The use of simple and easy language is a decisive step towards greater digital accessibility. Both forms of language aim to design texts in such a way that as many people as possible — regardless of their language or cognitive abilities — can understand them. This not only affects people with cognitive disabilities, but also people with low language skills, learning difficulties or older people.
Simple language reduces the complexity of sentence structures, while easy language further simplifies and follows strict rules to ensure comprehensibility. By using these forms of language, companies create an inclusive digital presence that makes it easier for all people to access important information. With the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), which will take effect from 2025, the implementation of these principles is not only recommended but mandatory for many organizations.
What are Simple and Easy Language?
Simple and easy language are different approaches to making texts easier to understand. Easy language aims to make complex content accessible to a wide audience by avoiding difficult terms and complex sentence structures. Easy language goes even further and is specifically developed for people with cognitive disabilities or learning difficulties. Strict rules apply, including sentence length and wording.
Easy language:
- Avoid complicated terms and unnecessary foreign words.
- Use short, concise sentences.
- Use familiar and easy-to-understand words
Easy language:
- Reduce texts to the essentials so that they can also be accessed by people with learning difficulties.
- Use clear and simple language and limit the sentence length to one or two sentences per paragraph.
- Strictly avoid technical terms and complicated structures.
These simplifications help digital content to be understood and used by a larger number of users. This is particularly important in the context of accessibility, as it gives people with different cognitive abilities fair access to information.
Who benefits from Simple and Easy Language?
The target groups that benefit from simple and easy language are diverse:
- People with learning difficulties or cognitive disabilities for whom complex texts are difficult to understand.
- Elderly people who may have difficulty with long or complicated texts.
- People with an immigrant background who do not speak German as their mother tongue.
- People with little education who find complex content difficult to grasp.
- Users with concentration problems who absorb information better in small, easily digestible units.
From 2025, the implementation of such language requirements by the BFSG will be mandatory for many companies and public institutions. Operators of websites and digital platforms must then ensure that their content is accessible and understandable to a wide audience.
Why simple and easy language is important for digital accessibility
The increasing focus on digital accessibility is not least on Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) and international standards such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) attributed. Many aspects of digital accessibility involve technical adjustments, such as compatibility with screen readers or color contrasts. But language accessibility is just as important to make information understandable to all people.
Particularly relevant information, such as on legal, medical or regulatory topics, should be clear and simple, as it is crucial for daily life and social participation. Simple and easy language is therefore also important for companies and organizations that communicate complex information to the general public.
How companies can implement simple and easy language
Implementing simple and easy language on websites requires a clear strategy and compliance with specific guidelines. Here are a few steps companies should consider:
Simplify texts
Short and clear sentences, frequently used terms and simple language are crucial. Technical terms and complicated concepts should be avoided or explained in an easily understandable way. An example: “Implementation of accessibility guidelines” is simplified to “implement accessibility.”
Use headings and lists
Structured texts with headlines, paragraphs, and lists help readers to easily grasp the content. Complex blocks of text should be broken down into smaller sections.
Visual assistance
Images, graphics, and icons can support the text and improve comprehension. Visual elements are particularly helpful in plain language, as they promote understanding through additional information.
Avoid technical language and abbreviations
Use simple terms and, if necessary, explain technical terms in understandable language. Abbreviations should be avoided or explained in simple terms.
Test content
Test the comprehensibility of your content This can be done by involving the target group or by working with experts in simple and easy language.
Simple and easy language as an important component of digital accessibility
Using simple and easy language on websites is not only a legal obligation, but also a sign of responsibility and respect for all users. Companies that design their digital content accordingly create a more inclusive user experience and improve accessibility for all.
With the right strategy and following clear guidelines, you can ensure that your content is accessible and understandable to a wide audience. This not only strengthens user trust and satisfaction, but also helps to meet the requirements of Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) at.
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