Accessible documents and websites: obligations, standards, practice
Directive (EU) 2016/2102, WZG and state laws, BGG and BITV 2.0, BFSG and BaFG: who has to provide accessible documents and websites, which cut-off dates and exceptions apply, what EN 301 549, WCAG 2.1 and PDF/UA require and what the monitoring bodies find. Every article with official references.
The key topics on document accessibility
Guide, standards, accessibility statement and the state laws for municipalities.
Accessible PDFs and Documents: Obligations, Deadlines, Exceptions
Who has to provide accessible PDFs and documents? Guide to Directive 2016/2102, WZG, state laws, BITV 2.0, BFSG and BaFG with cut-off dates and exceptions.
PDF/UA, WCAG 2.1, EN 301 549: Which Standard Applies to Documents?
PDF/UA (ISO 14289), WCAG 2.1 and EN 301 549 explained: what laws in DE and AT require, what the standards cover and how to check PDF, Word and PowerPoint.
Accessibility Statement: Mandatory Content, Template and Deadlines
Accessibility statement under Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523: mandatory content, feedback, enforcement and response deadlines in Germany and Austria.
Accessibility in Austrian Municipalities: The State Laws Compared
Which state laws oblige Austrian municipalities to make websites and documents accessible: eight laws compared, with deadlines and statement duties.
Companies, monitoring and exemptions
Accessible Documents in Word and PowerPoint: WCAG 2.1 Checklist
Checklist for accessible Word and PowerPoint files: headings, alternative text, tables, reading order, language, tagged PDF export and test steps.
BFSG 2025 Germany: Accessibility Duties, PDF Documents, Fines
Germany's BFSG explained: which consumer services are covered, rules for PDFs on websites, micro-enterprise exemption, transition and fines up to EUR 100,000.
Austria's Accessibility Act (BaFG): Obligations and Penalties
Austria's BaFG explained: covered products and services, e-commerce, exemptions for office files and micro-enterprises, monitoring and fines up to €80,000.
Accessibility Monitoring of Public Bodies: Method and Results 2024/25
Accessibility monitoring under Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1524: who checks in Germany and Austria, Berlin 2024 (6.1 % of PDFs passed PAC), FFG 2025.
Disproportionate Burden: When Accessibility Exemptions Apply
Disproportionate burden under Directive 2016/2102, WZG, BGG, BFSG and BaFG: criteria, documentation, limits. FFG 2025: 52.5 % of statements cite it.
17 terms on accessibility
Short definitions with references, from alternative text to WZG.
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- Directive (EU) 2016/2102 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies, eur-lex.europa.eu
- Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (European Accessibility Act), eur-lex.europa.eu
- Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523 (model accessibility statement), eur-lex.europa.eu
- Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1524 (monitoring methodology and reporting), eur-lex.europa.eu
- Web-Zugänglichkeits-Gesetz (WZG), Austria, consolidated version, ris.bka.gv.at
- Austrian state laws on web accessibility, consolidated versions, ris.bka.gv.at: StWZG, Oö. ADG, Oö. WEBVO 2020, Wiener ADG, NÖ ADG 2017, Vbg. ADG, Bgld. GADG, TGADG, K-LGlBG 2022
- Barrierefreiheitsgesetz (BaFG), Austria, consolidated version, ris.bka.gv.at
- Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz (BGG), Germany, gesetze-im-internet.de
- Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung (BITV 2.0), Germany, gesetze-im-internet.de
- Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), Germany, gesetze-im-internet.de
- ETSI EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021-03), Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services, etsi.org
- W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, W3C Recommendation (version of 6 May 2025), w3.org
- ISO 14289-1:2014 (PDF/UA-1), ISO catalogue page with abstract, iso.org
- Berlin State Commissioner for Digital Accessibility, monitoring results 2024: PDF documents, 7 of 114 passed the automated PAC test (6.1 %), 2023: 0 % (88), 2022: 2.7 % (73), berlin.de
- FFG digitalbarrierefrei.at, interim monitoring report 2025: 64 % of the websites and apps checked had an accessibility statement (2024: 57 %), around 70 % without a date, 52.5 % invoke disproportionate burden, digitalbarrierefrei.at
All articles on Accessibility (9)
- Accessible PDFs and Documents: Obligations, Deadlines, Exceptions
Who has to provide accessible PDFs and documents? Guide to Directive 2016/2102, WZG, state laws, BITV 2.0, BFSG and BaFG with cut-off dates and exceptions.
- PDF/UA, WCAG 2.1, EN 301 549: Which Standard Applies to Documents?
PDF/UA (ISO 14289), WCAG 2.1 and EN 301 549 explained: what laws in DE and AT require, what the standards cover and how to check PDF, Word and PowerPoint.
- Accessible Documents in Word and PowerPoint: WCAG 2.1 Checklist
Checklist for accessible Word and PowerPoint files: headings, alternative text, tables, reading order, language, tagged PDF export and test steps.
- Accessibility Statement: Mandatory Content, Template and Deadlines
Accessibility statement under Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523: mandatory content, feedback, enforcement and response deadlines in Germany and Austria.
- Accessibility in Austrian Municipalities: The State Laws Compared
Which state laws oblige Austrian municipalities to make websites and documents accessible: eight laws compared, with deadlines and statement duties.
- BFSG 2025 Germany: Accessibility Duties, PDF Documents, Fines
Germany's BFSG explained: which consumer services are covered, rules for PDFs on websites, micro-enterprise exemption, transition and fines up to EUR 100,000.
- Austria's Accessibility Act (BaFG): Obligations and Penalties
Austria's BaFG explained: covered products and services, e-commerce, exemptions for office files and micro-enterprises, monitoring and fines up to €80,000.
- Accessibility Monitoring of Public Bodies: Method and Results 2024/25
Accessibility monitoring under Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1524: who checks in Germany and Austria, Berlin 2024 (6.1 % of PDFs passed PAC), FFG 2025.
- Disproportionate Burden: When Accessibility Exemptions Apply
Disproportionate burden under Directive 2016/2102, WZG, BGG, BFSG and BaFG: criteria, documentation, limits. FFG 2025: 52.5 % of statements cite it.