Accessibility Agency from Söhlde — the team behind your BFSG conformance
XICTRON combines deep technical knowledge with a genuine commitment to digital inclusion. From Söhlde near Hildesheim we audit and build websites that meet WCAG 2.2 AA — provably, because this site does so itself.
2013
agency founded
50+
accessibility projects
78
WCAG 2.2 AA criteria per audit
from €2,480
WCAG audit fixed price
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. Since our founding in 2013 we have completed over 50 accessibility projects (project experience) and serve clients across Germany and the DACH region. We prove our own standard in the most visible place: this website itself meets WCAG 2.2 AA — documented in our accessibility statement.
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 2023), 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 test with real screen readers, not just 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 that works permanently, not just in the current browser-screen reader pair.
Remediation at the root, not the symptom
A typical finding from our audits: 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 permanently. That is how a critical finding turns into verified AA conformance.
- 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
Values That Shape Our Work
Thoroughness Over Superficiality
We manually check each of the 78 WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria, test with real screen readers and document every barrier 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 integral parts of every project.
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 when we first worked intensively with a blind user in a client project who was to use the developed website in daily life. The experience of how a screen reader interprets a website that worked perfectly from sighted developers' perspective but was nearly unusable for the blind user 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
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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.
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The turning point
In a client project we work closely with a blind user for the first time. How a screen reader interprets a seemingly flawless website fundamentally changes our perspective.
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Methodical specialization
We firmly anchor testing with real screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver), the WCAG-EM methodology and the four-eyes principle in every audit — reproducible and fully documented.
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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.
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Today · accessibility as core business
Over 50 completed projects (project experience), audits and remediation at clear fixed prices from €2,480 and long-term monitoring partnerships from €49 per month.
The BFSG taking effect on June 28, 2025 strongly increased demand for specialized accessibility services and 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 not only standards-compliant but also technically excellent 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.
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 ensures our audits are reproducible and results remain comparable between different audits. For every audit we document the scope, tools and versions used, testing environment (browser, OS, screen reader version) and applied evaluation criteria.
Our quality assurance starts with the four-eyes principle: every audit report is reviewed by a second auditor. Every remediation is tested on a staging environment before deployment to production. Automated regression tests ensure fixed barriers are not 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 hear what your users hear
Automated tools find only part of the barriers. That is why we additionally test every critical element with real screen readers and compare the output of NVDA, JAWS and VoiceOver. Only when the speech output conveys role, state and purpose correctly do we consider an element operable.
- Testing with NVDA, JAWS and VoiceOver, not just automated scans
- Keyboard operation and focus order are played through in full
- Role, name and state of every control are verified
Location and Working Method
Our office is located at Glockruthenallee 16 in 31185 Söhlde in the Hildesheim district, Lower Saxony. From here we serve clients 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 9:00 to 17:00. For ongoing monitoring clients we offer extended response times by individual arrangement. Communication is via email, phone and video conference. We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours on business days (project experience). 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. 78 success criteria across three conformance levels. We audit at level AA by default.
EN 301 549
Harmonized European standard for accessible ICT products and services. References WCAG for web content. Legal reference framework 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 reference WCAG and EN 301 549 as technical standards.
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. There are no hidden costs or supplementary invoices. During the project we keep you informed about progress: weekly status updates during audit and remediation, immediate notification for 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 ensures the report serves as a long-term reference document, not just a one-time snapshot.
Our Engagement Beyond Projects
Our engagement for digital accessibility extends beyond paid client projects. We regularly share knowledge through articles, talks and participation in the accessibility community 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 2023), over 17 million people are over 65 (Source: Destatis 2024) 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 keeps the conformance once achieved permanently in place, and new requirements — such as WCAG updates or changed browser technologies — are addressed early. We have supported many clients on this basis for years and know the specifics of their digital presence precisely.
The Most Important Things About Us
- Specialized accessibility agency from Söhlde near Hildesheim, on the market since 2013, with over 50 completed projects (project experience).
- We check all 78 WCAG 2.2 AA criteria manually and test with real screen readers — NVDA, JAWS and VoiceOver.
- Transparent fixed prices: WCAG audit from €2,480, accessibility statement €390, monitoring from €49 per month (all net).
- The four-eyes principle, WCAG-EM methodology and a documented testing environment make every finding traceable.
- This website itself meets WCAG 2.2 AA — the best proof of our work.