Accessible information and communication offers for the blind and visually impaired

The term accessibility was defined in the Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz, BGG) in 2002 as well as in the corresponding laws of the federal states. In addition to the requirements for structural and spatial design of the environment, the Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities focuses on accessibility to information and communication offers, which is of the utmost importance for blind and visually impaired people. Technical information processing systems and their user interfaces in particular must be developed in such a way that they can be used “generally without outside help” by people with visual impairments (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz 2002; Act on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities 2002; English translation of the German original).