From June 28, 2025, Germany's Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) takes full effect. The law requires certain products and services, including websites, to be accessible. Its aim is to allow people with disabilities to participate fully in digital life. For digital service providers, this means a legal obligation to design their online offerings so that nobody is excluded by barriers. Those who ignore the requirements risk regulatory action and fines of up to €100,000. At the same time, accessible design is an opportunity: It improves usability for all customers, for example on mobile devices or for older people, and demonstrates responsibility, adding to trust in your business.
New requirements from the BFSG for digital services
The BFSG implements an EU directive (2019/882) and marks a milestone for digital accessibility in the private sector. Going forward, businesses must offer their digital products and services so that people with disabilities can find, access and use them in the usual way, without particular difficulty and without assistance from others. The requirements are based on established standards such as EU standard EN 301 549 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1, Level AA). These define precisely what a website or web application must provide to qualify as accessible.
What new requirements will you face? At its core, the aim is to design digital content and functions so that all users can perceive and operate them equally. Important aspects include:
- Perceivable content: Make sure text and controls are easy to read. This includes sufficiently high contrast between text and background, adjustable font sizes and alternative text for images so that screen readers, for example, can describe graphics.
- Usability for everyone: Users must be able to navigate your offering without barriers. Simple, consistent navigation and keyboard access to all functions, not just mouse access, are essential. Operation must also be possible with assistive technologies such as voice control or specialized input devices.
- Understandable content and processes: Both the information itself and the interface should be understandable. Use clear language and a logical structure with headings, paragraphs and lists. Where possible, explain complex matters in simple language. Consistent terminology and menus help users find their way around.
- Robust compatibility: Your website should be implemented so that it works reliably with different browsers, devices and assistive technologies. This includes, in particular, compatibility with screen readers, magnification software and other aids. Clean HTML, ARIA roles and standards-compliant PDF documents ensure that future technologies can also interpret your content.
These requirements may look demanding at first. But there is no need to worry: With edoobox, you have a strong partner to help with implementation. In the next section, we show how our solution helps you meet all BFSG criteria.
Edoobox as a barrier-free solution for your offer
Modern design for maximum accessibility: Edoobox has already responded proactively to the upcoming requirements and fundamentally modernized its system. The new user interface is based on Bootstrap 5, a modern web framework designed with accessibility in mind from the outset. As a result, edoobox achieves a score of 100% in automated accessibility tests (Google Lighthouse), an indicator of our platform's high technical accessibility. For you, this means that using edoobox immediately gives you a modern environment with fewer barriers, without having to program everything from scratch yourself.
Accessible design elements in edoobox: Our new design was developed with a focus on usability and accessibility. In particular, edoobox offers the following:
- High-contrast colors and clear typography: Colors and typography meet the recommended contrast levels so that people with visual impairments can also read the text easily.
- Simple, clear navigation: A clear page structure and easily recognizable navigation menus help all users find their way around. Crucially, every menu and form can also be navigated using the keyboard, including by users without a mouse or those using screen readers.
- Keyboard control for every function: From course selection and booking forms to buttons, every control is designed to be fully operable using the keyboard, with Tab to move focus and Enter to activate, for example. This meets WCAG requirements for keyboard accessibility and also helps users who use alternative input devices.
- Screen reader compatibility: Under the hood, edoobox uses semantic HTML and ARIA attributes. This means common screen readers can correctly interpret the structure and content of pages, for example because form fields have appropriate labels. Users with visual impairments can have all the information read aloud and complete bookings independently.
Thanks to these measures, edoobox already meets a large proportion of the relevant web accessibility criteria out of the box. As a user of our system, you therefore do not need to worry about technical accessibility: we continuously keep the platform aligned with the latest standards.
Accessible content: Your contribution matters. Technology alone is not enough; the content you provide also plays an important role in accessibility. Edoobox supports you with the necessary features and guidance. For example, you can add alternative text to every image you upload to your course description. A photo can then be described as “Training participants smiling at the camera”, providing clear descriptive text for screen reader users. We also recommend structuring longer course descriptions with headings and lists instead of using only continuous prose. Clear organization improves readability and comprehension for everyone. If you offer documents for download, such as PDF brochures or forms, make sure they are prepared accessibly, with correct PDF tags, headings and alt text within the document. Our team is happy to advise you on creating such documents or optimizing existing files. These content measures ensure that your entire offering, from the platform to the content, fully complies with the BFSG.
Optional service: Individual bootstrap integration through edoobox
Every business has different websites and design requirements. If you need individual customization to integrate edoobox seamlessly into your existing website, we offer an optional integration service. As part of this paid service, our expert team handles the integration of the new Bootstrap 5 design into your website and adapts colors, fonts and layout to your corporate design where needed, naturally without compromising accessibility. You receive a tailored solution: Your online booking portal fits your website perfectly and meets all BFSG requirements. This service is ideal for customers who do not want to engage their own web agency or who want to ensure that every technical requirement is correctly implemented. Just speak to us and we will find a solution that fits your needs.
Conclusion: Act now – we will support you!
Time is running out: By June 2025, your digital offerings should be accessible so that you remain legally compliant and give all your customers an accessible experience. With edoobox, you have already taken a major step toward legally compliant, future-ready course management. Our platform handles most of the technical implementation and gives you recommendations for content with fewer barriers.
