BlueSpice Receives BITV 2.0 Seal as

Accessible Wiki Software

A Collaboration that Pays Off

Accessibility and inclusion have been topics of discussion among the BlueSpice development team for several years now. However, concrete implementation is no easy task. This is evident from the experience reports from our software development in the Linux Magazine (German) and in the Golem newsletter “Chefs von Devs” (Devs’ Bosses, German). In it, Dr. Markus Glaser (CTO) and Dr. Richard Heigl (CEO) not only emphasize the high relevance of accessibility in web applications, but also highlight the challenges involved in implementation. These efforts have now been rewarded with a seal of approval following a rigorous external audit.

Pfennigparade proved to be an ideal and highly competent partner in this regard. Not only did it test pages for errors when using screen readers, but it also provided valuable advice on how the software could be specifically improved in terms of accessibility. The tested content was discussed in joint meetings and, in some cases, edited directly together. People with the relevant impairments were also systematically involved in the testing process. This ensured first-hand feedback. Thanks to regular exchanges, development issues were always clarified promptly and faulty features could be quickly adjusted.

Breaking Down Barriers and Learning to See Software Differently

In order to offer all users an equally pleasant user experience in the future, not only were errors that occurred when using screen readers fixed, but also those that had a negative impact on accessibility in general. Specifically, for example, the tree structures in the wiki were improved for use with a screen reader. Many interface elements, such as the tab structure, the marking of areas, and the scaling of text, have also been revised.

Another example is the ability to rate content. This feature was newly implemented as part of the collaboration.

In addition to the specific optimizations, in-depth knowledge transfer was also provided to the responsible software and UX developers:

“In terms of user experience, I’ve learned a lot about how accessibility needs to be considered right from the start when developing features in the future. For example, an alphabetical index is self-explanatory for sighted users, but not for screen reader users,” says Miriam Schlindwein, front-end and UI/UX developer at Hallo Welt! GmbH.

Inclusive into the Future

Accessibility will continue to be a high priority at BlueSpice in the future. The product team will optimize further areas step by step and has recognized accessibility as an integral part of product development. For example, all new developments are checked for accessibility using internal checklists.

In addition, the collaboration with Pfennigparade will continue. This will enable us to consistently address technical challenges related to the inclusivity of BlueSpice.

Thanks to intensive collaboration and the resulting exchange of knowledge, BlueSpice will continue to break down barriers and improve the user experience for people with disabilities.

“We wanted real accessibility, not just a certificate. The tests and perspectives provided by Pfennigparade made it clear to us where our software could be made even more accessible in everyday use,” said Dr. Richard Heigl, CEO of Hallo Welt! GmbH.