Accessibility
Accessibility means that people with disabilities can use a website: with a screen reader, without a mouse, with enlarged font, or with color vision deficiencies. The technical standard for this is the WCAG guidelines, usually at level AA.
The Accessibility Strengthening Act has been in effect in Germany since June 2025. It affects not only public authorities but also many companies in the consumer sector, such as online shops and booking platforms. Micro-enterprises are partially exempt; a legal review is recommended to determine the specific circumstances.
Four measures can quickly make a big difference. Sufficient contrast, at least 4,5:1 for normal text. Keyboard accessibility; every element must be accessible with the Tab key and visibly highlighted. Meaningful alt text for images. And a clean heading structure from H1 downwards, without skipping levels.
A side effect: Almost all of this also helps with search engine optimization because it improves structure and comprehensibility. Accessibility is therefore rarely a wasted effort.
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