Webdesign

October 1, 2025

6 minutes

Accessible websites:
What will change in 2025 and why it concerns everyone

Imagine you walk into a new café. The door is narrow, there is only one staircase leading upstairs, and the menu is written in tiny letters on the wall. Many guests can enjoy the café, but not all of them. It's similar with many websites today: they work well for most people, but for those with disabilities, they often present insurmountable barriers. This has to stop. Since June 28, 2025, the Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG) has been in force in Germany, making digital offerings mandatory accessible.

Illustration of a large orange “Tab” key surrounded by smaller green and pink keys with arrows, on a blue background.

What does the new law mean?

The Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG) implements the EU directive “European Accessibility Act.” The goal is to make digital products and services usable for all people, including those with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments. For websites, this means:

From June 28, 2025, online shops, booking platforms, digital services, and many other offerings must be accessible.
Those who do not comply risk fines or other penalties.
Micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees or less than €2 million in annual turnover are often exempt, but accessibility is still worthwhile here too.

This affects almost everyone who offers digital services, i.e., online shops, appointment booking systems, or contact and registration forms. Pure “business card” pages without interaction are generally not included. Important: Even if you integrate external tools or plugins, you remain responsible as the operator. You must ensure that these are accessible or that an equivalent alternative is offered.

Hand-drawn blue chicken facing left, with a red comb, next to an orange speech bubble reading “alt-text: chicken looks left.”

Web accessibility works like a puzzle: only when all the elements fit together and each part has been carefully thought out can a coherent and usable whole be created.

Illustration of four interlocking puzzle pieces in blue, orange, pink, and light green.

What is important when it comes to accessibility?

The good news is that there are clear standards to guide you, particularly the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). These are based on four basic principles:

Perceptible – Content must be recognizable, e.g., through alternative text for images or subtitles for videos.
Operable – The page must also be usable without a mouse (e.g., via keyboard).
Understandable – Navigation, language, and feedback must be clear.
Robust – Content must work with assistive technologies such as screen readers.

Sound abstract? Here are a few specific points:

Texts must have sufficient contrast. Light gray on white is passé.
All functions must be controllable via keyboard – tabulator says hello.
Forms need clear error messages (“Please enter your email address” instead of “Error 302”).
Images need alt text.
Videos need subtitles. Moving content must be able to be turned on and off.

Illustration of a colour contrast checker interface showing background colour #f3ffaf (light yellow) and foreground colour #000000 (black), with a contrast ratio of 19.73 and all WCAG levels passing.

How do you test accessibility?

Simply closing your eyes and pushing through won't work here. Accessibility requires a combination of technology and practice. Automated tools detect many problems, but true security can only be achieved through manual testing and feedback. Specifically, this means:

Automated testing with tools such as Lighthouse, WAVE, or axe – good for quick checks.
Trying out keyboard operation – can the page be controlled completely without a mouse?
Testing screen readers – for example, with NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (Mac/iPhone).
Checking zoom and scalability – does the page still work properly at 200% magnification?
Color and contrast tests – e.g., with simple online checkers.
Involve real users – barriers are often more noticeable in everyday life than in theory.

This also includes the mandatory accessibility statement, in which you document what measures have been implemented, what barriers still exist, and how users can report problems. This makes accessibility a continuous process rather than a one-time task.

Accessibility is more than just an obligation. It makes your website usable for everyone, expands your reach, reduces legal risks, and demonstrates responsibility.

Accessibility starts now

Web accessibility is no longer a “nice to have” but a must. Since June 2025, many websites have been required to meet legal requirements. Those who start late will quickly find themselves under pressure. That's why it pays to act early: accessibility should be part of the design and code from the outset, and it must be tested regularly and communicated openly. At studio tülü, our design studio in Hamburg and Dortmund, this requirement has long been a natural part of the design process, because good design should always be accessible to everyone. Ultimately, it's not just about laws and deadlines, but about ensuring that everyone can use the internet.

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