Digital Accessibility: The Implementation Plan
Why Digital Accessibility Matters
Digital accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can understand, perceive, navigate, and interact with digital products such as websites or apps.
This doesn’t just affect people with disabilities, but also:
Older individuals with declining eyesight or limited motor skills
People with temporary impairments, e.g., due to injury
Users in challenging usage situations, such as bright environments or poor internet connections
Accessible design is not only a matter of social responsibility – it also improves usability and brings economic benefits. Companies benefit from a broader target audience, better search engine rankings, and fewer support inquiries. Additionally, an accessible website can increase conversion rates, as more users can navigate the offering with ease. Companies that prioritize accessibility demonstrate innovation and position themselves as responsible market participants.
What the BFSG Means for Businesses
To successfully implement accessibility, companies should first familiarize themselves with the legal framework of the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG). Key aspects include:
Only B2C companies affected: The BFSG applies exclusively to companies that sell digital services or products to consumers (B2C). Business-to-business (B2B) relationships are currently not covered.
Exemption for micro-enterprises: Companies with fewer than 10 employees and less than €2 million in annual turnover are exempt. If either threshold is exceeded, the accessibility obligation applies.
Focus on purchase processes: The BFSG only affects websites that involve purchasing or contract completion, such as online shops, booking platforms, or contract forms. Even the exchange of personal data for content (e.g., newsletter sign-ups) may be considered a contractual initiation.
Only sales-related areas affected: Companies don’t need to make the entire website accessible – only the parts necessary for contract completion. Informational or career pages are generally not affected.
Responsibility for third-party tools: When using external tools, it’s unclear who holds responsibility for accessibility. Companies should ensure third-party tools meet legal requirements or have accessibility contractually guaranteed.
Companies that fail to act risk warnings, lawsuits, and competitive disadvantages. At the same time, early implementation offers a chance to stand out and reach a wider customer base.
Which Rules Must Be Followed?
The BFSG refers to European standard EN 301 549, which incorporates the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) success criteria at levels A and AA in Chapter 9. This standard defines detailed requirements for the accessibility of digital products and services. It covers not only websites and software, but also hardware, and is divided into 13 chapters.
For digital products, Chapter 9 is most relevant, as it directly references the WCAG. Other relevant criteria may come from additional chapters, such as 11.7 Customization, which requires websites and digital applications to respond to user preferences. For example, a site should adapt if users have set larger text sizes in their browser – typically achieved by using relative units like em or rem instead of fixed pixels (px).
Most other chapters of EN 301 549 are not relevant for standard websites or online shops. However, companies should still familiarize themselves with the requirements, especially if they offer digital services with specialized features. A comprehensive list of test criteria is available in the BIK-BITV-Test, a recognized evaluation method for digital accessibility.
Common Barriers and Their Solutions
Many websites and apps contain barriers that can be easily avoided:
Poor contrast
– Texts are hard to read.
Solution: Adjust color contrast (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text)
Missing alternative texts
– Screen reader users receive no image information
Solution: Provide descriptive alt texts for images
Non-functional navigation
– Users can’t navigate via keyboard
Solution: Ensure all interactive elements are reachable via the Tab key
Unstructured content
– Screen readers can’t interpret content meaningfully
Solution: Use semantic HTML structure with headings and ARIA tags
These measures not only improve accessibility but also enhance overall usability and clarity. Better usability leads to higher customer satisfaction and increased interaction rates.
Testing Accessibility
Accessibility can only be improved if it is regularly tested. Many basic tests can be done easily, but for comprehensive evaluation, a professional accessibility audit is recommended to systematically identify and fix all barriers.
Quick Self-Tests for Companies
Automated tools help detect common issues quickly. Recommended tools include:
axe DevTools: Provides detailed error reports with suggestions
WAVE Web Accessibility Tool: Detects contrast issues, missing alt texts, and structure problems
However, automated tests don’t catch everything – manual testing is essential.
Practical methods to spot common accessibility problems:
Check alt texts: Disable images or use a screen reader to verify if image descriptions are meaningful
Keyboard navigation: Try navigating the entire page with the Tab key only – all elements should be accessible and focusable in a logical order
Contrast check: Use tools like WAVE or the Contrast Checker to ensure sufficient text contrast
Forms and labels: All input fields must be properly labeled and usable by keyboard and screen reader
Analyze links: Ensure all links have meaningful descriptions – “Click here” isn’t enough
Check skip links: A “Skip to content” function helps users jump directly to the main content
Video subtitles: Ensure all embedded videos have subtitles so they’re understandable without sound
These tests help identify initial issues and continuously improve accessibility.
Why a Professional Audit Makes Sense
While companies can identify some barriers with these methods, that’s often not enough for a truly accessible experience. A professional accessibility audit helps:
Identify hidden barriers not detectable via basic tests
Conduct in-depth technical analysis of complex interactions or dynamic content
Provide customized, actionable recommendations
A structured audit reveals the current status of accessibility and shows companies where to start in making their digital products truly inclusive.
Involving People with Disabilities in Testing
Once audit issues are resolved, further testing with people with disabilities is crucial to ensure the product can actually be used by those it aims to serve. This is the only way to achieve truly inclusive design.
Sustainable Accessibility
Accessibility is like juggling – you have to keep the balls in motion.
It can only be improved sustainably if it’s considered from the outset, continuously tested, and clearly communicated across the team. That’s why training is essential so every discipline – design, development, content – knows what to consider and document.
Another crucial factor is having someone within the organization who is passionate about the topic, drives it forward, and takes ownership.
How We Can Help
We support companies in identifying barriers and implementing specific improvements through various services:
Detailed audit based on EN 301 549 and WCAG guidelines, with clear action recommendations, examples, and best practices
Consulting & training for sustainable implementation
Support with optimization – from small tweaks to fully accessible redesigns
Accessibility is an opportunity – for better user experience, broader reach, and legal security. Companies that act early avoid problems and benefit from improved digital presence. At the same time, they boost their competitiveness and conversion rates.
Request an accessibility consultation now – we’ll help you go barrier-free!