Our sponsored projects

Compliance status

We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to everyone and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance or ability.

To fulfill this, we strive to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a variety of disabilities. Following these guidelines helps us to ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairments, cognitive impairments and more.

This website uses various technologies to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We use an accessibility interface that allows people with certain disabilities to customize the user interface of the website to their personal needs.

In addition, the website uses an AI-based application that runs in the background and constantly optimizes its accessibility level. This application fixes the HTML of the website, adapts its functionality and behavior for screen readers used by blind users and for keyboard functions used by people with motor impairments.

If you have found an error or have suggestions for improvement, we would be pleased to receive your feedback. You can contact the operators of the website using the following e-mail: info@wirth-stiftung.de

Screen reader and keyboard navigation

Our website implements Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) attributes technology along with various behavioral modifications to ensure that blind users visiting with screen readers can read, understand and enjoy the features of the website. Once a user with a screen reader enters your website, they will immediately receive a prompt to enter the screen reader profile so that they can browse and operate your website effectively. Here's how our website covers some of the key screen reader requirements, along with console screens of code examples:

1. Optimization for screen readers: We run a background process that learns the components of the website from top to bottom to ensure ongoing compliance even when the website is updated. In this process, we provide meaningful data to screen readers using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for active icons (social media icons, search icons, shopping cart icons, etc.); validation hints for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal windows (popups) and others. In addition, the background process scans all images on the website and provides an accurate and meaningful descriptive alternative based on image object recognition as an ALT tag for images that are not described. It also extracts text embedded in the image using OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To activate the screen reading adaptations at any time, users only need to press the Alt+1 key combination. Screen reader users will also receive automatic notifications to turn on screen reading mode as soon as they enter the website.

   These adaptations are compatible with all common screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

2. Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adapts the HTML of the website and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable with the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate drop-down lists with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, activate buttons and links with the Enter key, navigate between radio buttons and checkboxes with the arrow keys and fill them in with the space bar or Enter key. Additionally, keyboard users will find quick navigation and content skip menus available at any time by clicking Alt+1 or as the first elements of the website when navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by immediately shifting the keyboard focus to them as soon as they appear, rather than drifting the focus outwards.

   Users can also use keyboard shortcuts such as "M" (menus), "H" (headings), "F" (forms), "B" (buttons) and "G" (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

Supported disability profiles on our website

• Epilepsy safe mode: This profile allows people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures from flashing animations and risky color combinations.
• Mode for the visually impaired: This mode adapts the website for users with visual impairments such as failing eyesight, visual field constriction, cataracts, glaucoma and others.
• Mode for cognitive impairments: This mode offers various assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as dyslexia, autism, stroke sequelae and others to focus more easily on the essential elements of the website.
• ADHD-friendly mode: This mode helps users with ADHD and neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse and focus on the main elements of the website more easily, while significantly reducing distractions.
• Blindness mode: This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver and TalkBack. A screen reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
• Keyboard navigation profile (motor impaired): This profile enables people with motor impairments to operate the website using the Tab, Shift+Tab and Enter keys. Users can also use keyboard shortcuts such as "M" (menus), "H" (headings), "F" (forms), "B" (buttons) and "G" (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

Additional UI, design and readability adjustments

1. Font customizations - Users can increase and decrease their size, change their family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height and more.
2. Color adjustments - Users can select different color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted and monochrome. In addition, users can exchange color schemes of titles, texts and backgrounds with over seven different color options.
3. Animations - People with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the user interface include videos, GIFs and CSS lightning transitions.
4. Highlighting content - Users can choose to highlight important elements such as links and titles. You can also choose to highlight only focused or hovered elements.
5. Audio mute - Users with hearing aids may experience headaches or other problems due to automatic audio playback. This option allows users to mute the entire website immediately.
6. Cognitive disorders - We use a search engine linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary to help people with cognitive disorders decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang and others.
7. Additional functions - We offer users the ability to change the cursor color and size, use a print mode, enable an on-screen keyboard and many other features.

Browser and assistance technology compatibility

We want to support the widest possible range of browsers and assistive technologies so that our users can choose the best tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to support all major systems that account for over 95 % of user market share, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).

Notes, comments and feedback

Despite our best efforts to enable everyone to customize the website to their needs, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of being made accessible, or do not have an appropriate technological solution to make them accessible. Nevertheless, we are continuously improving our accessibility by adding, updating and improving options and features, as well as developing and adopting new technologies. All this is to achieve the optimum level of accessibility, in line with technological advances. For any assistance, please contact info@wirth-stiftung.de

Notes, comments and feedback

Despite our best efforts to make the site customizable for everyone, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of being made accessible, or for which there is no adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Nevertheless, we are continuously improving our accessibility by adding, updating and improving options and features, as well as developing and adopting new technologies. All of this is to achieve the optimum level of accessibility, in line with technological advances. For any assistance, please contact info@wirth-stiftung.de