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Accessibility Strengthening Act - 8 tips to optimize your website
Katharina Rösner
Accessibility Strengthening Act - a cumbersome name for a law intended to facilitate accessibility to websites. What does that mean exactly, how do you have to implement it and what is the point? We'll explain the most important points to you.
Accessibility includes everyone, particularly those who have physical or cognitive disabilities. These require easier, i.e. barrier-free access — be it physical access to buildings or digital access to information on the Internet. Physical, technical or digital solutions and tools remove barriers that those affected have in everyday life.
Almost 10 percent of the population has a disability, 80 percent of whom are 55 years of age and older. Accessibility is essential for this population group. The issue is also becoming more important due to demographic change. However, accessibility benefits everyone because every person can be temporarily restricted over the course of their life — due to injuries, for example.
that BFSG Has been in force since 2023 and is now available on national level implemented. It applies to everyone electronic devices with Internet access and is based on the principles that pages and devices should be operable and accessible.
From 2025 It also applies to everyone websites, on which electronic services are offered, whatever contact forms or online stores included. The cut-off date is June 28, 2025. It sets the guideline of European Accessibility Act on a national level. That's what the European standard, EN 301 549, which in turn is on the international standard WCAG is based on the 'guidelines for barrier-free web content. '
EN 301 549 describes the procedure for ensuring accessibility, but refers directly to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These represent a collection of guidelines, criteria and principles.
Die Barrier-free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV) is based on the Disability Equality Act (BGG) and contains requirements in accordance with EN 301 549 — and therefore also those of the WCAG. Since the changes of 2019, it only refers to the European standard. If the WCAG is complied with, accessibility is adequately covered according to BITV.
The complexity and overlapping of laws actually make it clear that legislation is also not fully prepared for such inclusive issues. They show uncertainties, which are also reflected in transitional arrangements. It also doesn't help those affected, for example, if a vending machine has a barrier-free interface but is not barrier-free.
Electronic devices such as ATMs and e-book readers, as well as computers and televisions, smartphones and laptops, are now affected. In addition, all services and products intended for consumers. So also for apps and websites, about the services are offered. This also includes interactive elements such as contact forms.
This does not apply to companies operating exclusively in B2B area are active, and microenterprises. These are companies with an annual turnover of up to 2 million euros or with up to 10 employees.
Compliance with the BFSG is ensured by market surveillance authorities that monitors countries. However, can also Consumers and associations draw the attention of authorities to violations. competitors Can other companies with non-barrier-free sites warn. In the event of violations, there is a threat fines and companies can be forced to remove the relevant products from the market.
The four basic principles of the WCAG are User interface design under the Accessibility summarized. They say that Websites understandable, robust, perceptible and operable must be.
Robust means that the page is on various devices It works equally well — even if users change the size of the display. Perceptibility refers to being able to absorb information with another sense when a sense is impaired.
Usability, on the other hand, refers to the functions, such as Call-to-actions, which all users must be able to carry out. Content and functions must be understandable — that is the principle that best demonstrates the need for accessibility: If you as a user Don't understand texts on a page, can you the side Possibly even Don't use it sensibly. This may be due to spelling that is difficult to understand or the language barrier. For people who are unable to read well for various reasons, the Text-to-speech function be a good alternative.
This shows that barrier-free websites are inclusive and are better for everyone. In principle, content must be able to be absorbed by two senses. Texts should be structured, understandable and linguistically correct.
For websites, it is true that pictures about a alternative text because not all people can visually process the images. The text generally ensures that it can either be read or read aloud.
It is therefore also necessary that all texts machine-readable Are — also PDFsso that voice technologies can read them. This is how people can access the page via Text-to-speech tools capture.
People who have motor disabilities use websites via the keyboard, instead of using a mouse. To do this, the Page but well structured be.
In general, should contrasting colors be chosen so that people with poor eyesight, or red-green vision problems can still receive the content well.
The language should not be bulky and heavy. This is not only disadvantageous for people with German as foreign or second language, but also for those who, for reasons of cognition Not being able to process speech so easily. This applies to all areas, but above all to regulatory contexts that tend to use bulky language.
In addition, should Videos Subtitles so that consumers can watch the videos even without sound. By the way, this is handy for anyone who doesn't have headphones at hand and doesn't want to disturb others with the sound. Or read the information rather than watch videos.
Die text size should be appropriate and all content should adjustable in size be without the layout suffering as a result.
To check whether your own website is really barrier-free, you can, for example Google Lighthouse use. This allows you to see which criteria you already meet and where you may need to make improvements.
Many measures that you can take to implement them include search engine optimization benefit. Because people with a visual impairment, for example, pick up screen reader back, which work in a similar way to the algorithm, which is the pages for SEO Crawl and rank. Because he doesn't have a proper understanding of pages and content, but can only read the source code.
For example, the algorithm rewards images with alternative texts, well-structured pages and texts through the usual Heading hierarchy. Google also rates pages with too small font size or too small spacing as not Mobile-friendly, which is also poor in terms of accessibility.
Accessible websites are ranked higher on Google, which is why accessibility also a competitive advantage is. User interface design has played an important role for websites for a long time. However, accessibility is not a matter of course. The issue should be seen as an opportunity in society as a whole, as anyone can be affected — especially against the backdrop of an aging population. Anyone can be temporarily ill or physically handicapped. In addition, there are always situations in everyday life in which you have motor restrictions.
The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) accordingly ensures participation for everyone. To also avoid warnings and fines, you should make your website fit for the BFSG. This is how you reach even more people with your content! However, the legal jungle makes it more than clear how overwhelmed authorities and companies are when it comes to the inclusion of all people.
Also for Direct market with private customers Is there an obligation to have a barrier-free website and online shop to provide. If you still have a suitable ERP software for your delivery service Search, have a look at Freight pilot past or book a webinarto get to know us. Here Can you Test FreightPilot for free. We're looking forward to seeing you!
