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Accessibility Agency from Söhlde — the team for your BFSG implementation

XICTRON combines deep technical knowledge with a genuine commitment to digital inclusion. From Söhlde near Hildesheim we audit and build websites with WCAG 2.2 AA as the benchmark.

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Own accessibility statement published Owner-managed since 2013 WCAG audit from €2,480 fixed price

In short and in plain language

We are XICTRON. Our office is in Söhlde near Hildesheim. The owner runs the firm.

We help firms make their websites accessible. That means everyone can use them. That includes people with disabilities.

We check sites, fix problems in the code and train teams. We follow a set method. We note each problem with a screenshot. Being honest matters to us.

We mostly work from afar, all over Germany. We can also meet on site if we agree on it. Write to us or give us a call.

Key figures

2013

agency founded

EN 301 549

European standard as audit benchmark

WCAG-EM

W3C evaluation methodology

AA

audit level under WCAG 2.2

XICTRON is an owner-managed digital agency based at Glockruthenallee 16 in 31185 Söhlde, Lower Saxony. We specialize in digital accessibility and accompany businesses from initial assessment through technical implementation to long-term operation of accessible websites and web applications. We assess our own website against WCAG 2.2 AA ourselves; status and known limitations are set out in our accessibility statement.

How we work
From scope to retest
One continuous workflow — automatically measured, assessed per criterion
Scope mapping
WCAG audit
Audit report
Remediation
Retest and statement
Automated measurement plus per-criterion assessment, keyboard and screen reader output
Findings prioritised by WCAG criterion, impact and fixability
Remediation at the root in the source code, not via overlay
Retest checks the fixes, statement per BFSG included
Owner-managed since2013digital agency from Söhlde
Audit levelAAWCAG 2.2
WCAG audit fixed pricefrom €2,480
Audit benchmarkEN 301 549
The flow of a WCAG 2.2 AA audit from scope mapping to retest — how every audit is structured. Example view.

Our Philosophy: Accessibility as a Fundamental Right

Digital accessibility is more to us than a regulatory obligation or a technical test criterion. It is a fundamental right to digital participation. Over 7.8 million severely disabled people live in Germany (Source: Destatis, as of end of 2025), and millions more are affected by temporary or situational impairments. Every website that excludes these people closes off their access to information, services and social participation.

This conviction shapes our working method. We do not measure our work by whether a checklist is fulfilled, but by whether a person with a disability can actually use your website: find information, complete forms, purchase products, book appointments. That is why we check what every page passes on to screen readers and operate every flow without a mouse, instead of relying on automated tools. That is why we evaluate understandability, not just technical conformance. And that is why we train your team, so accessibility does not remain a one-time project but becomes a fixed part of your corporate culture.

Our Technical Foundation

Accessibility requires deep technical understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, ARIA and assistive technologies. Our team brings years of web development experience that we specifically apply to accessibility challenges. We understand not just the WCAG criteria but also the technical mechanisms behind them: how screen readers interpret a browser's accessibility tree, how focus management works in single-page applications and how ARIA live regions behave across different browser-screen reader combinations.

This understanding enables us to not just treat symptoms but fix the structural causes of barriers. When a form is not operable for screen reader users, it is not enough to add an ARIA label. We analyze the entire component structure, error handling and focus flow and implement a solution designed to last, not just for the current browser-screen reader pair.

Remediation at the root, not the symptom

A typical example: an order form that is unusable for screen reader users. Instead of quickly adding an ARIA label, we fix label association, error output, contrast and focus together — traceably and built to last. The goal is a form that meets the AA criteria and is checked in the retest.

  • Missing labels programmatically linked to the field
  • Error messages with text and role=alert instead of colour alone
  • Contrast raised to at least 4.5:1, with a visible focus ring
Symptom fixOverlay
Quick ARIA label placed over the field
Error remains when the script is disabled
Contrast unchanged at 2.9:1
VS
Root cause fixedin the source code
Label programmatically linked to the field
Error message with text and role=alert
Contrast raised to 4.5:1, visible focus ring

Values That Shape Our Work

Thoroughness Over Superficiality

We assess the WCAG 2.2 level AA success criteria per view, check keyboard operation and screen reader output and document every barrier found with a concrete solution proposal. Generic automated reports are not our approach.

Honest Communication

If your timeline is unrealistic, we say so. If accessible optimization makes more sense than a complete relaunch, we recommend that even if it means less revenue for us. Trust is built through honesty.

Empowerment Over Dependency

Our goal is to enable your team to maintain accessibility independently. Training, documentation and knowledge transfer are therefore an integral part of our project work.

User-Centeredness

We evaluate accessibility from the perspective of affected users, not just from the perspective of the standard. A criterion can be technically met and still provide a poor user experience. We optimize for both.

Privacy and Confidentiality

We treat audit results and project details in strict confidence. We do not publish client names without explicit permission. All data is processed and stored in GDPR compliance.

Continuous Education

Accessibility standards continue to evolve: WCAG 2.2, WCAG 3.0 Draft, EN 301 549 updates. We continuously educate ourselves and share current knowledge with our clients.

From 2013 to Accessibility as Our Core Business

In the early years after founding XICTRON in 2013, accessibility was one aspect among many in our web development work. The turning point came from working with screen readers: a website that works perfectly from sighted developers' perspective can be nearly unusable for blind users. This insight permanently changed our perspective. Since then accessibility is no longer a feature on a checklist but a fundamental principle of our work.

Our Path in Stages

  1. 2013 · XICTRON founded

    Started as an owner-managed digital agency in Söhlde. Accessibility is part of our development work from the start, at first as one quality aspect among many.

  2. The turning point

    How a screen reader renders a seemingly flawless website fundamentally changes our perspective: accessibility turns from a quality aspect into a core principle.

  3. Methodical specialization

    We firmly anchor checks of keyboard operation and screen reader output and the WCAG-EM methodology in every audit — reproducible and traceably documented.

  4. 28 June 2025 · BFSG takes effect

    With the legal obligation for the private sector, digital accessibility becomes mandatory for many companies. We consistently align our processes, tools and training with it.

  5. Today · accessibility as core business

    Audits and remediation at clear fixed prices from €2,480 and long-term monitoring partnerships from €49 per month. Prices as of October 2026. Ongoing services can be cancelled monthly; there is no minimum term.

The BFSG taking effect on June 28, 2025 confirmed our decision to make accessibility our core business. We have consistently aligned our processes, tools and training to accessibility and continuously invest in our team's education. The combination of years of web development experience and specialized accessibility knowledge enables solutions that are aligned with the standards, technically sound and maintainable long-term.

Talk to the people who will run your audit

No sales pressure, just an honest initial assessment of your website and a transparent fixed price. WCAG audits start at €2,480 net, a BFSG quick check at just €490.

Request a Free Initial Consultation Call: +49 5123 9579000

Our Methodology and Quality Standards

Our audit methodology follows the specifications of EN 301 549 Annex C and the W3C's WCAG-EM (Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology). This standardized methodology makes our audits reproducible and their results comparable between different audits. For every audit we document the scope, tools and versions used, testing environment (browser, OS, desktop or smartphone layout) and applied evaluation criteria.

Our quality assurance starts with the recorded state: the date, addresses and screenshots of the version under test are in every report. Every remediation is tested on a staging environment before deployment to production. Automated regression tests help prevent fixed barriers from being reintroduced by later changes. This care matters to us because the quality of our work directly affects the quality of life of users who depend on accessible websites.

We check what screen readers can announce

Automated tools find only part of the barriers. That is why for every critical element we additionally check what it passes on to screen readers: name, role and state. Only when role, state and purpose are passed on correctly to the accessibility interface do we consider an element operable.

  • Keyboard and screen reader output, not just automated scans
  • Keyboard operation and focus order are played through systematically
  • Role, name and state of the controls are verified
Screen reader outputper element
Name in scope
Role in scope
State in scope
Keyboard operation and focus order systematically walked through
Role, name and state of the controls verified

Location and Working Method

Our office is located at Glockruthenallee 16 in 31185 Söhlde in the Hildesheim district, Lower Saxony. From here we offer our services throughout Germany and the DACH region. Collaboration typically takes place remotely via video conference, screen sharing and shared project boards. On-site meetings are available by appointment, particularly for training and kickoff workshops.

Our working hours are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm. For ongoing monitoring clients we offer extended response times by individual arrangement. Communication is via email, phone and video conference. Contact us for a non-binding initial consultation.

Standards and Norms We Work With

WCAG 2.2 (W3C)

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2, the current international standard for accessible web content. Success criteria across three conformance levels (A, AA, AAA). We audit at level AA by default.

EN 301 549

Harmonized European standard for accessible ICT products and services. For web content, version V3.2.1 is based on WCAG 2.1, while version V4.1.1, published in September 2026, is based on WCAG 2.2. Technical reference point for BFSG conformance.

BFSG and BITV 2.0

Accessibility Strengthening Act for the private sector and Accessible Information Technology Regulation for the public sector. Both tie the presumption of conformity to harmonised standards whose references are published in the Official Journal of the EU; the technical reference point is EN 301 549.

WAI-ARIA 1.2

Web Accessibility Initiative — Accessible Rich Internet Applications. Specification for roles, states and properties of interactive web content. Foundation for accessible component development.

WCAG-EM

Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology from the W3C. Standardized methodology for planning, conducting and documenting accessibility evaluations.

PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1)

Standard for accessible PDF documents: tag structure, logical reading order, alternative texts and accessible form fields. The basis of our PDF accessibility work.

Transparency in Collaboration

Transparency is a central value of our work. This starts with proposal creation: we communicate the audit scope, expected timeline and costs openly and traceably. The fixed price covers the agreed scope; there are no hidden costs. During the project we keep you informed about progress: regular status updates during audit and remediation, prompt notification of critical findings and open communication when timelines or efforts develop differently than planned.

We also practice transparency in technical matters. Our audit report documents not just findings but also the applied methodology, tools and versions used, testing environment and evaluation criteria. This allows you and your team to trace every finding and verify it independently if needed. This documentation depth distinguishes our reports from generic automated reports and makes the report a long-term reference document rather than a one-time snapshot.

Our Engagement Beyond Projects

Our engagement for digital accessibility extends beyond paid client projects. We share our knowledge in articles and follow the development of WCAG 3.0 (currently in draft stage at W3C). Many decision-makers still view accessibility as a technical niche topic. Reality looks different: over 7.8 million severely disabled people live in Germany (Source: Destatis, as of end of 2025), over 19 million people are aged 65 or older (Source: Destatis, as of 2025) and millions more are affected by temporary impairments. Accessibility improves the digital experience for all these people and is therefore not just a legal obligation but a corporate responsibility.

Accessibility is not a one-time project completed after audit and remediation but an ongoing process. That is why we design our client relationships for the long term: compliance monitoring with automated scans and manual spot checks, training updates for new team members and when standards change, and regular review meetings on accessibility status. This helps keep the conformance once achieved in place over time, and new requirements — such as WCAG updates or changed browser technologies — are addressed early.

What guides us professionally

Our way of working can be read from three articles: accessibility by design describes why we join projects early, accessibility overlays explains why we reject shortcuts, and the article on the WCAG 3.0 draft shows how we follow the development of the standard without anticipating it.

The Most Important Things About Us

  • Owner-managed agency from Söhlde near Hildesheim, on the market since 2013 and now specialized in digital accessibility.
  • We assess the WCAG 2.2 level AA success criteria per view and check keyboard operation and screen reader output.
  • Transparent fixed prices: WCAG audit from €2,480, accessibility statement €390, monitoring from €49 per month, cancellable monthly (all net).
  • A recorded state, WCAG-EM methodology and a screenshot per finding make every finding traceable.
  • We assess our own website against WCAG 2.2 AA ourselves; status and known limitations are set out in our accessibility statement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Us

How the customer portal of a municipal utility could look

The draft shows structure and handling: short paths to meter reading and instalment, a form naming the error at the field, plain language and text size in the header. The utility in it is invented.

Draft
Municipal utility

Customer portal with self-service and plain language

A draft for a municipal utility portal: submitting a meter reading, adjusting the instalment and registering a move sit side by side as six short paths, and the form checks entries and places the error as text right next to the field. Reporting a fault is laid out in four steps, and the tariff comparison is a table with labelled rows and columns. Text size and plain language can be switched in the page header.

Plain languageText sizeForm validationFault reporting

Illustrative layout drafts. The businesses shown are fictitious; these are not client projects.

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