In a digitalized world where the internet plays a central role in everyday life, accessibility is no longer just an ethical issue—since June 28, 2025, it has been a legal requirement under the Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG). An accessible website allows people with various disabilities to use your digital offerings without restriction. At the same time, you benefit from better rankings, greater reach, and stronger customer loyalty. In this updated guide, we present a comprehensive checklist for BFSG-compliant websites and show you how to implement the requirements in practice.
What is the BFSG and why will it be mandatory from 2026?
The Barrier-Free Accessibility Act (BFSG) is the German implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Since June 28, 2025, companies that provide digital products and services to consumers must design them to be accessible. This applies in particular to websites, online shops, apps, and digital services. Violations of the BFSG are punishable by fines of up to €100,000 and restrictions imposed by market surveillance authorities.
Exception: Micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and a maximum annual turnover of €2 million) are partially exempt, but as product manufacturers they must still comply with the requirements when placing products on the market.
What technical standards apply?
The requirements of the BFSG are based on international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) at conformity level AA. These are specified in more detail by European standard EN 301 549. Automatic testing tools alone are not sufficient—according to current findings, they only check around 30% of the required criteria. Comprehensive implementation therefore requires specialist expertise.
Important: Overlay solutions and external accessibility plugins are not a sufficient solution. They can even create new barriers and interfere with screen readers or other assistive technologies. Accessibility must be built into the basic technical architecture of your website.
Who are accessible websites designed for?
Accessible websites are specifically designed for people with various types of limitations and disabilities, including:
- People with visual impairments or blindness require screen readers and detailed alt text for images.
- People with hearing impairments rely on subtitles and transcripts of audio content.
- People with motor impairments need a website that can be navigated entirely using the keyboard.
- People with cognitive impairments benefit from a clear structure, simple language, and intuitive design.
- Seniors and people with temporary limitations (e.g., injured arm) also use accessibility features.
What are the main advantages of accessible websites?
Accessibility breaks down digital barriers and obstacles, enabling broader participation on the internet. Accessible websites therefore promote equality and accessibility in the digital space. Other advantages of accessible websites include:
- Greater reach: Accessible websites reach a wider audience because they are accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities or limitations.
- Better user experience: An accessible website provides an optimal online experience for all users, as it is intuitive to navigate and offers clear instructions and alternative content formats.
- Improved SEO: Accessible websites are ranked higher by search engines because they offer a better user experience and can therefore reduce bounce rates. This can lead to a higher ranking in search results. In addition, ALT texts are also viewed positively.
- Image and reputation: By creating an accessible website, you demonstrate your commitment to equality and accessibility. Communicating this effectively can strengthen your image and increase user confidence.
- Inclusion and participation: Accessible websites help promote an inclusive society by offering people with different abilities the same opportunities to participate in digital life.
- Legal compliance: Accessibility is required by law in many countries. Complying with accessibility standards can help avoid legal risks and potential lawsuits for discrimination or violation of accessibility guidelines.
Your checklist for an accessible BFSG-compliant website
We have compiled a list of particularly important criteria for a barrier-free website for you:
1. NAVIGATION AND STRUCTURE
Logical and intuitive structure:
Accessible websites should always follow a logical and intuitive structure to ensure a smooth user experience. Clean, error-free page source code is a prerequisite for accessibility.
- The page source code (HTML) must be error-free.
- A clear content hierarchy enables easy navigation.
- All functions must be semantically correct.
Easy navigation:
Visitors to your website should be able to navigate it effortlessly. This includes a logical menu structure, easy-to-understand link texts, and consistency of elements with the same function across the entire website. In addition, various navigation options are available, such as jump marks, tables of contents, and a search function:
- All interactive elements must be accessible via keyboard.
- The focus sequence must be logical and comprehensible.
- Keyboard focus must always be visible (no outline: none without alternative)
- Skip links allow you to skip repetitive content.
Structure of headings:
Headings structure your website. Logical and meaningful headings make it easier for users to navigate the site and follow the content.
- Use H1, H2, H3, etc. in logical sequence.
- There should only be one H1 per page.
- Headings accurately describe the page content
- Don't just use headings for formatting
Responsive design:
Your website should automatically adapt to different screen sizes, such as cell phones or tablets, so that the content remains easy to read on both large and small screens.
- Content must remain legible on all screen sizes.
- Functionality must be maintained even at 200% zoom
- Touch targets should be at least 48 x 48 CSS pixels in size.
2. LANGUAGE
Correctly labeled language:
The first step is to specify the desired language correctly in the page source code:
- Setzen Sie <html lang=“de“> korrekt
- Multilingual content must be provided with longattributes.
- Screen readers otherwise read the website aloud with incorrect pronunciation.
Simple and understandable language:
Keep your texts as simple and understandable as possible and avoid long sentences. Especially for more complex websites, it can be useful to offer an additional version in plain language:
- Keep your wording short and concise.
- Avoid long, convoluted sentences
- Use list formats for structuring
- If necessary, offer a version in simplified language.
Avoid foreign words, technical terms, and abbreviations:
Avoid complicated technical terms, foreign words, and abbreviations. In addition, abbreviations should be written out in full when they are first mentioned. If the correct pronunciation of a word is important, it should be indicated directly after the word:
- Explain technical terms in the text or via a glossary.
- Write out abbreviations when they first appear: "SEO (search engine optimization)".
- Nutzen Sie das <abbr>-Element für Abkürzungen
3. MEDIA & DESIGN
Good legibility and size:
Ensure that the font size is appropriate and that the character and line spacing is suitable. As a guideline, the line spacing within paragraphs should be at least 1.5 times the font size, and the paragraph spacing should be at least 1.5 times the line spacing. In addition, users should be able to adjust the font size, line spacing, and character spacing themselves. In addition to text elements, buttons, links, and navigation menus should also be provided in an appropriate size:
- Minimum font size: 14-16px for body text
- Line spacing at least 1.5x, paragraph spacing at least 1.5x line spacing
- Users should be able to increase the font size up to 200%.
- Choose legible fonts (sans-serif often works better on screens)
Good contrast ratio:
Adequate contrast ensures that users with visual impairments can clearly see the content. At the same time, it improves overall readability and makes it easier for all users to quickly grasp information. When choosing your colors, pay particular attention to color blindness and visual impairments, such as red-green color blindness:
- Text-to-background contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 (normal) or 3:1 (large)
- Don't rely on color alone to convey information
- People who are red-green color blind must be able to recognize all content.
- Use tools such as WebAIM Contrast Checker to check
Add ALT text to images:
Alternative texts or ALT texts are very important for an accessible website and also contribute to search engine optimization. People with visual impairments or blindness can have the content of the website read aloud to them by using the ALT text of an image. It is therefore important that you describe the images on your website as accurately as possible in the backend. The rule here is: as concise as possible, but as detailed as necessary. If appropriate, also try to integrate the main keyword of the respective page into the ALT text.
- Describe each meaningful image precisely and concisely.
- Ideal: 80-125 characters, meaningful and understandable in context
- If possible, integrate the main keyword.
- Decorative images: empty ALT attribute (alt="")
- Avoid beginnings such as "Image of..." – this is redundant with the screen reader.
Provide alternatives for audiovisual media:
Audiovisual media can be challenging for certain groups of people. That is why it is important for audio files such as podcasts to include a transcript. A transcript is a written version of the spoken content. This allows people who cannot hear audio content to still read and understand the content. For the same reason, video recordings should be provided with synchronized subtitles.
- Videos: Synchronized subtitles (captions) and audio description
- Podcasts/Audio: Provide full transcript
- Minimize background noise
- Use professional subtitles, not auto-generated captions alone
Accessible forms and call-to-actions
Often, the primary goal of a website is to generate leads by establishing contact. Therefore, it is crucial that contact forms are designed to be clear and understandable. This includes not only the size and color of the input fields and buttons, but also a clear description of their function and the clear labeling of mandatory fields. Graphic captchas should be avoided, as they are difficult for certain groups of people to solve.
Accessible form design
- Jedes Eingabefeld muss ein <label> haben
- Label and input must be programmatically linked
- Clearly mark required fields (with required or aria-required).
- Formulate error messages precisely and in a solution-oriented manner
- Display error messages in the same location as the incorrectly filled field
No graphic CAPTCHAs
- Replace these with text-based or logical alternatives.
- Use reCAPTCHA v3 (invisible, but you should still offer alternatives here as well)
- Maximum accessibility: Combine multiple verification methods
Button and link text
- Say what the button does: not "Click here," but "Send contact form."
- Links should be understandable from the context
- Use aria-label only when necessary to supplement
Accessibility statement:
Mandatory from 2025: Provide an accessibility statement:
- This should document known barriers and identify improvement goals.
- Contact option for users who wish to report barriers
Information about products & checkout process:
For e-commerce: Information on the accessibility of products offered (where available). Payment and security functions must offer accessible alternatives!
- The entire purchasing process must be accessible.
- Authentication must not be based on images or videos.
- All steps must be logically understandable.
Practical implementation steps
Step 1: Audit and inventory
Have your website audited by professionals. Automatic tools are just the beginning—an expert audit with real users with disabilities is essential. Document the status quo and identify the biggest barriers.
Step 2: Prioritization
Not everything can be implemented immediately. Focus first on: * Critical functions (navigation, forms, checkout) * Frequently visited pages * Biggest barriers with the highest impact
Step 3: Technical implementation
- Revise HTML structure (semantic HTML, ARIA only where necessary)
- Adjust color and contrast
- Implement focus management
- Test screen readers (free: NVDA)
Step 4: Optimize content
- Simplify and structure texts
- Add alt text
- Add subtitles to videos
- Maintain content regularly
Schritt 5: Testing und Monitoring
- Regular automatic tests (axe DevTools, WAVE)
- Manual testing with real users and assistive technologies
- Establish a user feedback channel
- Integrating accessibility into the development process
Information about products & checkout process:
For e-commerce: Information on the accessibility of products offered (where available). Payment and security functions must offer accessible alternatives!
- The entire purchasing process must be accessible.
- Authentication must not be based on images or videos.
- All steps must be logically understandable.
Presentation by the Karlsruhe SEO Round Table on the introduction of BFSG best practices at dm
On November 13, 2025, the SEO regulars' table was once again welcomed at dm-dialogicum in Karlsruhe. Boris Pawlikowski from dm took us into the practical realm and, under the title "SEO + Accessibility (BFSG) – Advantages for Both Worlds," showed why accessibility (A11y) and SEO are not competitors, but rather a perfect match.
Here are the key takeaways from the evening:
The legal framework is clearly defined. The Accessibility Act must be applied since June 28, 2025.
Who does it affect? All companies with more than 10 employees and annual sales exceeding €2 million.
What are the consequences? Failure to comply may result in fines.
The basis: The law implements EU Directive 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act) and is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the BITV.
But Boris quickly made it clear that it's not just about compliance. An accessible website not only helps blind people, but also users in situational contexts (e.g., in noisy environments or with temporary limitations such as a broken arm).
The crossover: SEO & A11y
Accessibility is often seen as "just another to-do" alongside technical SEO and on-page optimization. However, the presentation showed that there is significant overlap. The areas where SEO and accessibility go hand in hand are essential for both disciplines:
Headlines: Clear hierarchies help screen readers and crawlers.
Internal links: Descriptive link texts are better for all users.
ALT texts: Essential for screen readers and image searches.
Practical tip: AI-generated alt text
One highlight was the deep dive into the creation of alt text using AI. Since manual writing is often time-consuming, dm relies on automated support.
Important lessons learned about system prompts: The structure of the prompt is crucial for the AI to deliver useful results:
Role: Assignment of an expert role (e.g., online editor).
Task: Concise description of the goal.
Rules: Specific guidelines (length, what should be described).
Examples: Guidance for AI through examples of good practice.
Structure is everything: Semantics & GEO
The semantic structuring of content (HTML5 elements, correct heading tags) is the backbone of accessibility. A screen reader reads elements in a fixed order—for example, first the alt text of an image, then the headline, then the body text.
Exciting for the future: A clean semantic structure not only helps classic SEO, but is also the basis for GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), i.e., optimization for AI-supported responses.
You don't have to guess whether your site is compliant. Boris recommended tools such as Screaming Frog, which now has dedicated features for checking accessibility (e.g., missing alt text, contrast issues, or incorrect heading hierarchies).
Accessibility is more than just legal compliance
Digital accessibility is much more than just avoiding penalties. The advantages are obvious:
Higher satisfaction: Better usability for everyone reduces bounce rates.
Better ranking: Semantically clean code boosts SEO.
Greater reach: tapping into new user groups.
Increase in sales: A logical consequence of the above points.
Conclusion
Since 2025, accessibility is no longer optional—it is the law. But more importantly, accessibility is good design that includes everyone. A modern, professional website is always accessible.
A critical comment on practice: Many companies, especially the large US tech corporations, are pushing accessibility overlays and automated solutions that do not actually work. Google itself is not fully compliant with its own accessibility standards. This is not only hypocritical, but also damages the genuine inclusion movement. True accessibility requires investment, expertise, and a willingness to implement standards correctly from the ground up—not superficial pseudo-solutions that can be cheaply replicated in chatbots and AI tools.
If you want to take accessibility seriously, invest in real expertise, work with people with disabilities, and build standards in from the outset. It's more work than a quick fix—but it really works.
Follow this updated checklist and make 2026 the year your website becomes truly accessible to everyone—not just on paper, but in practice.
Your contact for websites & SEO
Alexander Keller
Chief Search Architect
paseo
0721 – 911010
Active since 2009 in the fields of search engine optimization, digitization, and growth hacking, I am happy to advise you on all questions relating to search engines and successful online marketing strategies.
