Accessibility Statement
What works well here, what doesn't yet — and how to report a barrier to us.
What this is about
This statement applies to this portal, a private and free educational project. As far as we can tell, there is no legal obligation to make it accessible — we publish this statement voluntarily, because it matters to us that as many people as possible can learn with this content. And because we believe you should be honest about what works and what doesn't yet.
What we align with
We align with the internationally recognised Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) at Level AA, as well as the European standard EN 301 549. We treat these standards as a benchmark that we keep working towards. No external audit or certification has taken place so far — every statement on this page is based on our own assessment.
How accessible is this portal?
By our own assessment, the portal is partially compliant with the standards named above. Much of it works well: keyboard operation across large parts of the site, colour contrast, text alternatives, dark mode, scalable type, and content in Plain Language. Some areas are not yet fully accessible — the most important ones are listed below, with an explanation.
Known limitations
- Plain Language is not certified Easy Read
- Our Plain Language texts are produced with AI support and reviewed editorially. They follow the core principles of easy-to-understand language — short sentences, simple words, a clear structure. They do not, however, meet all the formal criteria of certified Easy Read / Leichte Sprache (the certified German standard): there is no review by a test group of people with learning difficulties, and we do not fully apply the typographic and design rules those standards require. That is why we deliberately call our offering Plain Language rather than certified Easy Read.
- Some interactive demos are highly visual
- The portal contains many interactive demonstrations. Most can be operated with the keyboard and come with explanatory text. In a few, however, the key point lives in the visual flow of an animation — those demos are currently not fully usable without sight. We are working on adding structured descriptive text for such demos, similar to audio description in film.
- Translations are produced with AI support
- The content is available in 28 languages, each also in Plain Language. These translations are produced with AI support and may occasionally contain inaccuracies. The editorially reviewed and authoritative versions are German and English.
- No sign language
- We do not currently offer content in German Sign Language (DGS). We deliberately do not use automated sign-language avatars — the deaf associations currently advise explicitly against them, and the quality does not convince us. We are watching how things develop and will reconsider an offering once that changes.
What helps you get around
- Keyboard: navigation and most demos can be operated with Tab, arrow keys and Enter.
- Display: dark mode and a light theme, high contrast, font size freely scalable via browser zoom.
- Plain Language: every language is also available in a plain variant — switchable via the language selector at the top.
- Structure: heading hierarchy, landmarks and alternative text for assistive technologies.
How this statement came about
This statement is based on a self-assessment. No third-party evaluation has taken place so far.
Report a barrier
Did you come across a barrier? Are you stuck somewhere with a screen reader, keyboard or magnification? Please let us know — the easiest way is the 'Report a barrier' function in the feedback menu. It helps to include: the page affected, a short description of the problem and, if applicable, the assistive technology you used. All details are optional, and anonymous reports are welcome too. We aim to respond to or fix reports within four weeks as a rule.
One honest note at the end
Because this is a private, voluntary project, there is no statutory enforcement procedure for this portal and no responsible government conciliation body. Your feedback still does not vanish into thin air: barrier reports feed directly into how the portal develops — some of what you read on this page is here because someone pointed it out to us.