Newsletter
Digital sovereignty is not possible without digital accessibility.
Issue 12 in 2025
Domingos de Oliveira (netz-barrierefrei.de):
We're immediately on board with the topic of digital sovereignty. It was and is a mistake to become dependent on individual solutions. However, it must be said that many of these quasi-monopoly solutions perform better in terms of digital accessibility than many local alternatives. In the US, they focused on accessibility earlier and more extensively, and rightly saw it as a market opportunity. In the EU, even many large software companies still have a lot of catching up to do. Little is gained by replacing accessible solutions with sovereign, but not accessible, ones.
Interesting articles
Digital accessibility should be considered in tenders from the outset to ensure sustainable and inclusive solutions.
Anchoring digital accessibility in purchasing and procurement
Digital sovereignty is unattainable without accessible digital systems, because access is a basic requirement for participation.
Drag-and-drop functionality requires special care to ensure it is accessible to all users.
The upcoming WCAG 3 will bring new assessment approaches and more flexibility in accessibility testing.
The FAQ from the Federal Agency provides a clear overview of the Accessibility Strengthening Act and its requirements. It has been expanded in recent months and supplemented with several specific FAQs. FAQ on the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG)
This article deals with the interpretation of the term "disproportionate burden". Some organizations interpret the term too broadly. Digital Accessibility – Federal Government Service Consolidation Portal
Barrierefreiheit im Zahlungsverkehr ist keine Zusatzoption, sondern eine Grundvoraussetzung für inklusive Teilhabe an Finanzdiensten.
Barrierefreiheit im digitalen Zahlungsverkehr: Inklusion, die sich auszahlt
The PDF Accessibility Checker PAC 2026 is out of beta and available as a stable version. Important: Automated tests can help ensure accessibility early on—but true accessibility only comes about through a combination of manual and user testing. Download PAC, Automated accessibility testing
The current report from the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW) shows that digital accessibility is not only a requirement for companies — it can be a competitive advantage and make the working world more accessible for everyone.
Digital accessibility: A question of age, less of disability
Another organization states that so-called accessibility overlays are incompatible with digital accessibility.
Accessibility overlay or verification mark – both are not possible.
Patientengerechte Gesundheitsversorgung darf keine Extrasache sein — sie muss barrierefrei und inklusiv gestaltet werden.
Gestaltung barrierefreier und inklusiver Gesundheitsversorgung
The project barrieren-gutachten.de now publishes significantly more audit reports on digital accessibility — and makes them understandable for laypersons with overviews and summaries. The barrieren-gutachten.de project now offers new information on audit reports for digital accessibility.
With the recognition of WCAG 2.2 as an international standard, the topic of accessibility will enter a new phase in 2026 — those who get involved early ensure user-friendliness and compliance.
Moving on in English: WCAG 2.2 is now an ISO standard.
WCAG 2.2 as an ISO Standard and Its Implications for Accessibility Strategy in 2026
Even though AI-supported tools offer great potential for inclusive web design, automated aids alone do not replace consistent accessibility design.
Even in image and media production with AI, a critical look is worthwhile: generative models do not always reflect the diversity of human reality — which is particularly relevant when representing disability.
Disability Representation in AI Imagery – A Critical Discourse
Good news of the month
Oregon sets new standards: The US state is the first to receive official accessibility verification — an important step for accessible digital infrastructures. Oregon becomes the first state to be accessibility-verified
Inklusives Gaming ermöglicht Teilhabe und Gemeinschaft — auch Menschen mit Autismus finden so einen barrierefreien Einstieg ins Spielerlebnis. Immer der Reihe nach – In der Stadt (inklusive Spielanleitung)
Eine Initiative, die zeigt: Barrierefreiheit und Gehörlosigkeit zählen — diversitätsbewusste Projekte stärken Sichtbarkeit und Teilhabe für alle. Accessibility Matters – Deaf Awareness Initiative
Auch kleinere Städte zeigen Engagement: Ein barrierefreies Projekt in Heimsheim macht deutlich, wie Kommunen mit Zugänglichkeit und Inklusion vorangehen können.
Stadt Heimsheim setzt auf barrierefreie Aktion
Street art meets Braille: This article shows how creative ideas can break down barriers and raise awareness for the visually impaired. Braille Goes Street Art
More articles
- DIN/ISO and the empty space between Plain and Easy Language– Analysis of the differences and a plea for plain language.
- Draft Guidance: Gaming AD– Draft for the accessible design of gaming ads, open to feedback.
- PA-AT– Platform for accessible assistive technology.
- Fonts & Typography – Section 508– Guidelines for accessible typography.
- Inclusion Impact– Brief insights into inclusive practices.
- Web Design Statistics – SQ Magazine– Current figures and trends from UX studies.
- Accessible Form Validation– Practical examples of accessible form validation.
- HTML Output Tag– Introducing an often overlooked HTML tag for form results.
- GitHub Copilot Instructions– Instructions for using Copilot in an accessible way.
- Identifying Accessibility Data Gaps– Tips for identifying gaps in accessibility data for AI models.