Federal Ordinance on Barrier-Free Information Technology

Based on section 11(1) sentence 2 of the Act on Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons of April 27, 2002 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 1467), the Federal Ministry of the Interior, in agreement with the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, issues the following ordinance:

Section 1

Material Scope

This ordinance shall apply to:

1. websites and webpages,
2. websites and webpages which are publicly accessible, and
3. graphic user interfaces created on the basis of information technology which are publicly accessible

of authorities of the Federal Administration.

Section 2

Groups of disabled persons to be included

The intention of the design of IT and internet facilities (section 1) in accordance with this ordinance shall be to enable disabled persons within the meaning of section 3 of the Act on Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons, who can only use information technology to a limited extent unless additional conditions are fulfilled, to access it.

Section 3

Applicable standards

In accordance with the annex to this ordinance, IT and internet facilities (section 1) shall be designed in a way that

1. all facilities fulfill the standards and requirements listed under priority I and
2. central navigation and start pages also take into account the standards and requirements listed under priority II.

Section 4

Periods for the implementation of the standards

1. The facilities identified in section 1 of this ordinance which are newly designed or changed or adjusted in essential or large parts after this ordinance has entered into force shall be created in accordance with section 3 of this ordinance. At least one way of accessing the identified facilities should, upon their launch, fulfill the standards and requirements of priority I of the annex to this ordinance. By December 31, 2005 at the latest, all ways of accessing the identified facilities shall fulfill the standards and requirements of priority I of the annex to this ordinance.
2. Facilities which were launched on the internet or intranet (section 1 no. 2) before this ordinance entered into force shall be designed in accordance with section 3 of this ordinance by December 31, 2003 if these facilities are specifically directed to disabled persons within the meaning of section 3 of the Act on Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons.
3. Where para. 2 does not apply, facilities which were launched on the internet or intranet (section 1 no. 2) before this ordinance entered into force shall be designed in accordance with section 3 of this ordinance by December 31, 2005.

Section 5

Evaluation of Effectiveness

The ordinance shall be reviewed regularly, taking into account technological development. Its effectiveness shall be evaluated no later than three years after its entry into force.

Section 6

Entry into Force

This ordinance shall enter into force on the day following its promulgation.