TRINIDAT-WIKI
How to make your website accessible in accordance with the law
Whether on public transport, in the shopping mall or at the airport: accessibility is increasingly becoming an accepted standard in public spaces. From 2025, the same will apply in the digital world: products and services must be accessible. This is because the so-called Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) will make digital accessibility a legal requirement from 2025. The reason for this is that Germany is implementing the EU directive on requirements for digital accessibility for products and services. This will oblige companies to design digital content in such a way that it is fully accessible to people with mental or physical disabilities.
We will show you exactly what is meant by digital accessibility, how your website or web application can be made to comply with the new requirements, and how trinidat can provide you with practical support in implementing them.
Why is accessibility so important?
Everyone wants to be on the internet. However, to date, many websites are difficult for people to access who have visual, hearing or comprehension impairments. Accessibility means that all digital content and applications are designed so that they can be used equally well by everyone – regardless of any limitations they may have.
By the way, accessible digital services offer a number of advantages:
- Reaching new target groups: An accessible website or web application reaches potential customers and prospects with limitations that were previously inaccessible.
- Better user experience: Clear and simple navigation, optimised content and a high-contrast design improve the website or software for all users.
- SEO benefits: clearly structured content and alt text descriptions are also more search engine friendly than websites that do not meet these factors.
Do you want to make your website accessible?
We will advise you without obligation.
Who will be affected by the Accessibility Reinforcement Act from 2025?
From next year, various industries and providers will be obliged to make their digital content barrier-free. The following industries, in particular, must implement the requirements of the BFSG:
- online shops and e-commerce platforms,
- banks and financial service providers,
- travel and booking portals,
- e-learning offers and apps.
These requirements are based on the so-called Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), an international standard for accessibility. If providers do not meet the requirements, they may face fines or – in the worst case – even the closure of their website.
How can I make my website or web application accessible?
The BFSG provides for a number of criteria for a barrier-free website:
- Perceivable: All content must be presented in such a way that it can be grasped by all users. Images must therefore have alt text that describes the image for visually impaired people. Videos require subtitles.
- Operable: Website users must be able to navigate through the website or web application without a mouse, for example using the keyboard or voice control.
- Comprehensible: A clear structure and texts in simple language should make all content clear and understandable. Image elements such as icons and buttons must also be designed in such a way that they can be grasped unambiguously (for example, in the case of red-green weakness).
- Robust: All website content must be compatible with technologies such as screen readers. Screen readers reproduce the current screen content via speech output or a Braille display.
Optimising accessibility: practical tips
First of all, you should check to what extent your website already meets accessibility criteria. Online tools such as WAVE or Siteimprove can be used to identify accessibility issues.
In terms of design, it is crucial to make access easier for all users equally. Use a colour scheme with high contrasts to make content easy to read. In addition to a responsive design that makes the website usable on all devices, including screen readers, basics such as the font size of headings and body text should be chosen so that visually impaired users can read all texts without difficulty.
It is also important to ensure technical accessibility. This includes, for example, a clear website structure through the use of semantic HTML and keyboard usability that enables all content and functions to be accessed and operated without a mouse. A compatibility check with screen readers such as NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) tests whether all content is accessible to blind or visually impaired website users.
Set up regular review
Arrange with your service providers or team members to have appropriate tests carried out every two weeks, for example. Overall, it is recommended that websites are not only checked for accessibility once, but regularly.
Tobias Geisler, managing director
Your website is not yet accessible?
We advise you on the accessibility of websites and web applications. Arrange an informational meeting now.