Accessibility from June 2025: What the BFSG means for digital services - and how edoobox can help

From June 28, 2025, the Barrier-Free Accessibility Reinforcement Act (BFSG) will come into full effect in Germany. This law stipulates that certain products and services - including websites - must be barrier-free. The aim behind this: People with disabilities should be able to participate in digital life without restrictions. For providers of digital services, this means a legal obligation to design their online offerings in such a way that no one is excluded due to barriers. Those who ignore the requirements risk official measures and fines of up to €100,000. At the same time, barrier-free design offers an opportunity: it improves user-friendliness for all customers (e.g. on mobile devices or for older people) and demonstrates a sense of responsibility - a trust bonus for your company.

New requirements by the BFSG for digital services

The BFSG is the implementation of an EU directive (2019/882) and marks a milestone for digital accessibility in the private sector. In future, companies will have to offer their digital products and services in such a way that they can be found, accessed and used by people with disabilities in the usual way, without particular difficulty and without outside help. Specifically, the requirements are based on established standards such as the EU standard EN 301 549 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1, Level AA). These define exactly what a website or web application must achieve in order to be considered accessible.

What new requirements are you facing? Essentially, it's about designing digital content and functions in such a way that they can be perceived and operated equally by all users. Important aspects here include

• Perceptibility of the content: Ensure that texts and controls are easy to read. This includes sufficiently high contrasts between text and background, adjustable font sizes and alternative texts for images so that screen readers can describe graphics, for example.

• Usability for all: Users must be able to navigate your website without any hurdles. Simple, consistent navigation and the operability of all functions using a keyboard (not just a mouse) are essential. It must also be possible to use assistive technologies such as voice control or special input devices.

• Comprehensibility of content and processes: Both the information itself and the operation should be understandable. Use clear language and a logical structure with headings, paragraphs and lists. If possible, complex issues should be explained in simple language. Standardized terms and menus help users to find their way around.

• Robust compatibility: Your website should be technically implemented in such a way that it works reliably with different browsers, devices and assistive technologies. This includes, in particular, compatibility with screen readers, magnification software and other assistive technologies. Clean HTML, ARIA roles and standard-compliant PDF documents ensure that future technologies will also be able to capture your content.

These requirements may seem demanding at first glance. But don't worry - with edoobox, you have a strong partner to help you implement them. In the next section, we will show you how our solution helps you to meet all BFSG criteria.

Edoobox as a barrier-free solution for your offer

Modern design for maximum accessibility: Edoobox has already proactively responded to the upcoming requirements and fundamentally modernized its system. The new user interface is based on Bootstrap 5, a modern web framework that is inherently designed for accessibility. As a result, edoobox achieves a score of around 95% in automatic accessibility tests (Google Lighthouse) - an indicator of the high technical accessibility of our platform. For you, this means that when you use edoobox, you immediately benefit from a modern, low-barrier environment without having to program from scratch.

Low-barrier design elements in edoobox: Our new design was developed with a focus on usability and accessibility. Specifically, edoobox offers, among other things:

• High-contrast colors and clear font: The color scheme and typography meet the recommended contrast values so that texts can also be easily recognized by visually impaired people.
• Simple, clear navigation: A clear page structure and easily recognizable navigation menus make it easier for all users to find their way around. Important: It is also possible to navigate through all menus and forms using the keyboard, which includes users without a mouse or with screen readers, for example.
• Keyboard control of all functions: Whether course selection, booking form or buttons - all controls have been developed so that they can be operated entirely by keyboard (tab focus, enter to trigger, etc.). This complies with the WCAG requirements for keyboard operability and also helps users who use alternative input devices.
• Screen reader compatibility: Under the hood, edoobox relies on semantic HTML and ARIA attributes. This means that common screen readers can interpret the structure and content of the pages perfectly (e.g. form fields are provided with suitable labels). Users with visual impairments thus receive all information read aloud and can make bookings independently.

Thanks to these measures, edoobox already fulfills most of the relevant web accessibility criteria out-of-the-box. As a user of our system, you don't have to worry about technical accessibility - we continuously keep the platform up to date with the latest standards.

Accessible content: Your help is needed. However, technology alone is not enough; the content you provide also plays an important role in accessibility. Edoobox supports you with the necessary functions and instructions. For example, you can add an alternative text for each image you upload to your course description - so a photo such as "Participants of a training course laughing into the camera" becomes a comprehensible descriptive text for screen reader users. We also recommend that you structure longer course descriptions with headings and lists instead of just using continuous text. A clear content structure increases readability and comprehensibility for everyone. If you offer documents (e.g. PDF brochures or forms) for download, make sure that they are accessible - i.e. with correct PDF tags, headings and alt texts within the document. Our team will be happy to advise you on how to create such documents or optimize existing files. These content-related measures will ensure that your entire offering - from the platform to the content - is fully BFSG-compliant.

Optional service: Individual bootstrap integration by edoobox

Every company has different websites and design specifications. If you need individual adjustments to integrate edoobox seamlessly into your existing website, we offer an optional integration service. As part of this (chargeable) offer, our team of experts will take care of integration of the new Bootstrap 5 design into your website and adapts the colors, fonts and layout to your corporate design if required - without compromising accessibility, of course. You therefore receive a tailor-made solution: Your online booking portal fits perfectly into your website visually and at the same time fulfills all BFSG requirements. This service is ideal for customers who do not want to hire their own web agency or who want to ensure that all technical requirements are implemented correctly. Simply contact us - we will find a solution that suits your needs.

Conclusion: Act now - we will support you!

The clock is ticking: By June 2025, your digital offerings should be designed to be accessible so that you are on the safe side legally and offer all your customers an accessible experience. With edoobox, you have already taken a big step towards legally compliant and future-proof course management. Our platform takes most of the technical implementation off your hands and gives you recommendations for accessible content.

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