Accessibility from 2025: What companies must consider
From June 28, 2025 An important legal regulation comes into force: Companies in Germany are required to make their digital offerings barrier-free. The basis for this is the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), which is based on the internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) obtains. Compliance level AA is declared a minimum standard.
But what does this mean for companies in practice? How can accessibility be implemented and which tools help with verification? In this article, we give you an overview, show helpful tools, look at various technical solutions and explain why Webflow is an excellent tool for barrier-free websites.
What does the law require?
The Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) aims to make digital offerings accessible to all people — in particular to people with disabilities. From June 2025, companies must ensure that their websites and digital applications meet at least the requirements of WCAG compliance level AA.
What does WCAG AA cover?
The WCAG (version 2.1) defines clear accessibility guidelines. Compliance level AA includes a total of 62 criteria, including:
- Perceivable content: Content must be perceptible, e.g. through sufficient color contrast and text alternatives for images.
- Operable navigation: All functions must be operable via keyboard.
- Understandable content: Clear language and predictable navigation are mandatory.
- Robust technology: Content must be compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers.
From 2025, government market surveillance will check whether companies meet these requirements. Failure to comply could result in penalties or restrictions on market participation, particularly for public offerings or heavily regulated industries such as banks, insurance companies or online retailers.
Why is Webflow an ideal tool for barrier-free websites?
Implementing accessibility can be technically demanding — here's Webflow into the game. Webflow provides powerful Support features of accessibility.
Webflow accessibility benefits
- Clean HTML code
Webflow generates semantic code that forms the basis for barrier-free websites. This allows screen readers and other tools to easily interpret the content. - ARIA role support
With Webflow, you can add Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) roles and attributes. These enable screen reader users to navigate better and ensure that buttons, menus or sliders are correctly recognized. - Built-in design flexibility
With Webflow, you can create responsive designs that are accessible on all devices — from desktop computers to smartphones. - Color contrasts and typography
Webflow provides tools to adjust color contrasts and font sizes. For example, you can use live previews to ensure that the text is easy to read even for people with limited vision. - Forms and interactions
Forms can be designed in such a way that they are easy to access and understand — for example, through clear labels and visual feedback for errors.
Example: Optimize color contrasts in Webflow
- Open Design View in Webflow.
- Select the item (such as text) that you want to edit.
- Take advantage of the integrated Color Picker, which automatically checks contrast ratios.
- If the color selection does not meet the requirements, the tool immediately suggests adjustments.
Alternatives to Webflow: Which tools can also help?
Although Webflow is a great tool, there are other platforms that can help companies implement accessible websites. Here is an overview:
1. WordPress with accessibility plugins
WordPress is a widely used CMS (content management system) powered by plugins such as WP Accessibility or Accessibility checker Added accessibility features. This is ideal for companies that need more flexibility or complex adjustments.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace also offers easy-to-use design tools, but with less flexibility in terms of ARIA attributes and specific customizations. It is more suitable for small businesses.
3. Wix Accessibility Wizard
Wix offers a built-in accessibility assistant that automatically detects common issues and suggests solutions. This is particularly useful for non-techies.
Accessibility check tools
To make sure that your website meets the requirements, you should regularly test. Here are a few helpful tools:
1. Silktide Accessibility Checker
A Chrome extension that quickly checks your site for basic accessibility issues.
2nd AChecker
A free online tool to check your website for WCAG compliance.
3rd AccessiBe AccessScan
A powerful tool for automated analysis of websites for accessibility.
4th Accessibility test
Another useful tool for identifying potential accessibility vulnerabilities.
5th Website Accessibility Checker
An easy-to-use tool to check your website for compliance with WCAG guidelines.
Read more about this in our Glossary article Accessibility/Web Accessibility
From 2025, accessibility will not only be a social issue, but also a legal obligation for companies in Germany. Compliance with WCAG compliance level AA is the minimum standard that must be met.
With tools like Webflow, you can efficiently create accessible websites while meeting regulatory requirements. Alternatively, platforms such as WordPress or Wix also offer helpful support features. In addition, use the audit tools presented to ensure that your digital presence is truly accessible to everyone — because accessibility not only means compliance, but also greater reach and user satisfaction!
