Numbers
In Germany alone, approximately 10% of the population (about 7.9 million people) has a recognized severe disability. They use the Internet more intensively than average, since the barriers are lower online than in "real" life. For this group of people, accessible websites are essential.
About 30% of the population suffers from visual impairments, motor impairments, or difficulty concentrating, or is not a native speaker. Accessible websites are essential for this group of people.
For everyone else, accessible websites are very helpful because they are easy to use, easier to understand, and more likely to be found by search engines than non-accessible sites. (Source: Aktion Mensch)
The percentage of people in the general population who rely on accessible websites is likely reflected, to a greater or lesser extent, in the number of people who use your portal. Making your portal accessible is therefore certainly worthwhile.
Laws
In addition to the benefits of accessible websites mentioned above, there are also legal requirements for implementing accessibility. Most recently, the BFSG—the Act to Strengthen Accessibility —was enacted. This will take place on the 28th. June 2025. For the first time, this law requires private-sector entities to comply with accessibility requirements if their products or services fall within the scope of the law.
What is accessibility?
In general terms, accessibility can be defined simply: A website is considered accessible when it can be used equally by people with and without disabilities. Or, to put it more precisely: "A website is accessible when limitations in vision, hearing, mobility, or information processing do not negatively affect how we use the web." (Source: Aktion Mensch)
As simple as determining accessibility may be in general, it can be quite complex when you look at the details. It is clear that using easy-to-read fonts, sufficient contrast, and buttons that are large enough is helpful and, at the same time, relatively easy to implement. Things can get more complicated when using (complex) tables, so it’s important to ensure that users can navigate them easily and that screen readers can read them aloud correctly. The use of ARIA roles and attributes can be even more complex—because they can only be identified by screen readers—for example, when assigning landmarks on a page.
Solutions
For virtually every conceivable barrier on the web, the WCAG has developed recommendations and guidelines to help overcome these barriers for people with disabilities. Starting with the sections on WCAG, BITV, and Intrexx, you will find a complete list of these guidelines, along with notes on their relevance and feasibility in Intrexx. This checklist will help you eliminate even complex barriers—and those that may not seem relevant at first glance—so that your portal and application pages are accessible.
Who benefits from accessibility?
Please note that it is not only people with disabilities who benefit from accessible websites. As a rule, accessible websites are more user-friendly than those that are not accessible. Good usability makes all your users happier. And if your portal is accessible on the Internet, accessible web pages will help you reach a wider audience, since search engines find pages more easily when they are user-friendly and designed for easy access.
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