Newsletter

Qualität setzt sich durch - Ausgabe 4 in 2026

Domingos de Oliveira (netz-barrierefrei.de):

Avid readers know that Domingos regularly mocks accessibility overlays, the snake oil of accessibility. Nice-sounding words, pretty design, utterly useless. But we keep finding that quality ultimately prevails. If you're sick, you don't buy a magic herb online; you go to your doctor if the herb didn't help. It's exactly the same with accessibility: an overlay won't protect you from negative audit results or complaints from people with disabilities. Even overlay providers have realized that their sales tactics have often ruined their reputation and led to false promises. It's no coincidence that several lawsuits are underway in the US against websites that used overlays and fell for these false promises. And sometimes against the providers themselves. They're now trying to develop new products. Our advice: A professional will always give you sound advice. They will point out problems and limitations. They won't promise you magic solutions. He won't pressure you to sign a contract as quickly as possible. He can be quite annoying, but being annoyed is better than snake oil.

Interesting articles

A playful approach can help make the topic of accessibility more tangible and reach more people. In this interview, Olivia Richter provides fascinating insights into creative communication strategies. Accessibility through play – An interview with Olivia Richter

There are many reasons to care about digital accessibility. Pick one. Motivation for digital accessibility

Age discrimination also occurs in the digital sphere and influences design decisions and user experiences. This article examines how prejudices against older people create barriers. Ageism in the digital world

Unbewusste Annahmen können dazu führen, dass digitale Angebote nicht für alle zugänglich sind. Der Beitrag zeigt, wie wichtig es ist, eigene Denkweisen zu hinterfragen. Ungeprüfte Vorannahmen und ihre Auswirkungen

Artificial intelligence offers opportunities but also brings new challenges for accessibility. This article highlights the risks and shows what should be considered. Problems of artificial intelligence for digital accessibility

Sign language avatars are heavily criticized. This report summarizes the key findings of an event on this topic. Sign language avatar in use

A recent study shows how older people use digital services and where barriers still exist. It provides important insights for a more inclusive design of digital services. New study on the digital participation of older people presented

Accessibility doesn't end in the digital realm – the physical patient journey can also be optimized. This article presents innovative approaches to improving the patient experience. Innovation in accessibility in the physical patient pathway

This article provides tips on user testing with blind people. News from the Focus Mensch network

This article analyzes the current state of research on digital accessibility in the context of artificial intelligence. Key findings and open challenges are presented clearly. The Current State of Digital Accessibility Research and AI

An Accessibility Champion program can help organizations sustainably embed accessibility. This article outlines practical steps for successfully building such initiatives. How to Build an Accessibility Champion Program

This article critically examines the use of AI in design and its impact on people with disabilities. It demonstrates why inclusive perspectives are essential in technological developments. Anti-AI Design & Disability Access

Dieser Lernkurs zeigt, wie KI gezielt eingesetzt werden kann, um barrierefreie Lösungen zu entwickeln. Dabei werden konkrete Methoden und Best Practices vermittelt. Create Accessible Solutions Using AI Innovations

This article compiles important resources on the accessibility of mobile apps. It offers a helpful overview for development and design. Key Mobile App Accessibility Resources

This article examines whether automated plagiarism detection tools can unintentionally have discriminatory effects, with a particular focus on the impact on people with disabilities. Do Plagiarism and AI Detection Tools Discriminate Against People with Disabilities?

A recent decision by the US Department of Justice is causing uncertainty regarding the enforcement of web accessibility. This article explains the potential impact on future legal proceedings. DOJ Throws Wrench into Proposed ADA Website Accessibility Class Settlement

Dieses Tool ermöglicht es, PDF-Dokumente in barriereärmere HTML-Strukturen umzuwandeln. Es eignet sich besonders für Tests und erste Optimierungen. PDF to HTML Converter Playground

This article explains the requirements of the current European standard for accessibility in mobile applications. It helps to better understand compliance and usability. Mobile App Accessibility – EN 301 549 v4.1.0

This course provides fundamental knowledge about accessibility specifically for open-source projects. It shows how inclusive software development can succeed from the very beginning. Accessibility Fundamentals for Open Source Contributors

This article examines where AI models still have gaps in accessibility when generating code. It provides important impetus for the further development of such systems. Identifying Accessibility Data Gaps in Codegen Models

Good news of the month

By joining the Sunflower Programme, Eurostar is raising awareness of invisible disabilities. Travelers benefit from better understanding and more support in their daily lives. Eurostar is the first railway company in Germany to join the Sunflower program. 

Microsoft improves screen reader navigation in Word documents under Office 365. More logical navigation through Word documents for screen readers

Das Speech Accessibility Project sammelt Sprachdaten, um Sprachtechnologien inklusiver und zugänglicher zu machen. Ziel ist es, auch Menschen mit unterschiedlichen Sprachmustern besser zu berücksichtigen. Speech Accessibility Project

A water supplier is expanding its digital services to include a feature for users of British Sign Language. This will significantly improve access to important information. New online feature for British Sign Language users 

Eine Initiative setzt sich dafür ein, digitale Barrierefreiheit in Indien und Ghana zu stärken. Der Beitrag zeigt, wie Engagement und Finanzierung konkrete Veränderungen ermöglichen können. Support India & Ghana Accessibility Initiative

Mozilla presents approaches for an open and sovereign AI infrastructure. Transparency and accessibility play a central role in this. In our opinion, open source is also extremely important for accessibility, because otherwise one is dependent on large platforms and their instability.Mila Open Source Sovereign AI 

A recent case highlights the legal challenges surrounding e-scooters in road traffic. It also illustrates the potential impact on different user groups. E-scooters are a frequent tripping hazard for visually impaired individuals and pose a high risk of injury, both when actively used and when parked. Liability for e-scooters

The obligation to use the Open Document Format strengthens digital sovereignty and interoperability. At the same time, this can improve the accessibility of documents. Germany's sovereign digital stack mandates ODF

Die ARD baut ihr Angebot in klarer Sprache aus, um Inhalte verständlicher zu machen. Dies erleichtert vielen Menschen den Zugang zu Informationen. Klare Sprache 

Witty Works macht seinen Schreib-Assistenten für inklusive Sprachen Open Source. LinkedIn Beitrag ansehen

The Sunflower Lanyard from Hidden Disabilities Sunflower 🌻 is available free of charge and without proof of disability at all 115 SBB CFF FFS travel centers.View LinkedIn post

Eine neue digitale Lösung hilft dabei, verfügbare Behindertenparkplätze schnell zu finden. Das verbessert Mobilität und Selbstständigkeit im Alltag. Freie Behindertenparkplätze online finden

Ein Projekt zeigt, wie medizinische Tests für Menschen mit Sehbeeinträchtigungen zugänglicher gestaltet werden können. Technologie wird hier gezielt für mehr Inklusion eingesetzt. Tech for Good: Accessible Medical Tests

Frankfurt Airport is the first airport in the world to use Auracast technology for barrier-free audio transmission. This particularly improves orientation for people with hearing impairments. Frankfurt Airport relies on Auracast

In Great Britain, deaf children are to be given earlier access to sign language courses. Government 'in conversation' with British Deaf Association on early years BSL access, charity says

More articles

Artificial intelligence and accessibility