Accessibility

Accessible websites: Better for everyone

Website development has evolved on many levels. Today, a wide range of devices must be considered for proper display, from smartphones and tablets to laptops, traditional desktop computers, and large-format screens (“responsive design”). Data protection regulations govern how visitors’ personal information is safeguarded against unauthorized disclosure. Accessibility addresses another important aspect: creating the technical conditions that allow people with disabilities to use a website as fully as possible.

Examples of specific barriers include:

• Individuals with visual impairments may have difficulty reading text or recognizing form fields if there is insufficient contrast between text and background.
• Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals require videos with captions.
• Blind users cannot effectively navigate websites if images, forms, and buttons lack appropriate textual descriptions.

Comprehensive standards for accessible website development have now been established. Website systems are implementing these requirements step by step, and accessibility is becoming increasingly widespread. Legal regulations are providing additional momentum: In Germany, accessibility for online shops and websites will become mandatory as of June 2025.

Importantly, accessibility is not only relevant for specific groups. Simple and convenient access to websites benefits everyone:

Accessibility on the internet is essential for 10% of visitors, necessary for approximately 30%, and helpful for 100% (Aktion Mensch)

Accessibility on our website

To ensure our website is accessible to all user groups, we follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This international standard provides detailed recommendations and best practices for making digital content accessible.

We have implemented the following measures on our website

• Color Contrast: Sufficient contrast between foreground and background colors to ensure that text and interactive elements are clearly visible.
• Scalability: Text size can be increased using your browser’s zoom function.
• Clear Usability: Interface elements such as menus, links, and forms are designed in terms of size, presentation, labeling, and responsiveness to provide simple and intuitive navigation.
• Keyboard Navigation: Links and buttons can be accessed via keyboard and are visually highlighted when selected.
• Accessible Forms: Form elements are easily accessible via touchscreen, mouse, and keyboard. Clear labeling and appropriate technical markup ensure usability and comprehension.
• Screen Reader Compatibility: The internal page structure and alternative text descriptions (alt text) for images support the use of screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Limitations of accessibility

At present, accessibility does not extend to certain linked content

• PDF documents offered for download are not optimized for accessibility.
• Videos are provided without captions.

Feedback / Contact

We welcome your feedback, suggestions, and questions regarding accessibility on our website. If you encounter errors or general difficulties—particularly when using assistive technologies such as screen readers—your feedback, including a description of the issue, is greatly appreciated.

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