Back to the Podcast landingpage

[0:02] Myrna Gönnemann: Hello and welcome to a new episode of the TYPO3 podcast. In this podcast, we from the TYPO3 team talk with exciting guests from the community, agencies, partner companies, and projects about topics that move us as an open-source system and as a community.

[0:18] Myrna Gönnemann: My name is Myrna Gönnemann. I work in Success and Partner Management at TYPO3 GmbH and I’m also Co-Team Lead of the TYPO3 Marketing Team.

[0:27] Myrna Gönnemann: For this episode, I invited André Richter. He is Director Digital Experience at our partner agency queonext and also part of the TYPO3 Marketing Team.

[0:36] Myrna Gönnemann: André focuses on creating digital experiences that are accessible, intuitive, and user-friendly for everyone. With his focus on digital accessibility, customer experience, and the strategic integration of content management systems, he helps companies create digital solutions that are inclusive and sustainable.

[0:55] Myrna Gönnemann: That’s exactly why he’s the perfect guest for this episode. Today, we’re talking about a topic that is very present right now and will likely remain so for years to come: digital accessibility.

[1:09] Myrna Gönnemann: We’ll discuss how present accessibility is in agency work, how strongly it is actively requested by clients, whether laws like the German Accessibility Strengthening Act increase awareness, and whether accessibility will eventually be considered as naturally as SEO or data protection in design and development.

[1:32] Myrna Gönnemann: We’ll also talk about common misconceptions around accessibility, how agencies deal with clients who want quick results but don’t prioritize accessibility, whether legislation alone can create real change, the role of automated testing, and of course how TYPO3 itself is perceived when it comes to accessibility. Enjoy this episode on digital accessibility.

[1:59] Myrna Gönnemann: André, how present is accessibility in your day-to-day agency work right now? Is it actively requested by end clients, or is it still more of a side topic in projects?

[2:12] André Richter: Hi Myrna, thanks for having me. That’s a very valid question, and there’s no simple answer. For us, it’s about fifty-fifty.

[2:24] André Richter: There are many clients who are required by law. They come with very clear requirements: this and that has to be accessible. Others haven’t really thought about it yet or are still unsure and say, “Well, a website is kind of accessible anyway, right?”

[2:43] André Richter: So in short, we actively try to advise about half of our clients more strongly in this direction and take a more holistic approach. The other half already come with clear requirements or expectations, either from legislation or from auditing and certification bodies. It balances out.

[3:02] Myrna Gönnemann: Do you feel there are specific industries where the topic is particularly strong?

[3:08] André Richter: Definitely. At queonext, we work with medical associations and public law institutions. There are auditing bodies involved, and accessibility is very present there.

[3:21] André Richter: In the private sector, which actually benefits greatly from accessible websites, the necessity is often seen as less urgent or is stretched a bit, so it doesn’t feel as present.

[3:44] Myrna Gönnemann: Do you feel that the Accessibility Strengthening Act has made the topic more present in clients’ minds?

[3:50] André Richter: Absolutely. Legislators have definitely raised awareness, and we noticed that very clearly. We also tried to position ourselves more strongly as an agency and advise our clients accordingly.

[4:03] André Richter: In reality, the law itself wasn’t a huge innovation. Regulations already existed under the BITV, especially for public sector clients—technical requirements, contrast, and content-related aspects.

[4:19] André Richter: The new law expanded these rules to other offerings. For many clients, this wasn’t a major eye-opener because they already knew parts of it. But it acted as a catalyst and helped bring the topic forward again.

[4:40] André Richter: Accessibility isn’t a passion project. Marketing teams don’t usually say, “Let’s make this accessible because it’s cool.” It’s still something that needs explaining. Clients need to understand that it’s not just a legal obligation or a nice-to-have, but that it creates real value.

[5:08] André Richter: It opens up new target groups, and it should be treated as a matter of course—not something to show off, but something that’s simply expected.

[5:25] Myrna Gönnemann: Do you think there are many misconceptions around accessibility?

[5:29] André Richter: Definitely. Accessibility is often reduced to technical details—contrast, tools, tests. But it includes much more than that.

[5:42] André Richter: It also has semantic and content-related aspects: clear language, orientation, understandable navigation. And it doesn’t just affect people with permanent disabilities.

[6:04] André Richter: Many people are situationally impaired. I wear glasses—if I take them off and try to use a website on my phone, I’m glad when buttons are larger and easier to distinguish.

[6:26] André Richter: Accessibility doesn’t just affect a small group. It affects many people who are temporarily limited or accessing a website under less-than-ideal conditions.

[6:51] Myrna Gönnemann: That’s such an important point. Accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement or a quality feature—it’s an inclusion measure and important for how we live together as a society, including digitally.

[7:10] André Richter: Exactly. It’s not just a technical issue. In an agency, it has to be considered across all disciplines. It’s not something you can simply add later or fix with a button.

[7:33] André Richter: It has to be considered from the very beginning—and in the end, it benefits everyone, including the companies themselves.

[7:36] André Richter: In the past, one of our strongest arguments was that Google benefits greatly from accessibility. Well-structured, semantically clean content works better for people—and for search engines.

[8:17] Myrna Gönnemann: How do you deal with clients who just want a website quickly and don’t prioritize accessibility?

[8:29] André Richter: For designers and frontend developers, accessibility has long been part of the job. It’s not something extra—we consider it from the start of the design and development process.

[8:43] André Richter: We need to educate project managers and clients more strongly that accessibility isn’t just technical. Content matters too—especially during content migration or creation.

[9:11] André Richter: We aim to build frontends that are as accessible as possible by default—ARIA labels, SVGs, alt texts—so they would pass a technical accessibility audit.

[9:37] André Richter: The same applies to design: contrast ratios and other requirements are considered from the start.

[9:55] André Richter: What we still need to improve is helping clients understand that accessibility isn’t something you can fully automate or delegate to technology alone. Content plays a key role.

[10:15] Myrna Gönnemann: We often talk about accessibility in terms of design and technology, but it really starts with editorial content. That’s where many obstacles arise.

[10:30] Myrna Gönnemann: Even if the frontend is accessible, that doesn’t automatically mean the site remains accessible once content is added. Clients need guidance on structure, headings, alt texts, and CMS tools.

[11:31] Myrna Gönnemann: Do you use tools to test accessibility?

[11:36] André Richter: Yes. We use tools like WAVE, Google PageSpeed, and other audit mechanisms to check technical aspects. For larger projects, we also run BITV self-tests as part of the development process.

[12:32] Myrna Gönnemann: From an agency perspective, do you think more needs to be done?

[12:40] André Richter: Not necessarily more—but more targeted. Accessibility needs to be embedded in project planning, requirements, and processes, not treated as a final step.

[13:43] André Richter: The more accessible a website is from the start, the easier it is to maintain and evolve later. It becomes more robust and, ultimately, more economical.

[14:29] Myrna Gönnemann: Why do you think so many companies still struggle with accessibility?

[14:37] André Richter: Because you can’t just hire one expert at the end to fix everything. Accessibility requires education across all roles and disciplines. It’s also a cultural issue.

[15:23] André Richter: If accessibility isn’t anchored at the management level, it often leads to conflict and is perceived as extra cost. But in the long run, it pays off.

[16:05] Myrna Gönnemann: Accessibility goes beyond obligation—it’s also about attitude and corporate responsibility. Do you think legislation alone can create real change?

[16:38] André Richter: No. Laws help raise awareness, but real change requires commitment. Regulations are only effective if they’re enforced and supported by culture.

[17:52] Myrna Gönnemann: Can accessibility be fully tested automatically?

[18:03] André Richter: No. Automated testing helps, but accessibility always needs a human component. Complete automation isn’t realistic at the moment.

[19:46] André Richter: Accessibility is not a one-time achievement. A site might be accessible at launch, but as soon as content changes, issues can arise. It’s a continuous process.

[21:18] Myrna Gönnemann: Do you include accessibility in pitches and proposals?

[21:28] André Richter: Yes, although it’s not always an easy sell. We show that accessibility reduces complexity, improves maintainability, and benefits discoverability.

[22:54] Myrna Gönnemann: What would you wish for from clients?

[22:59] André Richter: More commitment and collaboration. Accessibility can’t be outsourced—it requires working together at eye level.

[24:43] Myrna Gönnemann: Agencies also have a responsibility to educate. Accessibility reflects a company’s values and credibility.

[26:11] André Richter: Many still think accessible means ugly design. That’s outdated. Accessible websites can look great and be enjoyable to use.

[29:58] Myrna Gönnemann: Do you think accessibility will become as standard as SEO or GDPR?

[30:23] André Richter: I believe so. Step by step, it’s becoming part of everyday design and development. In many frameworks, it’s no longer extra work.

[31:35] Myrna Gönnemann: How do you perceive TYPO3 in terms of accessibility?

[31:47] André Richter: TYPO3 can be used to build both accessible and non-accessible sites. What’s important is the community’s strong commitment—code sprints, backend improvements, and initiatives that put accessibility on the agenda.

[33:03] Myrna Gönnemann: Thank you so much, André, for joining us today. Digital accessibility is about much more than technology—it requires concepts, content, design, strategy, and above all, commitment. Thanks to everyone for listening. See you next time.