When “We’re Fixing It” Is Not Enough: Ongoing Harm to Blind Website Users

Many businesses respond to accessibility complaints with the same line: “We’re working on it.”
Sounds reasonable. Feels polite. But for blind users facing daily barriers, it’s not enough.

When a website remains broken for screen reader accessibility and people who rely on keyboard navigation, every day of delay means another block to banking, shopping, healthcare, employment, and basic independence. Saying “we’re fixing it” does not erase the harm that continues while the site stays inaccessible.

For blind visitors, access is not a future promise. It’s a present need.

The Problem With “We’re Fixing It”

From the business side, “we’re fixing it” can sound like progress. The team has tickets open, vendors hired, maybe an overlay installed. But blind users experience something very different: the same inaccessible website they could not use last month, last week, or yesterday.

Here’s why that phrase falls short:

• It doesn’t restore access right now.
• It doesn’t change the fact that users are still blocked.
• It doesn’t explain what will actually improve, or when.

For blind users, this often means:

• Inaccessible forms that still cannot be submitted with a screen reader.
• Checkout barriers that still stop purchases at the final step.
• Missing alt text and headings that still make content confusing or invisible.

The harm is ongoing, not paused. Every day the site stays inaccessible, blind visitors lose time, privacy, and opportunity.

Ongoing Harm: What Blind Users Actually Lose

When a website is “under repair” but still inaccessible, blind users don’t just face inconvenience. They lose meaningful access to services and opportunities. The harm looks like this:

• Lost independence. Needing sighted help to complete tasks that should be private, like banking, healthcare, or legal matters.
• Lost time. Spending extra minutes or hours trying to work around broken screen reader accessibility, repeating failed attempts, or waiting on support.
• Lost opportunities. Missing application deadlines, appointment slots, job postings, or limited-time offers because the website accessibility issues block timely action.
• Lost privacy. Having to share sensitive information with someone else just to complete a task that should be accessible independently online.

These are real harms, not technical footnotes. When a website owner says “we’re fixing it” while leaving the same barriers in place, they are asking blind users to absorb all this harm indefinitely.

The ADA’s Focus: Equal Access, Not Future Promises

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is about equal access now, not someday. Under ADA website compliance, businesses must provide access that is effective, not theoretical.

When a site remains unusable for blind visitors, even while “fixes” are pending, the core promise of equal access is not being met. A future plan does not excuse current exclusion.

An accessibility roadmap can be helpful. Clear timelines, real testing, and transparent updates matter. But they are not a substitute for actually making the site usable. Until blind users can navigate, read, and complete tasks independently, the underlying discrimination continues.

For a deeper overview of why equal access matters in digital spaces, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) explains the importance of web accessibility and how it supports people with disabilities across all areas of life.

Common “We’re Fixing It” Mistakes

When businesses say “we’re fixing it,” they often fall into patterns that keep the harm going. Some of the most common mistakes include:

• Only changing the visuals. Updating colors, fonts, or layouts without fixing underlying screen reader accessibility or keyboard navigation issues.
• Relying on overlays alone. Installing a widget that claims to “solve accessibility” while leaving core website accessibility problems untouched in the code.
• Ignoring key user flows. Fixing the homepage but leaving checkout, login, and contact forms inaccessible.
• Skipping real user testing. Making changes without involving blind users or assistive technology testers, then assuming the site works for everyone.

These actions can create the appearance of progress while blind users still cannot complete basic tasks online.

“We’re Fixing It” vs. Real Accessibility

Real accessibility looks different. It is not a vague promise. It is a measurable change in user experience for blind visitors.

A truly accessible website:

• Works with screen readers from page load to checkout.
• Allows full keyboard navigation without traps, jumps, or dead ends.
• Uses clear headings and link text that describe where each section and link leads.
• Provides alt text for important images and transcripts or captions for multimedia.
• Makes forms and error messages understandable and fixable without sighted help.

When these changes are in place and tested, blind users feel the difference immediately. Tasks that once felt impossible become manageable and reliable.

Why Blind Users Still Need Legal Help

Even when businesses say “we’re fixing it,” blind users may still need a website accessibility attorney. Why? Because intent does not remove harm. Actions do.

Legal help can:

• Hold businesses accountable for ongoing ADA website compliance failures.
• Push for clear timelines, documented fixes, and real-world testing.
• Ensure that “accessibility improvements” do not stop at cosmetic changes.
• Help blind users document the barriers they encounter and the impact on their daily lives.

The goal is not punishment for its own sake. It is to move from vague promises to actual, usable access.

What Blind Users Can Do When “We’re Fixing It” Isn’t Enough

If you are a blind user and you keep hearing “we’re fixing it” while the site remains unusable, you are not stuck. You can:

• Document barriers.
  Save page links, dates, tasks you tried to complete, and what went wrong.
• Record assistive tech behavior.
  Note how your screen reader or keyboard behaves when the barrier appears.
• Follow up clearly.
  Tell the business exactly which parts of the site still fail and how it affects your access.
• Seek legal guidance.
  Contact a website accessibility attorney who understands digital accessibility and the rights of blind users under the ADA.

Your experience matters. Ongoing harm is not “just how it is.” It is a sign that something still needs to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t “we’re fixing it” enough for blind users?

Because it does not change the present reality. While a website remains inaccessible, blind users still face blocked tasks, lost time, and lost opportunities, even if a future fix is promised.

Does ADA website compliance require immediate access?

The ADA focuses on effective access, not just plans. A site that stays unusable for blind visitors over time may fail to meet ADA website compliance even if updates are “in progress.”

What kinds of harm do blind users experience from ongoing accessibility issues?

They may lose independence, privacy, and the ability to complete everyday tasks like banking, shopping, booking appointments, or applying for services online.

Are overlays enough to fix accessibility problems?

In most cases, no. Overlays often leave serious website accessibility issues in the underlying code and can interfere with screen reader accessibility instead of truly improving it.

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