Accessibility Statement

It is of particular importance to us to maintain this website as barrier-free as possible We want to provide access to our information and services to everyone—regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive limitations.

Conformity status

This website adheres to the guidelines of WCAG 2.1 - Level AA (opens in a new tab)According to our current review, the website largely compliant with WCAG 2.1 level AA.

Non-accessible content

The following content/components are not yet fully accessible. We are working on fixing this:

  • Some older images/documents lack complete alternative text.
  • Occasional contrast variations in archive pages.
  • Individual embedded third-party content elements that are only partially controllable.

Planned fixes: ongoing; known issues will be prioritized and resolved within 3-6 months.

What are the WCAG guidelines?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized guidelines for improving the accessibility of websites. They were developed by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (opens in a new tab) developed and help make web content accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.

The WCAG is based on four basic principles:

  • Perceptible - Content must be presented in such a way that it can be perceived by all users.
  • Operable - The website must be fully operable using a keyboard and assistive technologies.
  • Understandable - Content and navigation should be clear and simple.
  • Durable - Content must work with different devices and assistive technologies (e.g. screen readers).

There are three levels of conformity:

  • Level A: basic requirements
  • Level AA: Recommended standard - mandatory for public bodies in many countries
  • Level AAA: Highest level - usually only partially feasible

WCAG 2.1 - Level AA

This level ensures that the content is accessible and usable for as many people as possible – including those with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive impairments.

WCAG 2.1 - Level AA Checklist

This checklist contains the most important requirements of WCAG 2.1 at level AA.

1. Text content

  • All images have meaningful alt-attributes.
  • No text in images (except logos or decorative elements).
  • Headings are structured hierarchically correctly (e.g. <h1>, <h2> etc.).
  • The page language is correctly specified in the HTML (<html lang="de">).
  • Abbreviations and technical terms are explained clearly.

2. Structure and navigation

  • The page is fully operable via keyboard (e.g. with Tab, Enter, arrow keys).
  • The keyboard focus is always visible.
  • The navigation is structured consistently.
  • There is a way to jump directly to the main content (e.g., a "Skip to Content" link).
  • The content is divided into logically structured sections.

3. Colors & Contrasts

  • Text has a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 to the background.
  • Large texts (18pt or bold 14pt) at least 3:1 contrast.
  • Information is not conveyed exclusively through color.

4. Forms & Interactive Content

  • All form fields have visible and programmatic labels.
  • Error messages are clear and understandable.
  • Mandatory fields are clearly marked.
  • The buttons are clearly labeled.
  • Nothing unexpected happens when you focus or type.

5. Mobile & Responsiveness

  • Pages can be used without any problems even at 200% zoom.
  • Display also works on small screens (responsive design).
  • No horizontal scroll bar for normal text content on mobile devices.

6. Technology & Compatibility

  • The HTML code is valid (e.g., checked with the W3C Validator).
  • ARIA roles and attributes are used correctly and purposefully.
  • This page is operable with screen readers (e.g., NVDA, VoiceOver).
  • Page works even with JavaScript disabled (where possible).

7. Further information

  • No automatically starting animations or sliders (or they are pauseable).
  • Links are clearly identifiable (e.g., underlined or high-contrast).
  • External links are marked if they open in a new tab/window.

Status of the declaration

This statement was last updated on: .

Testing procedure: Automated tests (Lighthouse, W3C, WAVE) on all main pages.

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