Accessibility Reinforcement Act
Digital accessibility
The Accessibility Improvement Act (BFSG): An overview with a focus on digital accessibility
In our increasingly digitalized world, accessibility is more important than ever. The Accessibility Improvement Act (BFSG) aims to improve the participation of people with disabilities in social life and remove barriers in various areas of life. A particular focus here is on digital accessibility.
In this blog post, we provide a detailed overview of the law, its objectives and the most important measures, particularly in the area of websites.
What is the access- ability- reinforcement- act?
The Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz, or BFSG for short, was introduced to systematically improve accessibility. It ensures that public buildings, transportation, services and, above all, digital content are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical or mental abilities. From June 28, 2025, all new or revised websites and mobile applications will be legally obliged to meet accessibility requirements.
Objectives of the law
The BFSG pursues several key objectives:
IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY
Websites and digital applications are to be made more accessible for people with disabilities.
EQUAL PARTICIPATION
People with disabilities should have the same opportunities and possibilities as all other citizens, especially in the digital space.
Raising awareness in society
The law promotes awareness of the needs of people with disabilities.
Important measures in the area of websites
1. accessible websites
WCAG standards: Websites must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 comply. These guidelines provide international standards for the accessibility of web content and cover a variety of criteria to ensure that websites are accessible to all users.-
- WCAG conformance levels: The WCAG are divided into three conformance levels:
- Level A: Basic accessibility functions.
- Level AA: Dealing with the most common barriers on the Internet.
- Level AAA: Highest accessibility standard, but not always practical or necessary for all websites.
- WCAG conformance levels: The WCAG are divided into three conformance levels:
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- Alternative texts: All images and multimedia content must be provided with alternative texts so that they can be recognized by screen readers.
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- Keyboard accessibility: All functions of a website must be accessible via the keyboard without the need for a mouse.
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- Text alternatives for multimedia: Videos and audios must provide subtitles and transcripts to support people with hearing impairments.
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- Contrast and legibility: Text must contrast sufficiently with the background color and be displayed in an easily legible font and size.
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- Clear navigation and simple language: A clear and logical navigation structure and the use of simple language help users to find their way around the website.
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2. digital applications
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- Accessible apps: Mobile applications must also be designed to be accessible, in accordance with the WCAG guidelines for mobile content.
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- User-friendliness: Apps should be intuitive to use and have the same accessibility features as websites
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Legal basis of the EU
EU Directive 2016/2102 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies requires Member States to ensure that the websites and apps of public sector bodies are accessible. This directive was supplemented by EU Directive 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services, which comes into force on June 28, 2025 and also affects private providers.
Who is affected?
In addition to manufacturers, importers and retailers of certain digital products (such as smartphones, computers or e-book devices), all operators of websites and online stores are particularly affected. However, there is an exception for stores that exclusively serve commercial customers (pure B2B stores).
There is also an exception for micro-enterprises: traders with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or an annual balance sheet total of no more than 2 million euros are not affected by the new regulations. Both requirements must be met at the same time. If the company exceeds one of these thresholds in future, the accessibility requirements must also be met from this point onwards.
Consequences of non-compliance
Non-compliance with the BFSG can have serious consequences for companies and public bodies. These include legal penalties, the imposition of fines and potential lawsuits from those affected. In addition, failure to comply with accessibility requirements can lead to a loss of reputation and significantly affect customer and user confidence. It is therefore crucial to take the legal requirements seriously and proactively take measures to improve digital accessibility.
Advantages of digital accessibility
The implementation of digital accessibility brings numerous advantages:
- Inclusion:
People with disabilities can use digital content and services on an equal footing. - Reach:
Websites and apps that are designed to be accessible can be used by a larger user group. - Search engine optimization (SEO):
Accessible websites are often also better optimized for search engines, which increases visibility. - Legal conformity:
Companies and public bodies avoid legal consequences by complying with legal requirements.
Conclusion
The Accessibility Improvement Act is an important step towards a more inclusive digital society. By improving the accessibility of websites and digital applications, it helps to significantly improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. It is now up to public and private stakeholders to consistently implement the measures of the law and thus ensure a barrier-free digital future.
The requirements themselves are relatively easy to comply with, as a quality website already adheres to most of the points anyway.
On the hunt for your
barrier-free success
Are you interested in more information about digital accessibility or would you like to know how you can make your website accessible? Visit our other blog posts or get in touch with us directly.
Together we can create a more inclusive digital world!