You are here: Website creation > Accessibility

Author: (with the help of ChatGPT) | Reading time approximately: 8 min | last modified: 23.06.2026

Create Accessible Websites – Legally Compliant and Maintainable

Legally Compliant, Usable for Everyone, and Technically Robust

Strategically Planned Websites with Clear Structure, Clean Code, and Alignment with WCAG 2.2

The lilac CMS provides an accessible technical foundation. However, accessibility is not achieved by the CMS alone. Template structure, editorial maintenance, validated components, and regular audits are critical. The websites we develop follow the four fundamental principles of accessibility: perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness. We align with WCAG 2.2, usually aiming for conformance level AA.

Additionally, a control panel can be implemented to allow users to adjust display, contrast, or font sizes. However, this does not replace accessible technical and editorial implementation.

We consider various devices, keyboard navigation, touch interaction, and assistive technologies already in the planning and development stages.

Why Accessibility Matters

Reach More People

An accessible website makes it easier for all users to access information and services. This includes people with visual impairments, motor limitations, temporary restrictions, older users, or those using mobile devices in challenging situations. If content is hard to perceive or difficult to access, potential customers and interested parties may be lost.

Meet Legal Requirements

Due to the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) and other regulations, many digital services are subject to higher accessibility standards. Whether and to what extent your offering is affected should be checked in each particular case. If you offer products or services and enable contract conclusion through your website, you should design your offering accordingly to avoid legal risks. We assess with you whether and to what extent your offering is affected and derive the necessary technical and editorial requirements.

Lower Costs for Maintenance and Further Development

If accessibility is considered from the planning and implementation stages, the result is a cleaner and more easily maintained website. Retrofitting accessibility later on is often significantly more complex, expensive, and error-prone than implementing accessibility from the start.

Higher Conversions through Better Usability

Clear content, readable texts, understandable navigation, and easy-to-use forms help visitors decide faster and get in touch.

More Search Engine and AI-Friendly Websites

A clean semantic structure helps search engines, assistive systems, and automated analysis tools to better understand your content. Well-structured headings, meaningful alternative texts, and a clear page structure not only improve understanding for users but also for search engines.

Fundamental Principles of Accessibility

These principles are the foundation of any accessible website.

1. Perceivability

Content must not be conveyed solely by visual means. Suitable alternatives must be provided for images, videos, and visual cues.

This specifically includes:

sufficient color contrasts
alternative texts for images, captions/transcripts for videos
content is understandable even without visual presentation (e.g., with screen readers)
no information provided only visually without alternative

Content must not be "invisible" for certain user groups.

2. Operability

All functions must be usable regardless of the input device.

This means:

full operation via keyboard
no interactions that work with mouse only
sufficient time for input
no blocking or uncontrollable elements

The website must be usable – with no restrictions.

3. Understandability

Content and operation must be clear and logical.

This includes:

clear language
consistent navigation and structure
predictable behavior of elements
clear error messages and hints

Users should be able to follow the content, navigation, and feedback of the website without unnecessary barriers.

4. Robustness

The website must be implemented in a technically robust way so that it works reliably across different systems.

This includes:

clean, standards-compliant development
compatibility with screen readers and assistive technologies
stable display in various browsers and devices

The technology must not create obstacles.

Which Companies Benefit from an Accessible Website?

An accessible website is especially worthwhile for companies that must comply with legal requirements, want to reach as many people as possible, or use their website as a key communication channel to reach, win, or recruit customers as widely as possible.

Not only people with physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments benefit from this. Older users, people with temporary limitations, and visitors using assistive technologies can also more easily use the content and features of your website.

The more people can use a website with as few barriers as possible, the greater its reach. And the better it can fulfill its purpose – whether it is selling products or services, gaining customers, or finding employees.

There is particular need for action to create an accessible website for:

Companies with broad target audiences
Organizations and institutions with public access
Providers of products and services requiring explanation, such as medical practices, care facilities, craft businesses, or consulting firms
Companies that must meet legal requirements for digital accessibility on the Internet

How We Implement Accessibility in Your Website

For us, accessibility is not an afterthought, but a key element included from the very beginning of your website’s development.

Analysis and Planning

Before we start, we clarify the required functionalities and check accessibility requirements. We assess existing content for its suitability for an accessible website and suggest improvements as needed.

This helps avoid costly and time-consuming rework later on.

Technical Implementation

Our CMS templates are based on a clean, semantic HTML structure. This is reliably processed by screen readers and other assistive technologies – also an advantage for search engines and AI systems.

Design

Our design follows clear principles: readability, intuitive navigation, and simple operability. For us, accessibility and design quality are not mutually exclusive.

We pay special attention to:

Sufficiently high color contrasts
Easy-to-read font sizes
Clear visual structures
Understandable navigation elements
Sufficiently sized controls for touch screens

Editorial Support

The content of a website greatly contributes to accessibility as well. We support you with:

Clearly written texts
Correct heading structure
Alternative texts for images
Descriptions for graphics and other media
Meaningful link texts

Quality Assurance and Regular Testing

Before going live, we test your website using automated tools and manual checks, including:

Keyboard operability
Color contrasts
Form functions
Heading structure
Screen reader compatibility
Possible barriers on individual pages

Ongoing Maintenance

Accessibility is not a one-off task. New content, images, or features can create new barriers. That’s why we support you after launch with maintenance and further development of your website – for long-term conformity.

The lilac Accessibility Panel offers a range of additional features to make the website easier to use.

Keyboard Navigation

Accessible menu: Display the full website menu, navigable via TAB key.

Display content elements

Jump to footer

Assistive Features

Screen reader mode

Visual impairment mode

Night mode

Hide images

Enlarge mouse pointer

Enable readable font

Highlight headings

Highlight hyperlinks

Let us review which specific requirements apply to your website and how an accessible implementation should be structured.

Start your new website now