When the whole world is talking about digital accessibility, Germany is also not behind!
They have chosen a proactive approach to rectify and implement accessibility in their online products and services and eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities by putting effort into resolving the problems they encounter while exploring digital products and services.
Accessibility can be achieved by applying the right methods and best web practices and keeping this in account, Germany enacted its first digital accessibility act on Equal Opportunity for Disabled Persons BGG on April 27, 2002. Another crucial act is BITV, which was issued on July 17, 2002, with its first version BITV 1.0. 该标准受到WCAG最初版本的启发. 最新的更新版本是BITV 2.2011年9月12日发布了更新的指南.
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Let us know in-depth information about these laws to promote inclusivity and accessibility in Germany.
《残疾人平等法
该法案规定每个公民无论有没有身体, and/or any other types of disabilities must have access to online products and services. BGG directly impacts organizations and businesses that are governed or owned by the federal government, 隶属于联邦政府的, 由联邦控制, etc. These organizations and businesses are expected to provide alternative means such as sign language or other suitable communication aids to provide barrier-free information technology websites and 移动应用程序.
The act covers every facet of the website/application to accommodate the needs of users with disabilities. 如果一个组织没有遵守《残疾人平等法》, 其后果可能会使该组织陷入困境.
无障碍信息技术联邦条例- BITV
The Berlin Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV) is based on the disability discrimination act and was enacted by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Federal Ministry of the Interior in 2002. It is intended to allow people with disabilities to easily access online information and technology.
BITV适用于所有网站, 移动应用程序, intranets, and extranets, 电子支援的行政程序, 图形程序界面.
Moreover, European web accessibility standards (EN 301549) are also incorporated into the BITV 2.0. 它遵循Web内容可访问性指南2.W3C的0版本，加上一些小的添加. BITV 2.0，就像美国的508条款.S.A., 影响到所有德国公共机构、联邦机构和供应商, contractors, and partners of those agencies by mandating them to ensure information and services that are made available electronically are accessible and usable by people with disabilities. BITV 2.0 like Section 508 in USA; affects all German public bodies and federal agencies, contractors, vendors, 通过强制合作.
BGG和BITV的要求
BGG和BITV最初专注于德国联邦政府网站. However, with time, 其他州和地方机构, vendors, contractors, partners, 私营部门都开始建立自己的网站, 移动应用程序, 以及所有按BITV推荐的数字服务.
Organizations must provide reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities so that they can have access to their desired online content. 响应式设计必须包括:
- 图像的Alt文本
- 音频和视频内容的字幕/文本
- 适当的色彩对比
- 键盘导航
- 屏幕阅读器兼容性
- 可访问的pdf和其他文档
- Readable text, etc.
There was a deadline for all organizations to apply the standards; they were expected to implement the standards by December 31, 2005.
如上所述，BITV 2的最新版本.0包括不属于BGG一部分的欧盟指令的规定. Therefore, 所有网站都被要求在9月23日之前公布相同的内容, 2020, 以及移动应用程序，截止日期为6月23日, 2021.
If websites have accessibility exceptions, that should be clearly mentioned in the statement. Also, if a user with disability encounters any accessibility issue which is not outlined in the exception, there should be a contact detail wherein they can talk or submit their problems.
该声明必须每三年更新一次. Continuous evaluation of website accessibility is required to maintain their accessibility status.
网站违规的法律后果
Section 16 of the German Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities made it compulsory that there should be an arbitration service set up to resolve conflicts between users with disabilities and organizations that fail to provide accessible web content to them.
如果这些用户希望采取法律行动, their plaintiff submits a complaint through the arbitration service’s website. Both parties are expected to work together to resolve accessibility issues to settle the matter without taking it to the courts.
However, 如果原告发现采取的措施不能解决问题, 然后他们可以去法院寻求更好的解决方案. It leads to hefty penalties and brand reputation damage for those organizations.
Wrapping up
哪个更贵，品牌形象还是可访问性实施? If brand image matters to you, remediating your digital assets against BITV 2.0应该是你的第一步. With implementing website accessibility compliance features provide accessible information technology and compliance with Federal Disabled Equalization Law (BGG), 无障碍-信息技术-通信(BITV.0, and WCAG 2.AA法律和准则.
拥有专家团队，我们提供 全面管理ADA网站可访问性补救服务 including audit, strategy, design, development, remediation, and VPAT services that comply with accessibility regulations within your budget. Contact us at [email protected] or request a quote.
