Reading
Text size, spacing, contrast and reading support.
Website access tools, without false promises
Accessibility Widget for Website
An accessibility widget can help users personalise how they read, listen, navigate or understand a website. It should support access, not pretend to replace accessible design, WCAG work or proper testing.
The best widget helps users without hiding underlying accessibility issues.
Reading
Text size, spacing, contrast and reading support.
Listening
Text-to-speech or read-aloud features.
Cognitive load
Simplify, summarise or reduce page complexity.
Start here
What an accessibility widget can help with
Listening
Text-to-speech or read-aloud features.
Cognitive load
Simplify, summarise or reduce page complexity.
Navigation
Keyboard, focus or orientation support where designed properly.
Preference
Let users adjust the experience to fit their needs.
Inclusion
Support people who may not use traditional assistive technology.
Limits
What a widget cannot do
An accessibility widget cannot guarantee website accessibility. It cannot fix inaccessible code, poor forms, missing labels, broken keyboard access, inaccessible documents or weak content design on its own.
A good widget should sit alongside accessible design, WCAG audits, usability testing, content improvements, manual checks and ongoing governance.
AXS Toolbar
AXS Toolbar approach
AXS Toolbar is designed to support cognitive and access needs without relying on aggressive overlay-style claims. It focuses on useful user controls such as reading support, simplification, summarisation and navigation assistance.
Audit pairing
When to pair a widget with an audit
If the goal is compliance, risk reduction or procurement confidence, pair a toolbar with a proper accessibility audit. The toolbar helps users. The audit finds and prioritises underlying issues.
Toolbar and audit resources
Support users and find the underlying issues
AXS Toolbar helps users personalise access. AXS Audit helps identify what your site still needs to fix.
Useful connected guidance
These pages give more context and connect this guide to practical support.
AXS Toolbar guidesBrowse AXS Toolbar guidance.Open guidanceWhat is an accessibility widget?Read a related AXS Toolbar guide.Open guidanceWeb accessibility widgets pros, cons and complianceUnderstand widget limits.Open guidanceAXS ToolbarExplore the product.Open guidanceWebsite accessibility auditRead audit guidance.Open guidanceAXS AuditExplore audit tools.Open guidance
Questions people often ask
Short answers, written in plain language.
What is an accessibility widget?
An accessibility widget is a website tool that gives users controls to adjust reading, display, navigation or understanding.
Can an accessibility widget make a website compliant?
No. A widget can support users, but it does not replace accessible design, WCAG testing or remediation.
What is the difference between a widget and a toolbar?
The terms often overlap. A toolbar usually describes a visible set of user controls, while widget is broader website-plugin language.
What makes AXS Toolbar different?
AXS Toolbar focuses strongly on cognitive support, including simplify and summarise features, rather than claiming to automatically fix accessibility.
Should I still audit my website?
Yes. A widget should be paired with testing and remediation if accessibility and compliance matter.
Who is an accessibility widget for?
It can support disabled, neurodivergent and situationally disabled users who benefit from adjusting the website experience.