Digital Accessibility for the Hanover Business Region
Since June 28, 2025, the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) requires businesses to make digital offerings accessible. For Hanover companies, whether online retailers, service providers or public bodies, this means: websites and shops must meet WCAG 2.2 AA. We audit, advise and implement, directly from the region.
50+
accessible projects
30min
to Hanover
WCAG2.2
conformance level AA
100/100
Lighthouse accessibility
Hanover is a major economic center with a broad industry mix: insurance, logistics, public administration, retail and manufacturing. Most of these organizations operate websites and online shops that must now meet digital accessibility requirements under the BFSG. The reality is different: many websites in the Hanover area exhibit fundamental accessibility barriers that make access difficult or impossible for people with visual impairments, motor disabilities or cognitive limitations. We help Hanover businesses close these gaps with systematic audits, targeted remediation and sustainable training.
The BFSG and Its Significance for Hanover Businesses
The German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) transposes EU Directive 2019/882 into German law and has been in effect since June 28, 2025. It covers products and services in electronic commerce: online shops, booking portals, payment services and digital services. The requirements are based on European standard EN 301 549, which in turn builds on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. We recommend implementation to WCAG 2.2 AA, the current standard that also covers future requirements.
For Hanover businesses specifically, this means: every online shop selling goods or services to consumers must be accessibly designed. This covers not just the ordering process but also product search, navigation, account creation, checkout and payment processing. Violations can be penalized with fines. But beyond the legal obligation, there is a solid business case: approximately 7.8 million severely disabled people live in Germany (Source: Federal Statistical Office, 2024). Accessibility opens up a customer group that has been systematically excluded from digital offerings.
What We Deliver for Hanover Businesses
WCAG Audit and Assessment
Systematic testing of your website or shop against WCAG 2.2 AA. Automated tests with Axe and Lighthouse complemented by manual testing with screen readers and keyboard navigation. Detailed report with prioritized actions.
Technical Remediation
Fixing identified barriers in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. ARIA attributes, semantic structuring, contrast adjustments, keyboard navigation, focus management and skip links. We work directly in the code of your existing system.
Accessibility Statement
Creation of the legally required accessibility declaration per BFSG template. Documentation of conformance status, known limitations and the feedback mechanism for users.
Team Training
Hands-on workshops on-site in Hanover: creating accessible content, writing alt texts for images, designing accessible forms, captioning videos. So your team can practice accessibility in daily work.
Ongoing Monitoring
Continuous accessibility monitoring during content changes. Automated checks on every deployment, quarterly manual spot checks and reporting to your compliance department.
Legal Safeguarding
Documentation of all measures as evidence of compliance efforts. We collaborate closely with legal advisors and can provide expert opinions on the BFSG conformity of your offerings if needed.
Common Barriers on Hanover Websites
In our work with companies from the Hanover region, we encounter recurring accessibility barriers that cut across virtually all industries. The most common issues involve missing alt texts for images, insufficient color contrast, menus not accessible by keyboard, missing form labels and videos without captions. These barriers are not deliberate choices but the result of web development that previously did not know accessibility as a requirement.
Contrast and Color Issues
Text on colored backgrounds falling below the minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1. Information conveyed only through color, such as red error messages without an icon or text cue. Particularly common in modern designs using light gray tones.
Keyboard Accessibility
Dropdown menus operable only with a mouse. Modal dialogs that do not trap keyboard focus. Interactive elements without visible focus indicators. These barriers affect people who cannot use a mouse.
Semantics and Structure
Headings that are only visually emphasized but not marked up as H1-H6. Lists formatted as paragraphs. Tabular data without table structure. Screen readers lose orientation here.
Media and Alt Texts
Images without alt text or with generic texts like 'image' or 'photo'. Decorative images not marked as such. Videos without captions and without audio description. Documents not provided as PDF/UA.
On-Site Workshops and Training in Hanover
Accessibility is not a one-time project but a permanent requirement for everyone who creates content, designs interfaces or writes code. That is why we offer hands-on training sessions that we deliver directly at your premises in Hanover. Your editors learn to write accessible copy and correctly describe images. Your designers understand how contrast, font sizes and spacing affect accessibility. Your developers discover how ARIA attributes, focus management and semantic HTML work together.
The training sessions are based on your own systems and content. We do not work with abstract examples but demonstrate on your actual pages where barriers exist and how they are resolved. Participants can directly ask questions about their daily tasks and receive immediately applicable solutions. After training, a guide summarizing the key rules for accessible content is provided.
Our Audit and Remediation Process
Initial Consultation and Scope Definition
We discuss the extent of your digital offering, identify BFSG-relevant areas and define the audit scope. Not every subpage needs to be audited simultaneously. We prioritize by business relevance and usage frequency.
Regional Expertise for Hanover Businesses
Our office in Söhlde near Hildesheim is approximately 30 minutes by car from Hanover. This proximity enables personal on-site meetings for kickoffs, audit presentations and training, complemented by the efficiency of remote collaboration for audits and technical remediation. For Hanover businesses seeking an accessibility partner with personal availability and regional connection, we offer the combination of deep expertise and short distances. Across 50+ accessibility projects, we have gained experience with the industries and technologies represented in the Hanover economic region.
Accessibility and Economic Value
Investing in accessibility pays off economically. Approximately 7.8 million (Federal Statistical Office, 2023) severely disabled people live in Germany, plus millions with temporary or age-related limitations. An accessible web presence opens this target group and simultaneously improves user experience for all visitors. Semantic HTML and correct structuring also positively affect search engine rankings. Our projects show that accessible websites typically exhibit better Core Web Vitals, lower bounce rates and longer dwell times than their non-optimized counterparts.
Our offering for Hanover businesses covers the full spectrum of digital accessibility: from initial BFSG classification through the WCAG 2.2 audit and technical remediation to training for your team. Each of these modules can be commissioned individually or booked as a complete package. In the free initial consultation, we advise you on which measures are most appropriate for your specific situation.
In the Hanover economic region, we serve businesses from various industries: from e-commerce companies that need to make their online shops BFSG-compliant, through B2B corporate websites to web applications with complex interactive elements. This cross-industry experience flows into every new project and enables fast, well-founded assessments.