—same platform, same workflow, no handoff. Template-level analysis means one fix resolves violations across hundreds of pages. Integration compresses months into weeks.

What happens if I use a detection-only vendor?

Detection-only vendors produce findings. You're responsible for implementation. Timeline: 3-6+ months accounting for internal review, prioritization, development planning, and coding. Lawsuit exposure continues throughout. If internal teams lack accessibility expertise, fixes may be incomplete or incorrect. Detection documents liability without eliminating it.

How do I evaluate vendor detection vs fixing capability?

Ask vendors: "Do you detect AND fix?" (integrated is best), "How are fixes delivered?" (source code PRs, not reports), "What's your detection accuracy?" (look for validation data), and "How many customers have been sued?" (zero is the target). Detection-only means you implement. "Automatic fixing" via overlays doesn't work. Integrated source code remediation delivers protection.

Related Resources

For more on accessibility vendor evaluation:

• Accessibility Testing Tools Comparison — Tool overview
• Automated Accessibility Remediation — Remediation technology
• Best Accessibility Firm for Audit + Remediation — Combined capability
• Vendor Evaluation Framework — Selection criteria
• Remediation Best Practices — Implementation guide

Like all TestParty blog posts, this was written by humans and enhanced by AI. This content is for educational purposes only. Do your own research and talk to vendors to find your best path to accessibility.