arocom has been developing accessible Drupal platforms according to WCAG 2.1 AA and BITV 2.0 since 2012. With the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), private companies have been required since June 2025 to make digital offerings accessible. Drupal brings accessibility as a core principle — arocom ensures your platform delivers on that promise in practice.
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Accessible Websites with Drupal — BFSG, WCAG, BITV 2.0

Last updated: March 2026 · Reading time: 10 minutes

Accessibility is not a feature you add retroactively. It is a fundamental requirement — legally since the BFSG, ethically for much longer. Over 10 million people in Germany live with a recognized disability. Add temporary impairments, situational barriers, and an aging population.

Drupal is one of the few CMS that treats accessibility as a core commitment — not as a plugin. And arocom is the agency that has translated that commitment into practice across 160+ Drupal projects since 2012. The CJD relaunch on Drupal 11 is our most recent example: a platform for 11,000 employees that meets WCAG 2.1 AA.

Why now

Accessibility is not optional — it is mandatory

Since June 2025, the German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) applies to private companies in Germany. EU Directive 2016/2102 has required public bodies since 2019. Violations have legal consequences — cease-and-desist letters, contract terminations, exclusion from public procurement.

But accessibility is more than compliance. It is a quality mark that benefits all users: better readability, clearer structure, faster load times, better SEO and GEO performance.

Standards

WCAG, BITV, BFSG — what applies to you?

WCAG 2.1 AA

The international standard by W3C. Defines 78 success criteria across four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, robust. Level AA is the de facto standard for corporate websites.

BITV 2.0

The German implementation for federal public bodies. Based on WCAG 2.1 and adds specific requirements for the German legal context. Mandatory for all federal agencies.

BFSG (since 06/2025)

The Accessibility Strengthening Act extends the obligation to private companies. Affected: e-commerce, banking services, telecommunications, electronic media — and prospectively all digital offerings.

Drupal & A11y

Why Drupal leads in accessibility

Drupal has had its own accessibility team since version 8 and treats accessibility as a core feature, not a contrib module. This means:

What Drupal provides

  • Semantic HTML from the core
  • ARIA attributes automatically generated
  • Keyboard navigation for all backend elements
  • Color contrast-compliant admin themes (Gin, Claro)
  • Inline editing with screen reader support
  • Multilingual with accessible language switchers

What arocom adds

  • Accessibility audit as part of the Platform Check
  • Custom themes per WCAG 2.1 AA
  • Automated and manual testing (axe, WAVE, screen readers)
  • Editor training: alt texts, headings, contrasts
  • Monitoring: prevent accessibility regression
  • prefers-reduced-motion and prefers-color-scheme
Our approach

What arocom does for your accessibility

Where does your website stand? The accessibility check is part of our Drupal Platform Check (Audit) — or bookable separately.

Semantic HTML, ARIA, keyboard, contrasts, responsive, skip links — we implement WCAG 2.1 AA from the ground up.

Your editors learn to create accessible content: alt texts, heading hierarchy, link texts, contrasts.

Automated tests on every deploy. Manual spot checks quarterly. This way, accessibility does not remain a one-time project.

CJD: Accessibility in practice

For the relaunch of cjd.de on Drupal 11, accessibility was not an option but a core requirement. An NGO with 11,000 employees working in education and social services needs a platform accessible to everyone. arocom was responsible for the technical implementation — in partnership with 21TORR.

Checklist

Quick check: Is your website accessible?

Basics

  • All images have meaningful alt texts
  • Heading hierarchy is logical (H1 > H2 > H3)
  • Links describe their destination (no 'Click here')
  • Color contrast text/background at least 4.5:1
  • Website is keyboard navigable
  • Focus indicators are visible

Advanced

  • Forms have labels and error messages
  • Videos have captions
  • prefers-reduced-motion is respected
  • Screen reader test passed (NVDA/VoiceOver)
  • Skip navigation present
  • Language declared in HTML element

More than 3 items not met? Then a professional accessibility audit is worthwhile. The Drupal Platform Check (Audit) includes a dedicated audit area for accessibility — or you can book it separately.

Does the BFSG apply to my company?

The BFSG has applied to private companies offering digital products and services since June 2025 — especially e-commerce, banking services, and electronic media. Even if your industry is not explicitly mentioned yet, legislation is clearly moving toward comprehensive obligation.

What is the difference between WCAG A, AA, and AAA?

Level A covers basic accessibility, AA is the standard for corporate websites and often legally required, AAA goes beyond and is not fully achievable for most websites. arocom recommends and implements WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

Can an existing website be made accessible?

Yes, in most cases. Drupal makes it easier than other CMS because accessibility is anchored in the core. The effort depends on the current state — an accessibility audit shows where you stand and what is needed.

How does arocom test accessibility?

We combine automated tools (axe-core, WAVE, Lighthouse) with manual tests (keyboard navigation, screen readers NVDA and VoiceOver, contrast checks). Automated tools find about 30% of issues — the rest requires human testers.

What does an accessibility audit cost?

The accessibility check is bookable as a focus area in the Focus Check (from 2,500 EUR plus VAT) or as part of the comprehensive Standard Check (from 5,000 EUR). The amount is fully credited toward a follow-up project.

Can our editors break accessibility?

Yes, if they do not know better. That is why every arocom project includes editor training: writing alt texts, maintaining heading hierarchy, formulating link texts. Additionally, we use automated checks that warn editors.

Do I need to completely rebuild my website?

Usually not. Most accessibility issues lie in the frontend (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and content management. Drupal's core is already accessible — it is about your theme and your content.

How does arocom prevent accessibility from degrading after launch?

Through automated tests on every deployment, manual spot checks in quarterly reviews, and training your team. Accessibility is not a project, it is a process.

Inquiry

Request an accessibility audit

Write to us. Our team responds within 4 hours on business days. In the initial call, we clarify which tier of the Platform Check fits your accessibility requirements.

Send inquiry — response within 4 hours

arocom Team. +49 (0) 711 633 77 960 · info@arocom.de

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