Accessible website checklist

The Accessibility Straightening Act  (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz or BFSG) is mandatory from June 28, 2025. Various businesses and organization's digital products and services should be accessible to every individual in Germany.

A recent study of 78 of Germany's most visited online stores found that 75% were not fully accessible. One of the biggest issues was the lack of keyboard usability, making it difficult for people who rely on fully keyboard navigation to access. Another evaluation of German online stores gave them an average accessibility score of 67 out of 100 which is well below the recommended standard of 90 or higher.

1. Who Needs to Comply with the BFSG?

The BFSG applies to a broad range of entities, including.

• Companies offering digital services directly to consumers: Any business providing digital services to the public must ensure these services are accessible.
• Public websites, government services, and official platforms: Government agencies and public sector organizations are required to make their digital platforms accessible to all users.
• Websites providing online services or information to the public: This includes platforms that offer information or services to the general public.

2. What Products and Services Are Affected?

The BFSG covers a wide range of digital products and services, such as:

• Websites handling online sales, bookings, or registrations: E-commerce sites, reservation platforms, and any websites facilitating user registrations must be accessible.
• Mobile applications associated with online services: Apps that provide services like banking, shopping, or media access are required to meet accessibility standards.
• Publicly shared digital documents: Files such as PDFs or forms available on websites must be accessible to all users.

Source: activeMind.legal

3. Are There Any Exceptions to the BFSG?

Certain entities may be released from the BFSG requirements:

• Small businesses: Companies that meet specific size and revenue thresholds may be exempted, considering the potential burden of compliance.
• Internal systems: Intranets and internal applications not accessible to the public are generally not required to comply.
• Business-to-business (B2B) platforms: Websites exclusively serving other businesses may be excused in certain situations.

Source:taylorwessing.com

4. What Should Businesses Focus on Now?

To prepare for the upcoming requirements, businesses should:

• Verify relevance: Check whether your technology offerings are indeed within the scope of the BFSG.
• Target improvement: Perform an accessibility review within the scope of an audit to identify essential adjustments.
• Schedule and resolve issues: Form a plan that resolves the accessibility challenges well ahead of the compliance date to avoid last-minute hurdles.

5. Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to meet the BFSG can lead to significant fallouts.

• Monitoring and execution: Public websites are subject to regular assessments, while private sites may be reviewed following user complaints.
• Penalties: Non-compliance can result in substantial fines, with penalties reaching up to €500,000 in Germany.
• Reputational damage: Businesses that fail to comply may suffer damage to their reputation, potentially leading to loss of customers and revenue.

By proactively addressing accessibility requirements, businesses can ensure compliance with the BFSG, improve user experience, and avoid potential legal and reputational risks.

Organizations are provided with a set of guidelines and legal prerequisites to ensure that their web information is available to all users including people with disabilities.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and 2.2

As part of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set made by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), The WCAG 2.1 which came out in June 2018 made some lower vision and cognitive disabilities mobile accessibility guidelines. In October 2023, WCAG 2.2 also enhanced the accessibility of the content by adding new success criteria to 2.1 improving it further.

WCAG is organized around four key principles, ensuring that web content is.

• Perceivable: Information must be presented in ways users can perceive, such as providing text alternatives for non-text content.
• Operable: Interference of these components should be possible meaning it is possible to operate via keyboard and delay adequately long for users to read and operate the content.
• Understandable: The Information that can be read and or the operations that are possible in a computer application or the web page provided to the user should be done using simple English words.
• Robust: We need content information is always reliable while being accessed through multiple user agents including of assistive technologies.

In Germany, there are standing laws that regulate web accessibility, such as the:

• Disability Equality Act (Disability Equality Act - BGG): A law passed to promote equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, the BGG ensures access to various areas such as information technology.
• Barrier-free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV) 2.0: This regulation sets the level of accessible information technologies in compliance with WCAG 2.1. It is meant for use in the public sector for websites and mobile applications and provides access in the following ways: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.
• European Accessibility Act (EAA): This is a directive from the EU that seeks to standardize accessibility across all member countries. The EAA has a broader coverage over products and services than any other legislative documents including web and mobile applications with the exception of public procurement.
• EN 301 549: This is a European standard laying down the accessibility provisions for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services. It is meant for public purchasing, but it also integrates WCAG guidelines. It has an impact on national legislation such as BITV 2.0.

WCAG defines three levels of conformance to measure accessibility.

• Level A: The minimum level, addressing basic web accessibility features.
• Level AA: The mid-range level, dealing with the biggest and most common barriers for users.
• Level AAA: The highest and most complex level, addressing the highest level of web accessibility.

Most organizations aim for Level AA compliance, as it addresses the most significant barriers without being as restrictive as Level AAA.

Technical Requirements

• Use semantic HTML through TYPO3's Fluid templates.
• Make sure responsive designs scale properly on all devices.
• Check the TYPO3 extension for proper ARIA roles and labels.
• Avoid using only color or icons to communicate critical information.

Design and Visual Considerations

• High contrast colors and readable fonts.
• Logical page structure with clear headings and regions.
• Simple language and clear instructions.
• Valid error feedback, especially on TYPO3 forms.
• Ensure alt texts are filled properly, with TYPO3 support in the backend.

Usability and Interaction

• Keyboard Accessibility: All functionalities must be accessible via keyboard.
• Focus Indicators: Visible focus states for interactive elements.
• Time Constraints: Options to extend or remove time limits.
• Form Accessibility: Clear labels, instructions, and error messages.

Media and Alternative Content

• Alt Text for Images: Descriptive text alternatives.
• Captions and Transcripts: Audio and video content.
• Complex Visuals: Detailed descriptions for charts and infographics.

• Images Without Alt Text - Each image must have appropriate alt text that defines what the image contains and its intended use. Do not employ file names such as "image123," or vague words such as "picture." Alt text allows the blind to make use of images through screen readers.
• Not Manually Testing - Automated tools are beneficial, but self-sufficient tools are never faultless. They might overlook certain issues like color contrast or link text which is not defined. Always manually review your website to ensure that it can be navigated easily by all, including those with disabilities.
• Overly Complex Font Styles and Writings - Using decoratively styled fonts is not only easy on the eye, it is also stylish. But for those with dyslexia or low vision, it can be an uncomfortable experience. Excessive blinking animation can be distracting, or even worse, set off epilepsy seizures. Stick to standard fonts that are easy to read and eliminate any movements that are not required.
• CAPTCHA Systems That Are Easiest - Classic CAPTCHAs that make use of graphics, or those that use distorted text alone, exclude users who have visual or cognitive functional problems. A different approach must be taken, such as the implementation of audio-based CAPTCHA, which provides easier ways of moderation.
• Overlooking Mobile Optimization - As many individuals use mobile phones to access websites, it is critical to make sure the process is convenient. Do not use tiny buttons or links that are difficult to press.

• Improves Usability for Everyone - Whether people have disabilities or not, everyone can use and understand the content on an accessible website. Good alt text, clear headings, and easy keyboard navigation are some of the features all users love.
• Keeps You On the Law's Good Side - There are many laws governing accessibility for the web, like the BFSG in Germany or the EN 301 549 for Europe. Making the website accessible helps you follow such rules and avoid legal troubles.
• Upgrades SEO Results - Accessible and well-structured websites always get preferred by the search engines. Having readable text within image pages, having alt texts for images and proper heading structures improves the visibility and ranking in searches.
• Increases Brand Image Significantly - Showing your product on an accessible website depicts that you care about accessibility and user experience which customers appreciate. This enhances the trust in your company's social responsibility and has a positive impact on your brand image.

There are many ways to improve the TYPO3 website accessibility. Below are the key points to ensure your site is accessible, user-friendly, and compliant with accessibility standards.

• Perform an Accessibility Audit - Begin by looking at your website to see how accessible it is and where it falls short.
• Refer to the Legal Guidelines - When working on the site's templates or adding content, ensure the accessibility standards for the website are met.
• Get Accessibility Extensions - Use TYPO3 extensions that are competent in accessibility to enhance user experience for all.
• Routine Maintenance - Make it a habit to visit the site and ensure it is accessible, especially as layouts and content change over time.
• Train Your Team - Make sure that editors and developers understand how to use TYPO3 accessibility features, such as adding alt tags and using subheadings.