The term “BITV 2.0 – EN 301 549 compliant” refers to software and digital applications that meet the requirements of the German Ordinance on Accessible Information Technology (BITV 2.0) and the European standard EN 301 549. The goal is to ensure digital content and software are accessible to people with disabilities – such as individuals with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. The standard is based on the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA.
BITV 2.0 is legally binding for public institutions in Germany. EN 301 549 applies EU-wide and is becoming increasingly relevant for the private sector as well, particularly under the European Accessibility Act (from 2025).
Keyboard Operability: All software functions can be fully used via keyboard only, without a mouse.
Screen Reader Compatibility: Content and navigation are fully accessible and correctly tagged for screen readers.
Contrast and Color Options: High contrast between text and background and alternative color schemes for the visually impaired.
Text and Content Scalability: Content remains readable and functional when zoomed up to 200%.
Alternative Text for Images: All non-text content, such as images or icons, is provided with descriptive alt text.
Captions and Transcripts: Provision of captions for videos and audio content as well as full text transcripts.
Error Messages with Guidance: Forms and inputs provide clear error messages and suggestions for correction.
Focus Indicators: A visible keyboard focus clearly shows the user's current position (e.g., in forms or links).
Accessible PDF Generation: Exported PDFs are tagged, structured, and readable by assistive technologies.
Compliance Testing Tools: Built-in testing functions or integrations with accessibility testing tools to ensure conformance with BITV/EN standards.
A government portal offers an online form that is fully usable with a keyboard and screen reader.
An e-learning platform provides captions and transcripts for all video tutorials.
An online shop uses high-contrast colors and allows accessible product views with alt texts.
A document management system generates fully accessible PDFs with proper tag structure.
A company uses an integrated testing tool to regularly check its software for EN 301 549 compliance.