Gotha-Aktuell: Barrier-free news with Eye-Able Assist for everyone!

Gotha-Aktuell: Barrier-free news with Eye-Able Assist for everyone!

Today, September 1, 2025, the readers of Gotha-Aktuell can look forward to an exciting innovation. The local news portal has expanded its website to include the innovative accessibility tool Eye-Able Assist to make access to information significantly easier for people with visual impairments and other individual needs. How Gotha current reports, the digital operating aid makes reading and navigating the website easier than ever.

Eye-Able Assist's toolbar has several useful functions: articles can be read aloud, the font size can be adjusted, and various contrast and night modes are available. Furthermore, the color design of the page can be changed individually, and the whole thing works on both the PC and the smartphone. If you think that sounds good, you will be surprised with the keyboard navigation and other settings such as cursor enlargement and image suppression. Changes happen immediately and can be reset at any time. This step shows that Gotha-Aktuell sees accessibility not just as a technical upgrade, but as a social responsibility.

Legal framework

But it's not just Gotha-Aktuell that shows exemplary commitment to accessibility. Legal requirements also play a central role. This will occur from June 2025 Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) in force in Germany. This law obliges companies and public institutions to make their digital offerings barrier-free. The introduction of the BFSG is an important step, especially for platforms that have to do with financial services, online shops or digital health services.

“Accessibility is a human right,” is the opinion of many experts, also in connection with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Many digital offerings are currently difficult or not at all accessible to people with disabilities. Currently only around 1% of the online shops examined can fully meet the BFSG requirements, which illustrates the urgency. Companies that do not comply with the law face sanctions, including significant fines. The need for a barrier-free digital world is clear – not just for people with disabilities, but for user-friendliness for everyone.

Accessibility best practices

Another example of successful accessibility is shown by the top 10 websites that are considered exemplary. So lifts digital-barrierfreedom.info Portals such as the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and BBC stand out, which impress with clear structures, easy navigation and appropriate supporting features. International brands such as Apple and Eurowings are also setting standards by integrating accessibility into their digital offerings.

Overall, it can be seen that efforts towards digital accessibility have increased in recent years. The BFSG will further stimulate this positive trend and ensure more inclusion in the digital space. Ultimately, we must all have the opportunity to use the digital world without restrictions. Gotha-Aktuell has taken an important step in this direction with Eye-Able Assist, and others should follow.