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Ensuring accessibility

A man sits in front of a monitor on which a multiple-choice question is displayed in German in greatly enlarged form: “What should I do if I make a stopover?” with the options “Yes” and “No” as well as “Back” and “Next” buttons.

Thinking about digital accessibility from the very beginning

Digital services provided by the state must be accessible to everyone — regardless of individual abilities. At DigitalService, accessibility is integrated into development from the outset and in a practical way: through in-house tools, workshops, and specific methods that help systematically remove digital barriers and design user-friendly solutions for all.

Our goal: to make digital administrative services more inclusive, step by step — together with the administration.

Our initiatives for accessibility

The “How many people?” tool is open on a tablet; the DigitalService office can be seen in the background as a visual stylistic device

How many people?

Everyone has different requirements when it comes to digital services. Our tool shows how many people in Germany with certain characteristics – such as disabilities or impairments – might use a service, and helps to derive specific measures for removing barriers.

Try the tool

Open browser window with the extension for simulating accessibility personas switched on; the DigitalService office can be seen in the background as a visual stylistic device

Simulate accessibility personas

This browser extension can be used to simulate the user experience of people with impairments such as visual impairment or dyslexia. It helps identify and eliminate barriers on websites early in the development process.

Install for Chrome

A person is sitting in front of a large screen on which an accessibility test is being carried out; another person can be seen blurred in the foreground

Pizza-powered accessibility check

In a 90-minute workshop – our so-called “Pizza-powered accessibility check” – your own service can be tested for basic accessibility requirements. This includes using the “Simulate accessibility personas” extension.

Information on the extension

A laptop stands on a table in an office; the screen shows eight people in a video call who are part of the “Accessibility Ambassadors” working group

Accessibility ambassadors

We are a diverse working group within DigitalService – from the fields of design, product management, software engineering, and user research – committed to promoting greater digital inclusion. Our goal is to share knowledge, raise awareness, and break down barriers together.

Contact: accessibility@digitalservice.bund.de

Blog posts about accessibility

A person is sitting at a table with a laptop on which a list of local court applications can be seen enlarged in yellow on black

No digital offering is barrier-free – how we want to change that

Accessibility is important for all DigitalService employees: there is already a mandatory module during onboarding. We show how the topic is also considered early on in our projects.

Read article

Two women sit in front of laptops in a modern office, while a large screen displays a video conference and a website. A houseplant stands to the left of the room.

Making online services more inclusive: our user research on accessibility

To make online services accessible to all citizens, regular accessibility-focused testing is essential. This article (German only) highlights the methods and assistive technologies being used.

Read article

Two people stand in front of a whiteboard on which various pieces of paper are hung with instructions on the correct and incorrect design of accessible products

Building accessibility capability at Germany’s DigitalService through reuse

DigitalService promotes accessibility through manda­tory training, a user evaluation tool, and practi­cal formats — as described in the article, drawing inspiration from proven approaches in the UK.

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On site at events

Upcoming events

Google Web AI Accessibility Day

When: June 17, 2025
Where: Berlin

11th Future Congress on State and Administration

When: June 23–25, 2025
Where: Berlin

Past events

Smart Country Convention

When: November 19, 2024
Where: Berlin

Materials: Presentation “No digital offering is barrier-free – how we change that”

Seventh Network Meeting on Digital Accessibility

When: November 19, 2024
Where: Berlin

Materials: Summary of the network meeting on digital accessibility