Accessibility

What is accessibility?

Digital accessibility means people can use websites, stores and apps on their own, whether they have low vision, rely on a screen reader, navigate by keyboard only or find it hard to concentrate. Temporary limitations count too, like a broken arm or bright sunlight on a screen.

The technical framework is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) by the W3C. They group requirements under four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. In the EU, the European Accessibility Act sets binding rules. Germany implements it through the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), which has applied since 28 June 2025 to many digital products and services, including consumer-facing online stores. Microenterprises are partly exempt. Whether your offering is covered is worth checking with legal advice.

Why accessibility matters

Beyond the legal obligation, it's about reach: people with disabilities are customers like everyone else. On top of that, accessible design almost always helps everyone. Good contrast, clear error messages and logical structure make a product faster and more pleasant for all users.

How to put accessibility into practice

• Check the contrast of text and controls against WCAG requirements.
• Make everything keyboard accessible and show clearly which element has focus.
• Label forms properly: visible labels, understandable error messages, and never color as the only cue.
• Add alt text to images that carry meaning.
• Test with a screen reader and, where possible, with people who use assistive technology.

Example

In a store's checkout, an invalid field is only marked with a red border. Someone with red-green color blindness or using a screen reader has no idea what went wrong. An error message right next to the field with a specific hint fixes it for everyone.