Accessibility

The most attractive and interesting sites on the Internet are only really attractive and interesting if they can actually be used by everybody. The keyword here is "accessibility". However, certain standards must be met, which means that some technical and design options may not be used.

Since 1 May 2002 an act governing the equal treatment of people with disabilities has been in force. The heart of the act is to make all areas of life accessible.

People with disabilities should have access to all areas of life, with comprehensive and unrestricted use.

This concerns, for example, accessibility in transport, buildings, housing and on the Internet.

The aim of the City of Bühl is to create their web pages so that every user can read them equally well, whether he / she is old or young, whether he / she is disabled or not. At the same time, the pages should also be visually appealing and technically modern, whilst taking into account the cost. That is why, for the City of Bühl, there are always limitations on the design of the homepage, such as with animation and colours. Although the goal of complete accessibility is difficult to achieve, we always talk about having a web presence that at least has very few barriers to access.

The town of Buhl has therefore decided to choose the content management system of the dvv.Portalplattform recommended by Baden Franken Local Authority Information Processing (known by the initials KIVBF).
At present, our web pages meet the criteria of accessibility to a large extent. As the dvv.Portalplattform continues to be developed, we will take care to ensure that it remains so in the future or that further improvements are made.
Any problems for people with a disability not being able to read these pages or navigate around them as a result of certain Web programming techniques should not occur. If, despite our best efforts, you have difficulty accessing information on this website, we would like you to contact us by mail.

 
Accessibility - what is it?

The idea of accessibility is to reduce the barriers that prevent people from engaging and participating in public and private life, whether in part or in whole.
This can be achieved by providing guidance for the blind and visually impaired or communication aids for the deaf and hearing impaired, but also by creating an environment that is free of barriers and takes account of the diversity of people, such as those who cannot read.

What are barriers?

Barriers exist almost everywhere: in streets and squares, in public buildings, schools and kindergartens, shops, offices, workplaces, housing etc.
Barriers are obstacles that in principle can affect everyone. It depends on the situation each individual finds themselves in as to whether and when a barrier has an effect. For example, steps are not a problem for many people at first. However, for those who rely on walking aids or are out and about with pushchairs, each step becomes an obstacle, and one which is often insurmountable for wheelchair users.

Barriers may also include:

Steps, stairs, kerbs, cobblestones, excessively steep ramps, narrow doors and aisles, high shelves, ATMs that have been mounted too high etc., all those barriers that affect mobility.

Communication barriers:

In addition to structural barriers, there are some that affect and / or prevent communication. It's still not a matter of course that traffic lights, lifts etc. are equipped with audible signals for blind and partially sighted people, or that text telephones and sign language interpreters are provided for those that have impaired hearing. Communication barriers can also be reduced by the use of plain language.

Barriers can therefore include:

• Fonts that are too small
• Too little contrast in words and markings,
• Poor lighting conditions,
• Menus without Braille,
• Theatres without induction loops,
• Events without any sign language interpreters, etc., etc.

 
There is no clear dividing line between mobility and communication disabilities. People who are restricted in their mobility, often experience exclusion in communication, because not many areas where dialogue takes place are accessible to them.

For a person in a wheelchair, a kerb constitutes a barrier. For a blind person, the same kerb is not a barrier, but an essential information carrier ("the road begins here"), which enables communication. This example shows that identifying something as a barrier is always related to the situation. It is therefore necessary to take care that removing a barrier does not create a new one. This requires compromises, better still, intelligent solutions. The aim must be to take barriers down whilst maintaining their communication content.

What is Web accessibility?

"Accessibility" is the open access to information on the Internet, primarily for disabled internet users.