Reasonable Adjustment

Reasonable Adjustment (Reasonable Accommodation) in Accessibility

Reasonable adjustment means a measure taken in an individual case so that people with disabilities can participate on an equal basis, without placing a disproportionate or undue burden on the obligated party. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) calls it "reasonable accommodation". German law calls it "angemessene Vorkehrungen", and in everyday German it is often also called "angemessene Anpassungen".

In short: It is about suitable solutions for a specific need, not a fixed checklist. Reasonable accommodation is expressly regulated in Articles 2 and 5(3) of the UN CRPD and in section 7(2) BGG, in German, there for federal public bodies.

Reasonable adjustment, reasonable accommodation or "angemessene Vorkehrungen"?

The legal term in the UN CRPD is "reasonable accommodation". The German version of the treaty and the German Disability Equality Act (BGG) use "angemessene Vorkehrungen". The German treaty text describes them as "notwendige und geeignete Änderungen und Anpassungen" (necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments), which is why "angemessene Anpassungen" is used as an everyday paraphrase (German Institute for Human Rights, factsheet June 2023, in German). It is not a separate legal definition. This glossary uses "reasonable adjustment" for the same concept.

What is a reasonable adjustment?

Under section 7 BGG, in German, reasonable accommodation consists of measures that are suitable and necessary in the individual case so that a person with a disability can enjoy and exercise all rights on an equal basis with others, and that do not place a disproportionate or undue burden on the public body. Four features characterise the concept:

• Individual case: The actual need of a specific person in a specific situation is decisive.
• Suitable and necessary: The measure must genuinely advance equal participation.
• Reasonable burden: It must not place a disproportionate or undue burden on the obligated party.
• Legal consequence: Denying it counts as a form of discrimination under Article 2 UN CRPD and section 7(2) BGG.

Legal background

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Article 2 defines reasonable accommodation and counts its denial as discrimination on the basis of disability. Under Article 5(3), States Parties take all appropriate steps to ensure that it is provided (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Art. 2 and 5).
• Disability Equality Act (BGG): section 7(2) BGG, in German treats the denial of reasonable accommodation as discrimination. The act addresses federal public bodies (section 1(1a) BGG, in German). See our glossary entries on the BGG and BITV 2.0.
• Employers: Under section 164(4) SGB IX, in German, severely disabled employees have claims against their employer, among others to a disability-appropriate set-up of the workplace, including work organisation and working time, and to the necessary technical aids. The claim does not exist where fulfilling it would be unreasonable for the employer or involve disproportionate expense.

Reasonable adjustments and websites: what applies and what does not

The concept does not mean that every website has to meet every individual request, and a single measure does not make a website compliant by itself. What matters is who you are and what you offer:

• Federal public bodies: section 7(2) BGG, in German applies to them. The requirements for their digital services are specified in BITV 2.0.
• Private companies: Section 7 BGG contains no corresponding duty for them. Since 28 June 2025, the BFSG applies to certain products and services for consumers (section 1 BFSG, in German). Microenterprises that provide services are exempt (section 3(3) BFSG, in German). The BFSG works with general accessibility requirements and an assessment of disproportionate burden (section 17 BFSG, in German); it implements Directive (EU) 2019/882, see the European Accessibility Act.
• Your case: Whether and what applies to your offering is best clarified with legal and accessibility specialists.

Reasonable accommodation versus accessibility

Accessibility means, under section 4 BGG, that designed living environments can be found, accessed and used by people with disabilities in the generally accepted way, without particular difficulty and in principle without outside help. It is general and not tailored to one person. Reasonable accommodation complements it in the individual case when a person still needs a suitable solution.

Examples of reasonable adjustments

Workplace and organisation

• Adjusted workstations: for example height-adjustable desks and suitable chairs.
• Work organisation and working time: restructure tasks or adjust working hours.
• Technical aids: equipment that takes the disability into account.

Communication

• Sign language interpreters: in meetings or lectures for deaf people.
• Easy-to-read documents: plain language and clear layout for people with learning disabilities.
• Other formats: for example an official notice in Braille.

Technology and digital services

• Input aids: for example a one-handed keyboard or accessible computer software.
• Websites: accessible TYPO3 websites can be used, for example, with screen readers or by keyboard. WCAG offers technical guidance.
• Individual solution on request: for example providing a document in another format when a person needs it.

Implementation in four steps

1. Assess needs: Ask the person concerned directly which barriers they face.
2. Involve experts: Disability organisations, support services or specialists in TYPO3 accessibility can help select suitable measures.
3. Check proportionality: Weigh benefit, effort and available resources and record the result.
4. Document and review: Record the measures and check regularly whether they still fit.

Conclusion

Reasonable adjustments are a simple but effective concept for better participation. How far they reach in an individual case depends on need, effort and the legal framework. You will find more basics in the glossary entry on accessibility.

Status: October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Sources: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Art. 2 and 5, German Institute for Human Rights, factsheet June 2023, in German, section 7 BGG, in German, section 164(4) SGB IX, in German, section 1 BFSG, in German.