Introduction to the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV)

What is BITV?

The Barrier-free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV) is the German regulation for accessibility on the Internet. It specifies the requirements that websites, apps and other digital media must meet in order to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Why is BITV important?

Legal Obligations: Public entities must follow BITV guidelines.
Broader User Base: Accessible design allows access for all users, including those with disabilities.
Better UX: Many of the best practices set forth in BITV improve the overall user experience.

Key Concepts

Perceptibility.

Users must be able to perceive information on a website.

Example: alt text for images

<!-- Good alt text -->
<img src="image.jpg" alt="A dog playing in the park" />

<!-- Bad alt text -->
<img src="picture.jpg" alt="picture" />

Bedienbarkeit

Benutzer müssen in der Lage sein, die Bedienelemente einer Website oder App zu nutzen.

Beispiel: Fokus-Stil für Links

/* Fokus-Stil hinzufügen */
a:focus {
  outline: 2px solid blue;
}

Verständlichkeit

Informationen und Bedienung einer Benutzeroberfläche müssen verständlich sein.

Beispiel: Einfache Sprache und Labels

<!-- Gute Label -->
<label for="email">E-Mail-Adresse</label>
<input type="email" id="email" />

<!-- Schlechte Label -->
<label for="email">Adresse 1</label>
<input type="email" id="email" />

Robustheit

Inhalte müssen robust genug sein, um von einer Vielzahl von Benutzeragenten interpretiert werden zu können.

Beispiel: Semantische HTML-Elemente

<!-- Gut -->
<article>
  <h1>Überschrift</h1>
  <p>Text</p>
</article>

<!-- Schlecht -->
<div>
  <div>Überschrift</div>
  <div>Text</div>
</div>

This list is not exhaustive, but it gives a good overview of the kind of guidelines that are stated in the BITV. The goal is always to create the most inclusive and accessible user experience possible.

BITV lays the foundation for an inclusive, accessible digital world. While compliance with these guidelines is mandatory for public institutions, all users and developers benefit from an accessible web environment. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your website or app is accessible to all.