A law that aims to remove barriers and enable everyone to participate in the digital world: The Accessibility Reinforcement Act. From the legal provisions and technical requirements to valuable expert knowledge – we show how companies can seize new opportunities with accessible applications.

Mr Hoffmann is 72 years old and only uses his smartphone to keep track of his grandchildren’s holiday pictures. Apps? Almost impossible for him. The buttons are too small, the navigation is confusing and every interaction is a test of patience. What is a mere inconvenience for many people becomes a real barrier for others – like Mr Hoffmann. And it doesn’t just affect the 10% of people in Germany who live with an impairment. Older people, people with temporary disabilities or simply those who don’t feel safe in the digital world face the same challenges.
Nicky Schrader, Managing Director and Tech Lead in Mobile Development at COMbridge IT Development, emphasises:
‘Accessibility doesn’t just affect people with impairments. At the end of the day, we all need applications to be intuitive and easy to use. That’s what makes a good user experience.’
Accessibility is therefore more than just a nice extra for companies – it is crucial for making digital applications accessible to everyone.

In order to do justice to this urgency, the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), based on the European Accessibility Act (EAA), has set clear guidelines. It creates a binding framework so that people with disabilities can participate in digital life without restrictions. With the deadline of 28 June 2025, companies face sanctions such as fines or even the discontinuation of services if their applications do not meet the legal requirements.
However, accessibility is much more than a legal obligation – it offers opportunities that are often overlooked. By adapting, companies can tap into new target groups and strengthen their reach and market position.

Creating accessibility in apps or websites requires a well thought-out and holistic approach. It is not enough to just improve individual aspects – many details have to come together to create a truly accessible digital application. This includes, among other things:

• Contrasts between background and text to improve readability.
• Scalable font and button sizes so that they are easily recognisable and adjustable on any device, regardless of size.
• Spacing between UI elements so that click areas can be easily touched.
• Technological integration, such as the integration of screen readers and alternative texts for images.
• Easy-to-understand language or even the option of displaying content in sign language or simple wording.

But that’s just the beginning. Accessibility also offers technical advantages: it contributes to search engine optimisation (SEO) and facilitates integration tests that are based on the same technologies as screen readers. Going beyond the bare minimum requirements not only offers a better user experience and thus reaches a wider audience, but also improves the technical basis of the application.

For many companies, the balancing act between a clear, appealing design and accessibility is a challenge. Aesthetic ideas, such as font sizes or colour contrasts, are often at odds with accessibility requirements. But the real art lies in combining these two worlds. Good UI/UX design is the basic prerequisite for this.
Accessibility does not mean that you have to do without a certain design. Rather, it is about finding a solution that is both inclusive and visually appealing.

At COMbridge, we know that accessibility is more than a technical challenge – it’s an opportunity to make digital applications accessible to all. Our team of experienced consultants and developers help companies develop customised solutions that go beyond legal requirements. Our UX/UI team ensures that legal requirements do not lead to visual deterioration, but to an even more beautiful, usable interface.
We realised our most recent accessibility project together with VfL Wolfsburg by redesigning the club’s hospitality app. The aim was to make the stadium experience accessible and barrier-free for all fans, regardless of their disabilities.

Implementing digital accessibility is not only a benefit for users, but is also financially supported. Funding programmes such as those from Aktion Mensch offer companies up to 30,000 euros to implement accessible projects and make them future-proof. This support makes it easier for companies not only to fulfil legal requirements, but also to create sustainable and inclusive solutions in the long term.

The aforementioned adaptations to digital applications open up new opportunities for people like Mr Hoffmann. Thanks to accessible solutions, he will not only be able to use his smartphone for family photos in future, but also add a digital experience to his old hobby – football – and be an active member of apps such as the VfL fan app.