Accessible Websites for Municipalities, Authorities and Public Institutions

BITV 2.0 and the BFSG pursue the same goal but implement different legal frameworks. BITV 2.0 is based on EU Directive 2016/2102 on the accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies. It applies to federal authorities, and the German states have issued corresponding state regulations that also obligate municipalities, districts and public institutions. The technical reference standard is EN 301 549, which substantively builds on WCAG 2.1 AA.

Compared to the BFSG, BITV 2.0 has additional requirements: a publicly accessible accessibility statement, a feedback mechanism through which users can report barriers, and an enforcement procedure with the responsible monitoring body. The statement must clearly name the conformance status (fully conformant, partially conformant or not conformant), list known limitations and inform the user about their rights in the enforcement procedure. We create this statement based on our audit results and update it regularly.

PDF documents are ubiquitous in the public sector: statutes, regulations, forms, notices, budgets and minutes. The majority of these documents are not accessible. Scanned documents without OCR are completely inaccessible to screen readers. PDFs exported from Word or InDesign frequently lack correct tag structure, so screen readers cannot interpret reading order, headings and tables.

We support the creation of accessible PDF/UA documents: correct tag structure for headings, paragraphs, lists and tables, alt texts for embedded graphics, reading order following the logical document flow, and bookmarks for navigation in longer documents. For forms, we create accessible PDF form fields with labels and tab order. And for ongoing document production, we train your staff in creating accessible Office documents that export correctly to PDF.

Public bodies must publish an accessibility statement that goes beyond a standard disclaimer. The statement must specify the conformance status (fully conformant, partially conformant or not conformant), based on testing against EN 301 549. It must name known limitations and explain why they cannot be resolved. It must provide a feedback mechanism through which users can report barriers. And it must reference the enforcement procedure with the responsible monitoring body.

We create the accessibility statement based on the audit results and ensure it meets all legal requirements. The statement is updated regularly, at least annually and after every significant change to the website. The feedback mechanism is implemented as an accessible contact form that routes reports to the responsible unit in your organization.

Public institutions have been subject to EU Directive 2016/2102 and the derived BITV 2.0 since 2019, which requires a higher conformance level than the private-sector BFSG standard. Requirements encompass not only WCAG 2.2 AA but also provisions for plain language, sign language videos and a published accessibility statement with feedback mechanism. Our experience working with municipalities, state authorities and public institutions covers the specifics of these extended requirements. We know the testing procedures of the BIK BITV test, the requirements of monitoring authorities and the specific challenges of implementation on CMS platforms commonly used in the public sector.

Particularly complex are the requirements for PDF documents and forms in the public sector. Forms for applications, notices and citizen communication must be just as accessible as the website itself. We audit and optimize not only the web presence but also embedded PDF documents according to the PDF/UA standard and web-based forms according to WCAG requirements for form elements, error messages and help texts. This holistic approach ensures all digital touchpoints between authority and citizens are accessibly available.

One-time audits and remediations are not sufficient to permanently secure a public website's accessibility. New content, updated forms and design changes can introduce new barriers at any time. Therefore, we integrate accessibility into your institution's editorial processes: we train your editors in creating accessible content, create guidelines for correct use of heading structures, alt texts and link texts, and set up automated checks that test new content for basic accessibility criteria before publication. Complemented by regular manual re-audits, this creates a sustainable system that permanently secures conformance.

Accessibility in the public sector is not only a legal obligation but improves service quality for all citizens. Clearly structured web presences with semantic HTML, understandable navigation and accessible forms reduce inquiries to citizen hotlines and service desks because citizens can independently find and use the information and services they need online. Studies show that accessible web presences in public administration shorten processing times for online applications and increase completion rates for digital forms. These efficiency gains justify the investment in accessibility from a purely economic perspective as well.

For public institutions, we additionally offer creation and maintenance of the accessibility statement per BITV 2.0, setup of the required feedback mechanism for users and support with inquiries from monitoring authorities. Our experience communicating with authorities and testing bodies ensures you are competently represented even in formal proceedings.

We additionally support public institutions in evaluating accessible CMS solutions and technical platforms. The choice of content management system directly impacts long-term accessibility: systems with strong semantic base structure and integrated accessibility features reduce maintenance effort and minimize the risk of new content introducing barriers.