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accessiBe

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accessiBe
Company typePrivate
IndustryWeb accessibility
FounderDekel Skoop, Gal Vizel, Shir Ekerling
Headquarters
Tel Aviv
,
Israel
ProductsWeb accessibility softwares
Websiteaccessibe.com

accessiBe is an Israeli technology company that offers web accessibility softwares for people with disabilities.[1][2][3] The company has raised $12.5 million in two rounds of funding,[4][5][6][7]

History

accessiBe was founded in 2018 by Dekel Skoop, Gal Vizel and Shir Ekerling.[8][9] The founders worked on developing proprietary software that attempts to make websites accessible for people with disabilities.[10][11][12] The company launched its software product as a tool that scans and remediates websites’ interfaces in real-time, allowing publishers to achieve ADA compliance through implementing the ADA and WCAG 2.1 guidelines.[13][14] The product was built to help website publishers become ADA compliant within hours of deploying accessiBe's code, so that people with disabilities can easily access and interact with these websites.[15][16][17][18][19]

accessiBe first raised $500,000 from private investors including Nadav Dakner, Elad Mor, Itai Elizur, Oron Yaffe, and others.[20] In May 2020, the company raised $12 million in Series A funding from K1 Investment Management.[21][22][23][24]

Controversy

Some web accessibility experts disagree that this software improves websites, among them:

  • Adrian Roselli (a web accessibility consultant[25]) believes that running accessiBe can be grounds for a lawsuit and claims accessiBe itself is not accessible .[26]
  • Eric Eggert (a web accessibility consultant[27]) presented on how accessibility scripts are full of false claims that they cannot fulfill.[28]
  • Karl Groves (founder of Tenon.io, previously with Simply Accessible) highlighted how even “Custom” overlays are problematic and also later compares tools like AccessiBe to "penis enlargement pills".[29][30]
  • Lainey Feingold (disability rights author and lawyer focusing on technology and information access for blind people[31]) does not believe that automated accessibility solutions include disabled people in the digital world, won't prevent lawsuits, and will not create lasting access.[32]
  • Sheri Byrne-Haber (Accessibility Architect at VMware, W3C Silver, ITI & IAAP GLC committee member[33]) doesn't believe that accessibility plugins can solve the problems they claim to and cannot be sufficient to avoid lawsuits.[34][35]
  • Steve Faulkner (member of the W3C Web Platforms Working Group and the W3C ARIA Working Group [36]) showing how accessibility plugins like accessiBe can't fix fundamental issues, replicate existing browser functionality, and can create new problems.[37]
  • Timothy Springer (CEO of Level Access, an accessible technology consultancy) believes employing an accessibility overlay, such as accessiBe, is worse than a typical website would be without one, doesn't meet the ADA's 'Full and Equal Access' requirement, and are not a 'Separate but Equal' solution.[38][39][40][41][42]

Many industry professionals have spoken out against the product category of which accessiBe is part.[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]

Lawsuits

There have been around 100 lawsuits against companies after they invested in a widget-based solution,[54] potentially most prominently the HR giant ADP,[55] and two have named accessiBe specifically: Thomas Klaus and Robert Jahoda v Upright Technologies,[56] and Kolesar v. Bylt, LLC.[57]

AudioEye, a competitor, also filed a lawsuit against accessiBe for patent infringement.[58]

See also

References

  1. ^ Singh, Preeti (14 May 2020). "K1 Bets $12 Million on Company That Improves Internet Access for the Disabled". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  2. ^ Reporter, IBTimes Staff (20 April 2020). "accessiBe Looks to Advance digital Inclusion through AI-Powered Web Accessibility". International Business Times. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  3. ^ Spencer, Jennifer (27 November 2019). "Yes, AI Can Make Company Websites Accessible to All". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  4. ^ יבלונקו, יסמין (13 May 2020). "הסטארט-אפ הישראלי accessiBe גייס 12 מיליון דולר מקרן K1". Globes (in Hebrew). Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  5. ^ "להנגיש אוטומטית כל אתר לאנשים עם מוגבלויות: אקססיבי גייסה 12 מיליון דולר". TheMarker. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Israeli startup accessiBe scores $12 million to make web content accessible to the visual, hearing and motor impaired". Tech.eu. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  7. ^ Dudharejia, Manish (15 October 2019). "How AI-enabled marketing can lower website bounce rates and improve accessibility". Marketing Tech News. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Israeli Startup accessiBe Secures $12M Investment from K1 Finance Magnates". Finance Magnates. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Web accessibility platform accessiBe secures $12 million to make the entire web accessible". BetaNews. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  10. ^ Elizur, Itai (20 August 2019). "How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant, Avoid Accessibility Lawsuits". Small Business Trends. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  11. ^ "How eCommerce Store Owners Can Help Persons with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Crisis". Business 2 Community. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  12. ^ Abo, Jessica (2020-09-04). "How One Company is Working to Solve Web Accessibility". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  13. ^ "Why Your Website Might Not Be Welcoming for People With Disabilities". Fortune. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  14. ^ "How Ecommerce Stores Can Care About Customers During the Pandemic". Search Engine Journal. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  15. ^ "accessiBe aims to make the Internet accessible by 2025". Information Age. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Best Web Accessibility Solutions of 2019 Compared". CloudWedge. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  17. ^ "CaterTrax Launches AI Powered Accessibility Technology, CaterTrax Assist". GlobeNewswire News Room. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  18. ^ Reporter, IBTimes Staff (17 February 2020). "Leading Companies That Are Disrupting Their industries". International Business Times. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  19. ^ Moed, Jonathan. "This Startup Aims To Make E-Commerce Accessible For Everyone". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  20. ^ אורבך, מאיר (13 May 2020). "חברת אקססיבי גייסה 12 מיליון דולר לנגישות של אתרי אינטרנט". Calcalist. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  21. ^ "אקססיבי הישראלית מגייסת כסף, כי אתרים לא מונגשים מפסידים כניסות וחשופים לתביעות". Geektime (in Hebrew). 13 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  22. ^ "accessiBe Raises $12M in Funding". FinSMEs. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  23. ^ Dorbian, Iris (13 May 2020). "K1 invests $12m in AccessiBe". PE Hub. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  24. ^ "3 Reputation Management Tasks You've Never Considered - but Should Be Doing". Social Media Today. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Adrian Roselli". Adrian Roselli. 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  26. ^ "#accessiBe Will Get You Sued". Adrian Roselli. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  27. ^ "About Me". yatil.net. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  28. ^ Eggert, Eric (Oct 19, 2020). "5 False Claims 1-Line "AI" Accessibility Script Vendors Make". YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ Karl, Groves (April 13, 2020). "Even custom overlays have questionable value". Retrieved November 10, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ Karl, Groves (February 5, 2020). "Investment in the accessibility industry". Karl Groves. Retrieved November 10, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ "About Lainey Feingold". Law Office of Lainey Feingold. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  32. ^ "Honor the ADA: Avoid Web Accessibility Quick-Fix Overlays". Law Office of Lainey Feingold. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  33. ^ "About – Sheri Byrne-Haber, CPACC". Medium. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  34. ^ CPACC, Sheri Byrne-Haber (2020-01-14). "Overlays are not the solution to your accessibility problem". Medium. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  35. ^ CPACC, Sheri Byrne-Haber (2020-10-13). "More lawsuits filed against companies using accessibility plugin/overlays". Medium. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  36. ^ "CodePen - Steve Faulkner: Resume". cdpn.io. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  37. ^ Faulkner, Steve (2020-05-13). "Bolt-on Accessibility – 5 gears in reverse". TPG. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  38. ^ "Is Deploying an Accessibility Overlay or Widget Better Than Doing Nothing?". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  39. ^ "Do Accessibility Overlays and Widgets Provide 'Full and Equal Access' as Required Under the ADA's General Rule?". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  40. ^ "Should Accessibility Overlays and Widgets Be Viewed As 'Separate but Equal' Solutions?". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  41. ^ "Do Accessibility Overlays and Widgets Provide Effective Communication?". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  42. ^ "Lies, Damned Lies, Overlays and Widgets". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  43. ^ Alex (2020-08-24). "The Trouble with Accessibility Overlays". Logictran, Inc. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  44. ^ "Are Overlays an ADA Liability? Here's What Experts Had to Say". 216digital. 2020-05-20. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  45. ^ Rivenburgh, Kris (2020-08-19). "The Death of Accessibility Overlays". Medium. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  46. ^ "Is there a silver bullet for ADA website accessibility? Sorry, but the answer is no". accessdefense.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  47. ^ "Accessibility Shortcuts to Avoid: Overlay and Alternate ADA Compliant Websites | Propeller". www.propellermediaworks.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  48. ^ "Zenyth Group | Web Accessibility Overlays: True Fix or False Pretense?". zenythgroup.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  49. ^ "Not All Accessibility Overlays Are Created Equal". Deque. 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  50. ^ "Automated Lies, with one line of code". karlgroves.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  51. ^ Henry, Brad (2020-05-13). "Accessibility Overlays in Digital Content". The Paciello Group (TPG). Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  52. ^ Taylor, Jason. "4 Reasons Why Accessibility Overlays Fall Short [Blog]". blog.usablenet.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  53. ^ Moynat, Author: Julie (2020-04-11). "Web accessibility overlay tools: lies and gum balls". La Lutine du Web. Retrieved 2020-10-23. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  54. ^ Taylor, Jason. "App and Web Accessibility Lawsuits - What's New in 2020". blog.usablenet.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  55. ^ "LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired v. ADP TotalSource". Disability Rights Advocates. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  56. ^ "KLAUS et al v. UPRIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (2:20-cv-00191), Pennsylvania Western District Court". www.pacermonitor.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  57. ^ KLAUS et al v. BYLT, LLC (1:20-cv-00025), Pennsylvania Western District Court. www.pacermonitor.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  58. ^ "Overlay Obstacles: AudioEye Files Suit Against accessiBe, Claims Patent Infringement". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
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