The German Ac­cess­b­il­ity Act (BFSG)

The Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) is just around the corner. Digital accessibility has long been more than just a “nice-to-have”. It is a must for an inclusive society and the new Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) will bring it even more into focus in Germany. For most companies, this means that anyone operating digital services such as websites and apps must make them accessible. In this article, you can find out exactly what this means for you and your digital projects and how you can best implement the requirements with TYPO3.

What Is The BFSG?

The BFSG is a German law that transposes EU Directive 2019/882, the so-called “European Accessibility Act” (EAA), into national law. The aim of the BFSG is to simplify and standardize access to products and services for people with disabilities. The aim is to remove barriers and enable equal participation in digital life. After all, accessibility is not just a legal requirement, but also a quality feature and a benefit for all users.

When Will It Get Serious?

The law has already come into force. However, the really relevant obligations for companies will start on June 28, 2025, when the products and services covered by the BFSG must be accessible. So now is the time to prepare!

Who Is Affected?

The BFSG affects a wide range of products and services. The following areas are particularly relevant for companies with digital offerings:

• Websites: Whether corporate website, online store or portal - websites must be accessible.
• Apps: Mobile applications for smartphones and tablets are also covered by the law.

Industries in focus

The BFSG particularly focuses on industries with a strong connection to digital services and products. These include, among others:

• E-commerce: online stores in all sectors
• Financial services: Online banking, insurance portals, etc.
• Telecommunications: Web offerings from telephone and internet providers
• Media: online news portals, streaming services
• Transportation and mobility: timetable information, booking platforms
• E-books and digital publications

But beware: Even if your industry is not explicitly mentioned here, the BFSG may be relevant for you. It is advisable to check whether your digital offers fall under the law. We do not make a precise legal assessment of whether a company and its services are affected in individual cases. 

What Are The Re­quire­ments?

The BFSG is guided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which define four fundamental principles for accessible digital offerings: Perceivability, usability, comprehensibility and robustness. In concrete terms, this means a variety of measures for your TYPO3 website and apps, such as alternative texts for images, keyboard operability, sufficient color contrasts and structured headings. 

For practical implementation in the design process, we recommend our article Accessible design in practice. The barrier-free creation and maintenance of content is also crucial - we provide valuable tips on this in our article accessible content in practice.

Accessible & Fu­ture-Proof - With Our Know-How

As a specialized TYPO3 agency, we are an ideal partner for designing digital offerings that are BFSG-compliant. TYPO3 already offers many accessibility basics and can be optimally adapted to the requirements of the BFSG thanks to our expertise and proven best practices.

We at F7 have many years of experience in the field of accessible web development with TYPO3. 

Our Services

• Analysis and consulting: We check your existing websites and apps for accessibility and identify areas for action.
• Conception and design: We develop accessible design concepts and implement them in TYPO3.
• Technical implementation: We ensure a technically flawless and accessible implementation in TYPO3.
• Training: We train your editors in the area of accessible content maintenance so that accessibility is permanently guaranteed.
• Accessibility as a SEO turbo: Accessibility is not only a legal obligation, but also a real competitive advantage - also in the area of SEO! 

Accessible websites are usually:

• Structurally better: Clear semantic structure (headings, lists, etc.) is rated positively by search engines.
• Performant: Accessible websites are often leaner and faster, which has a positive effect on the ranking.
• User-friendly: A good user experience (UX) is an important ranking factor. Accessibility improves the UX for all users of the product.
• Wide reach: Accessible offers reach a larger target group - and therefore potentially more customers.

In Conclusion

The Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) marks an important step towards an inclusive digital world. It calls on companies to design their digital offerings in such a way that they are accessible to all people. This is not only a legal necessity, but also an opportunity to improve user-friendliness, increase reach and gain a competitive advantage. Implementing accessibility is an ongoing process that requires commitment and expertise. But the investment is worth it, as it contributes to a fairer and more accessible society.

Accessibility is the future - let's shape it together!

Links And Resources

• Accessibility services: Find out more about our services and expertise in the field of accessibility.
• Blog article “Accessible design”: Read how we integrate accessibility into our design processes right from the start.
• Blog article “Accessible content in practice”: Discover the best tips and tricks for accessible content maintenance.
• Blog article “Accessibility as an SEO gamechanger”: Find out how accessibility can boost your SEO strategy.