Digital Excellence with Accessible Websites
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An accessible website is designed so that it can be used by all people without restriction – regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments. Accessibility means much more than just good readability: It's about comprehensive, accessible usability. For example, content for blind or visually impaired people must be readable by a screen reader, color design and contrasts must be clearly recognizable, and navigation must also be fully possible via keyboard – without complicated mouse interactions. People with cognitive impairments benefit from a clear page structure and easy-to-understand language, while subtitles or video transcriptions are indispensable for people with hearing impairments.
The internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as well as the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV 2.0) in Germany.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an important step by the EU to break down digital barriers and enable better access to digital services for all people. It obliges many private sector companies to make their Websites, Apps and other digital products accessible. In Germany, this is regulated by the Barrier-Free Strengthening Act (BFSG). From June 28, 2025, the obligation applies primarily to companies that offer digital services to consumers - for example, online shops, banks, mobile phone providers or e-book platforms. Small companies with fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover of less than two million euros are generally exempt, unless they offer particularly relevant digital services. The Barrier-Free Strengthening Act (BFSG) in Germany ensures that the requirements of the EAA are also implemented in Germany.
The EAA clearly specifies what requirements a website must meet to be considered accessible. Ultimately, it's about ensuring that all people - regardless of their limitations - can use digital content equally.
Many companies are not aware that their websites are not accessible to people with disabilities. The most common barriers overlooked during website development include:
01 Visual Barriers: Poor contrasts, non-scalable texts, missing alternative texts for images.
02 Insufficient Keyboard Operability: Users without a mouse cannot navigate through the pages.
03 Unstructured Content: Missing subheadings, complex forms, no logical order.
04 Non-accessible Multimedia Content: Videos without subtitles or without control options.
05 Missing Feedback Options: No hints for incorrectly filled forms.
Accessible websites offer numerous advantages – for companies and users alike.
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Approximately 10 million people with disabilities live in Germany. In addition, there are older users, people with temporary limitations (e.g., a broken arm) or in noisy environments. An accessible website is better accessible for all these groups. By implementing accessibility on websites, the reach can be expanded and previously unreached target groups can be reached.
Accessibility not only means fulfilling legal requirements but also an overall better user experience. Accessible websites offer a structured and easy-to-navigate interface that makes it easier for all users to find the information they are looking for quickly and efficiently. Through clear fonts, understandable color contrasts, or alternative text formats, visitors can achieve their goals without obstacles. A clear structure, simple language, intuitive navigation, and good readability make using the website more pleasant overall – for everyone.
Another advantage of accessibility is the optimization of websites for search engines. Accessible websites are often characterized by a better structure, e.g., clear headings, alt texts for images, and a clean codebase. These factors not only improve usability but also indexing by search engines. Search engines like Google prefer well-structured pages and often rank accessible websites higher. This can lead to a better placement in search results, which in turn means more organic traffic.
Implementing accessibility on websites is not only a good and recommendable measure but also a legal necessity. In many countries, including EU member states, there are legal requirements such as the Accessibility Act (BFG) or standard EN 301 549, which oblige companies to design their online offerings to be accessible. Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to legal consequences, including fines or other penalties. Adherence to legal requirements such as EAA, BFSG, or BITV 2.0 protects against warnings, lawsuits, or damage to reputation. This is particularly relevant for companies that accept public contracts or operate in e-commerce.
Accessibility is a continuous process. We support companies in further developing their corporate websites to meet accessibility requirements – from analyzing existing content to optimizing design and code, and sustainable implementation.
A thorough analysis of the existing website should be at the beginning. This is carried out based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and BITV 2.0, which define the requirements for accessible websites. A detailed review can identify weaknesses and optimization potential in navigation, structure, or visual design. In doing so, we support as digital strategy consultancy companies in deriving clear recommendations for action and implementing the measures in a structured manner.
Based on the analysis, we develop solutions that meet accessibility requirements while simultaneously optimizing the User Experience specifically. An accessible design considers factors such as clear content structuring, sufficient color contrasts, easily readable fonts, and flexible adjustment options (e.g., larger font or increased contrasts). Similarly, alternative texts for images and accessible navigation are crucial to ensure accessibility for all users. In doing so, we not only pay attention to legal requirements but also combine our expertise in Digital Branding with functional design to create accessibility that is both legally compliant and strengthens brand perception and user satisfaction.
The implementation includes all technical adjustments necessary to improve accessibility. As a web agency we take over the optimization of the navigation to ensure smooth use without a mouse or with keyboard control. This also includes the provision of alt texts for images so that people with visual impairments can access content via screen readers, as well as the barrier-free implementation of forms and interactive elements.
After implementing the adjustments, it is important to thoroughly test the website's accessibility. Accessibility tests are carried out for this purpose, e.g., a final BITV test and validation according to WCAG guidelines. These tests ensure that the website complies with the relevant EU directives and is accessible on various devices and for different user groups.
Accessibility is an ongoing process that requires regular reviews and continuous improvements. Websites evolve, new content is added, and legal requirements can change. Therefore, websites should be regularly checked for accessibility to ensure they remain accessible even with new content and updates.
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