Digital accessibility

What does digital accessibility mean?

A whiteboard with design and coding plans for a mobile app. It shows various stages of app development, including wireframes, coding flow, and user experience (UX) elements. A person gestures toward the board, explaining the visualized process. — Accessibility begins as early as the design phase of a digital offering.

Digital accessibility ensures that all people with and without disabilities have access to the content and functions of the internet. It includes a variety of measures to ensure that people with visual, hearing or motor impairments as well as older people and people with temporary disabilities do not experience any barriers. This is not just about meeting legal requirements, but also about improving the user experience for a broad target group.

When the Barrier-Free Strengthening Act (BFSG) comes into force in 2025, companies will be obliged to make their digital offerings barrier-free. The aim is to include all people regardless of their abilities and make it easier for them to access digital content. This applies to websites, mobile applications, documents and much more.

What barriers are there?

Accessibility means making information and functions accessible to all people - regardless of:

permanent limitations such as visual impairment, deafness, motor impairments

➡️ These barriers are permanent and cannot be changed.
temporary restrictions such as arm in plaster, conjunctivitis, short-term hearing loss

➡️ These barriers are temporary and usually disappear completely.
situational barriers such as blinding light, noisy surroundings, baby in arms

➡️ Virtually all people are affected by these barriers from time to time.

Icon showing the five senses connected: ear, eye, nose, hand, tongue. — Barriers arise when one or more of our five senses are permanently, temporarily or situationally restricted.

Relevance and legal basis

The BGG and the EU Directive 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act) oblige companies that offer their products and services digitally to make them accessible from June 28, 2025. Websites, apps and online stores must comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 - Level AA. This means, among other things

Text and content: Visual content such as images and videos must be provided with alternative text or subtitles so that they can also be perceived by people with visual or hearing impairments.
Contrasts and colors: Sufficient contrast between text and background improves readability, especially for older or visually impaired people.
Navigation: User guidance must be designed in such a way that it can be operated without a mouse to facilitate access for people with motor impairments.

The law also obliges companies to publish an accessibility statement on their websites and offer a contact option for users to report barriers. Violations can result in severe penalties, including the discontinuation of the digital offering.

When implementing accessible projects, we rely on the WCAG 2.1 guidelines, which are currently legally binding, and can also work according to the latest WCAG 2.2 standards on request .

Benefits for companies and users

Accessibility is more than a legal obligation - it is a strategic success factor. Accessible design opens up access to new target groups: People with disabilities and older users form a constantly growing user group that is increasingly dependent on digital offerings. Removing digital barriers not only increases reach, but also user satisfaction.

Accessibility also has many advantages for users without disabilities. Clear structures, easy-to-read texts and intuitive navigation improve usability and the user experience for everyone. This strengthens customer loyalty, reduces bounce rates and has a positive effect on search engine optimization (SEO), as accessible pages are generally easier to index and have a clean technical structure.

Zwei Personen stehen an einem Tisch am +Pluswerk-Stand auf der TYPO3 Conference 2024. Eine Frau bedient lächelnd eine Computermaus, während ein Mann daneben steht und auf den Laptop blickt. Im Hintergrund sind der +Pluswerk-Banner und Teile des Konferenzgeländes zu sehen. Die Szene vermittelt eine produktive und freundliche Atmosphäre. — Luisa Faßbender (TYPO3) tests the AgeMan® tremor simulator at the +Pluswerk stand at T3CON 2024 - and experiences how important accessible design is for all users.

How do you implement accessibility?

Implementing digital accessibility requires technical expertise and well thought-out planning. +Pluswerk offers comprehensive consulting and testing services to test your digital offerings for accessibility and adapt them to legal requirements. Our measures include

Analysis and audit: we check your existing website or application for accessibility and identify potential barriers. Ask now for our accessibility quick check with no obligation.
Individual solutions: Based on the analysis, we develop customized solutions to remove barriers and ensure accessibility for all users.
Training and advice: Our experts train your teams in the principles of accessibility and support you in the continuous optimization of your digital presence.

By planning and implementing measures at an early stage, you can not only meet the requirements of the BFSG, but also improve the user experience for all visitors to your website.

Accessibility as a competitive advantage

Start with a non-binding initial assessment: our experts provide clear recommendations on how to make your digital offering accessible to everyone.

Get in touch now without obligation