Accessibility
Advancing digital participation together
The digital world has a universal claim and should therefore reach all people. Almost one in seven people worldwide has some form of disability that restricts their use of technology. As people with disabilities in particular use the internet more frequently and intensively than average, accessible websites are an important prerequisite for enabling people with disabilities, restrictions and older people to participate in the discourse.
For more than 25 years, we have been pursuing the goal of using digital tools to communicate complex information in a simple and understandable way. Accordingly, we have subjected our design and technology standards to this credo. In addition, we have been working according to international WAI and WCAG standards for years.
Accessibility should not restrict design freedom. The guidelines for accessible web content merely serve as a framework that needs to be filled with content, structure and function.
The requirements for accessibility are heterogeneous. The guidelines for an accessible Internet are drawn up by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These include the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) and the User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG).
WAI and WCAG - principles and standards for accessibility
The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops standards to make the web accessible for people with disabilities - whether they are visually impaired, motor-impaired, deaf or blind. These are set out as an international standard in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which follow four basic principles: Content must be perceptible, operable, understandable and robust for users. The testing of websites for accessibility, in turn, is based on the Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung (BITV 2.0 from May 2019), which builds on the above principles.
"Accessible digital services go hand in hand with coherent, comprehensible user guidance."
Accessible and easy to understand: required by law since 28 June 2025
Until now, legal regulations on the accessible presentation of content only applied to online presences of public authorities: For years, they have been obliged to make their websites accessible in accordance with the rules of the Barrier-free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV) and, for example, to offer essential content in so-called "easy language" in addition to texts formulated in everyday language.
A new regulation will come into force on 28 June 2025: the Barrierefreiheitstärkungsgesetz BFSG. The BFSG is intended to ensure that private companies also offer accessible products and services - including online shops or company websites that can be used to book an offer ("services in electronic commerce"). Even if the new regulations are not as strict as for public bodies: They are all (with the exception of micro-enterprises) also obliged from the end of June to design their websites and their content in accordance with the WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines so that they are accessible and usable for people with disabilities.
You can find out more about the BFSG on the federal government's accessibility portal.
Some lawyers have compiledfurther information on the BFSG - including information on the interpretation of who will be affected by the new requirements.
You can also do a self-check there to see whether your website will fall under the BFSG from 28 June.
Aktion Mensch also offers a lot of information about the BFSG - including a German translation of WCAG 2.1 and lots of tips on how to make your website accessible.
Accessible website - that's what matters
Perceivable, operable, understandable and robust - this elusive description of requirements can be illustrated using a few examples that we make possible for you:
- Perceivable information
There are text alternatives for all non-text content, multimedia content is provided with descriptions (alternative texts, audio description, etc.). In addition, content can be displayed in different ways (colour schemes/contrasts, font size, volume etc.). - Operable user interface and navigation
All functions are accessible not only via mouse but also via the keyboard. Users have sufficient time to read and understand moving content. Flashing content (risk of epileptic seizures) and animations can be switched off. Well-organised content makes it easier to navigate, find and find your way around the site. Optional touch, voice or gesture inputs enable alternative operating methods. - Understandable information - understandable operating elements
Texts are simply formulated and well structured. The operating elements function predictably and in the same way throughout the site (consistent). Instructions/help are provided for interactive elements. - Robust content and reliable presentation
Robust content is compatible with different browsers, different devices and assistance technologies. To achieve this, it must comply with common standards and be provided with precise labelling of all functions or interactive elements.
"It is crucial that accessibility is considered from the outset, continuously maintained and, last but not least, tested again and again."
Design for all: an interdisciplinary process
In our counselling sessions, we often find that there is an awareness of the general concern. However, it is often unclear what specific requirements and tasks arise from this. Our approach: Accessibility should always be considered holistically, from the early conception phase onwards. All disciplines - conception, design, technology and editing - should be involved right from the start. And together with our customers, we define what needs to be paid particular attention to in the individual phases.
In order to enable the required use of websites with screen readers or for the visually impaired, for example, we take into account aspects such as the semantically correct structure of the layout and source code, the labelling of areas with HTML structural elements or the clear recognisability of interactive elements and links.
Artificial intelligence and accessibility
Our project managers ensure that the aforementioned principles are taken into account and implemented throughout the entire process of creating digital services - from the navigation structure, design drafts and front-end implementation through to text editing. As part of the quality assurance process, 3pc checks the accessibility of the websites and digital services created in a self-test. We also support you in drafting an accessibility statement and advise you on official certification.
And, of course, accessibility is not a closed topic. The web is constantly evolving. Accessibility is therefore a moving target and not a status quo. For example, we have developed a special editing assistant that automatically analyses texts in a CMS. This involves an AI taking over what were originally manual tasks: This recognises entities such as people, places or organisations, generates suitable keywords, draws out abbreviations, acronyms and glossary terms and links them to internal knowledge sources. The assistance system therefore automatically creates accessible content, minimises the editorial maintenance effort and also performs search engine optimisation (SEO).