Digital accessibility

Ensuring barrier-free access to universities and their offerings is legally mandated. This involves not only reducing or eliminating physical barriers but also addressing digital barriers, which is a crucial factor in fostering inclusion.

The EU Directive 2016/2102 requires public institutions in Germany, including universities, to design websites, documents, and other content to be accessible. It is important to note that this directive is not limited to students with disabilities; the goal is to simplify participation in lectures and other activities for everyone.

Dekobild

Definition of “Digital Accessibility”

The term “digital accessibility” encompasses everything that ensures unrestricted usability of digital offerings, regardless of the personal circumstances of the users, or at least simplifies access. This means that, in addition to digital events, all websites, platforms, documents, and applications must be designed so that they are equally discoverable, accessible, and usable by everyone.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) introduced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in 1999, which are continuously updated to reflect current developments. These guidelines provide recommendations for implementing digital accessibility on the internet, addressing aspects such as perceivability, operability, understandability, robustness of web pages and other applications.

Designing digital content

 

People with disabilities can participate in digital life independently when offerings are:

  • Presented in a standard, commonly used manner.
  • Usable without undue difficulty.
  • Accessible without external assistance (except for disability-related assistive tools).
  • Discoverable, accessible, and usable.

 

Brief overview of the legal foundations

The requirements for designing digital events and offerings to be accessible are anchored in the EU Directive 2016/2102. According to Article 3(3) of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz, GG), no one may be disadvantaged because of a disability. This provision covers individuals who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, as well as those with motor or cognitive disabilities.

To better support people with disabilities and promote their participation in public life, the Federal Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities came into effect in 2002. In subsequent years, German federal states enacted state equality laws.

Based on BITV 2.0 (Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance), individual laws were formulated for each federal state. Additional relevant laws and legal foundations for reducing digital barriers include:

International:

  • EU Directive 2016/2102
  • EU Implementing Decision 2018/1523
  • EU Implementing Decision 2018/1524
  • EU Implementing Decision 2018/2048
  • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD)

 

 

Federal level

  • Grundgesetz (GG)
  • Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG)
  • Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung (BITV 2.0)
  • Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz (BGG)
  • Bundesteilhabegesetz (BTHG)
  • Sozialgesetzbuch IX (SGB IX)
  • Hochschulrahmengesetz (HRG)

 

How should the content be designed?

In § 3 Abs. 1 BITV 2.0 is defined how content must be structured. To be considered barrier-free, it must be designed as follows:

  • Perceivable: Information and components of the user interface must be presented to users in such a way that they can perceive them.
  • Operable: Components of the user interface and navigation must be operable.
  • Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable.
  • Robust: Content must be robust enough to be reliably interpreted by a wide range of user agents, including assistive technologies.

What applies to universities?

Universities are required to make their internet and intranet sites accessible. This includes all textual and non-textual information, as well as integrated content such as documents, videos, audio files, and even forms, all of which must be designed to be accessible.

Various monitoring bodies assess whether BITV 2.0 and the corresponding state laws are being implemented by public institutions. Additionally, it is the responsibility of individual universities to verify compliance with legal obligations. This can be done, for example, as part of evaluation or (re-)accreditation processes.

When implementing BITV 2.0, it is also essential to ensure the accessibility of procured and used information and communication technologies, as well as the development and utilization of information and communication services. To create accessible universities, it is important to raise awareness and provide training for instructors, students, and university staff. Without trained personnel, full accessibility cannot be achieved, as its implementation depends significantly on their efforts.

Requirements for accessibility in exemplary areas

Universities can make significant contributions to compensating for the disadvantages of students with disabilities by offering accessible digital resources. Depending on the type of disability, various assistive technologies can be utilized, such as screen readers, speech input systems, magnification software, or on-screen keyboards.

In the following areas, accessibility can be taken into consideration:

Accessible texts

To ensure that all individuals can access the content of a text, it is essential that screen readers can correctly interpret and reproduce the text.

It is important to structure texts with well-organized headings, avoid conveying information solely through colors or shading, and use tables of contents and alternative texts for tables.

Accessible PDF, Word- and PowerPoint-Files

For these file types, particular attention should be given to visual accessibility so that individuals with visual impairments can use them. To achieve this, screen readers must correctly interpret both text and images.

Design considerations should include appropriate font sizes and suitable line spacing.

Accessible Websites

Websites must also be designed to be accessible. It is crucial to consider varying needs based on different impairments. For instance, for users relying on screen readers, it is particularly important that the structure is correctly recognized to ensure proper content reading.

Content with high contrast or larger formats can facilitate reading and perception. Additionally, translating content into simpler or easier-to-understand language can help users better comprehend information.

Accessible Images

Only images with relevant content should be used. To ensure that visually impaired individuals can perceive the content, an alternative text describing the image should be provided.

Accessible Video and Audio Content

Subtitles for video and audio content can help make the material accessible to a wider audience.

Do you have questions?

If you have questions or uncertainties, we are here to assist you as instructors.

rechtsinformation-padll[at]hwr-berlin.de

Further Links (in german)