Since June 28, 2025, the Disability Discrimination Act (BehiG) has required digital services to comply with accessibility standards. Websites, mobile applications, e-commerce platforms, self-service terminals and digital documents must be designed in such a way that they can also be used without restriction by people with disabilities.
In principle, however, the Disability Discrimination Act has been in place since 2004 and is based on the Swiss Federal Constitution (Art. 8 BV). It has always pursued the goal of reducing disadvantages and promoting participation. It is put into practice by the Disability Equality Ordinance (BehiV), which prescribes standards such as WCAG 2.1 AA or the Swiss eCH-0059 standard for digital offerings. The partial revision of 2024 also introduced the principle of “reasonable accommodation”, which also places greater obligations on private providers. After 20 years, this basis has been tightened, as many providers are still not accessible.
Anyone who sees this change as merely a legal requirement is missing out on an exciting and innovative opportunity or possibility – because: Artificial intelligence can help to make digital offerings not only legally compliant, but truly inclusive. Are you unsure whether your services meet the current standards? Find out now!
When dealing with this issue, it is important that an accessible digital offering is not created through one-off adaptation, but through continuous review, improvement and genuine user orientation. AI can therefore provide valuable support here, for example through:
- Automated accessibility monitoring: AI-supported tools can regularly scan websites and apps and check them for accessibility – for example for contrast, alternative texts or keyboard navigation.
- Semantic analysis of content: AI can check texts for readability, structure and comprehensibility – an an important aspect, especially for people with cognitive impairments.
- Image description and automatic alternative texts: AI models are now able to describe images in a context-sensitive manner – an important aspect, especially for screen reader users. This is an important aspect, especially for screen reader users.
- Real-time translation and sign language: With AI, content can be automatically translated into simple language or even visual translations (e.g. sign language avatars).
- Personalization of the display: AI can help to make content customizable – e.g. larger font, simplified navigation or voice control.
As powerful as these technologies are, of course: Accessibility must not be left to AI alone. It requires clear internal standards, human control and, above all, the involvement of those affected. The following must also be taken into account:
- Inclusive data basisAI systems can only be as good as the data, on which they were trained. Diversity is therefore needed, taking into account ethics and sensitivity with regard to the database.
- Transparent decision-making logicIf you rely on AI, you need to be able to explain how it works – especially when it comes to accessibility.
- Feedback instead of acceptanceAffected users must be involved – through usability tests, feedback loops and co-creation.
According to the US organization “Web Accessibility in Mind”, which has been known since 1999 “Web Accessibility in Mind” 94.8% of pages on the web have accessibility errors. The most common errors are poor contrast and missing alt texts.
The Disability Discrimination Act therefore sets out clear requirements in Switzerland: If services are not accessible to those affected, they can make legal claims. This can quickly become expensive for service providers and suppliers and can lead to reputational damage, among other things.
BehiG-compliant? Find out in 2 minutes
Are you unsure whether your digital offerings comply with the standards? To give you an initial assessment and provide clarity, we have developed a free BehiG compliance check. With our quick online check, you can find out where your website is already well positioned and where there is a concrete need for action.
Companies, agencies and software providers have long been under obligation:
Anyone who develops or operates digital services must strategically anchor accessibility – and can use AI specifically for this purpose. This b edefined concretely:
- Don’t wait, measure: Early monitoring with AI-supported tools provides clarity about the need for action.
- Integrate accessibility into processes: Accessibility must not be an add-on, but must be part of the strategy and quality management.
- Use AI consciously: Not every tool is suitable. Anyone who works responsibly with AI checks, explains – and tests with real people.
Accessibility is not a “nice to have” – it is a human right, a legal obligation and now also a competitive factor. AI now offers the opportunity to make the digital world fairer and more accessible. But this will only succeed if we use it in a conscious, reflective and human-centered way.
Because true inclusion is created where technology does not replace, but supports – and where we not only recognize diversity, but include it and thus shape it.
