How AI can (and can’t) help with accessibility

Accessibility isn’t a nice-to-have, not just for higher education. It’s a legal requirement, a moral imperative, and a core part of serving your full audience. As digital content continues to multiply across websites, accessibility can feel like a moving target, especially for teams that are already stretched thin.

Once again, many are looking at AI for help. With generative tools, automated checkers, and language models promising efficiency and scale, many web teams are wondering: can AI finally help us get ahead of accessibility?

The answer is: yes and no.

Let’s take a look at where AI can offer real support and where human oversight still reigns supreme.

Where AI can help with accessibility

1. Captioning and transcription

AI tools like Otter.ai or Whisper can automatically generate transcripts and captions for videos and podcasts. This is a big win for speed and coverage.

Pro tip: Always review auto-generated captions. Even small misinterpretations can alter meaning (especially in academic content).

2. Alternative text suggestions

Some platforms can suggest alt text for images using object recognition or contextual inference. This can save time, especially when uploading dozens of images at once.

However, these suggestions often lack nuance. “Two people at a table” doesn’t convey the same information as “Admissions counselor advising a first-year student in the student center.”

Pro Tip: Try Cascade CMS’s AI-driven suggestions for alt-text.

3. Accessibility checks 

AI-powered platforms can crawl entire websites and flag potential accessibility violations such as contrast issues, missing form labels, improper heading structures, etc.

You can use it for triaging large sites and identifying systemic problems.

Where AI falls short

1. Contextual meaning

AI can’t determine whether your content actually communicates what it needs to. It might pass a technical scan but still confuse a screen reader user.

Example: A button that says “Click here” might be perfectly marked up. But it doesn’t tell the user what they’re clicking for.

2. Tone, empathy, and inclusivity

AI lacks emotional intelligence. It won’t know if your language is unintentionally biased, confusing, or exclusionary. That requires lived experience, human testing, and editorial review.

3. Compliance vs. experience

Passing a checklist doesn’t mean your site is usable for people with disabilities. Real accessibility is about experience, not just validation.

How should you use AI?

Here’s a simple framework:

Task Type	AI Role	Human Role
Captioning & transcription	Generate draft	Edit and verify
Alt text	Suggest based on image	Add context and intent
Site scans	Identify patterns	Prioritize and implement fixes
Content writing	Flag complex phrases	Simplify and personalize

Use AI to amplify, not replace. Let it surface patterns, automate the repetitive, and help you work faster. But remember: accessibility is ultimately about people. That means it always requires human care.

Aim higher than just compliance

AI can help you meet accessibility guidelines, but it can’t replace empathy. The most inclusive digital experiences come from teams who deeply understand their audiences and are committed to making everyone feel welcome, respected, and supported.

Once again, AI can free up time for the human work that really matters.

What about you? Have you used AI to help with accessibility?