Berater/Beraterin für digitale Barrierefreiheit

Publications related to this profession include Dev Insiderei - einstieg informatikentwickler magazin, IEEE Software Magazine, Informatik Aktuell, Informatik-Spektrum, IT-Business - Channel-Portal für IT und Cloud Computing, it-daily.net, PAGE – Design. Code. Business., PHP-Magazin, and t3n - digital pioneers.

Consultants for digital accessibility usually work in offices and in IT training rooms at client sites. They may also work from home or remotely.

Core competencies generally required for this profession include: Accessible media, accessible web design (Accessibility), Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), user interfaces, data literacy, IT audit, customer consulting and support, management consulting, teaching and training (extracurricular), usability testing, web applications (development, programming), and web design. Other competencies that may be significant for this profession include: User consulting and support (IT), technical documentation, information technology and computer technology, internet and intranet technology, IT user training, IT law, human-machine communication, multimedia programming, multimedia systems and technology, programming, and quality management. Further relevant skills and knowledge include the competency groups 'HTML editors, web design and web content software, browsers' and 'Programming languages, program libraries, development environments'.

Consultants for digital accessibility responsibly support companies, public authorities, and other organizations in enabling people with disabilities unrestricted access to information from online offerings and digital documents. When creating accessibility concepts, evaluating, and testing applications, analytical thinking and a careful, systematic working method are essential. They conscientiously observe guidelines and regulations for accessibility and usability. They coordinate with design and development teams and, if necessary, coordinate their collaboration. They approach clients and customers with a service-oriented, flexible, and communicative attitude. In case of negative test results, they do not shy away from conflicts and negotiate skillfully to eliminate existing deficits. A willingness to learn is necessary to stay up-to-date on new developments in digitalization, accessibility, and usability.

Consultants for digital accessibility can become self-employed, for example, by starting a consulting company for digital accessibility or by working as a freelancer.

Salary information is variable, please check BERUFENET.

This profession involves providing consulting services in the field of information technology, including digital accessibility and inclusion consulting, as well as general IT and software consulting.

Employers often expect a vocational training (Ausbildung) or further education (Weiterbildung) in computer science, or a relevant university degree (Studium).

Relevant university degree (Studium) subjects for this profession include computer science (undergraduate and postgraduate), media informatics (undergraduate and postgraduate), human-computer interaction and interface design (undergraduate and postgraduate), internet-based systems and e-services (undergraduate and postgraduate), and software engineering (undergraduate and postgraduate).

Consultants for digital accessibility primarily find employment with IT service providers and management consultancies specializing in IT and software. They can also find employment in the IT departments of companies across various economic sectors.

Common job titles for this profession are 'Berater/in - digitale Barrierefreiheit' or 'Consultant - BITV'. English job titles include 'Accessibility Specialist (m/f)' and 'Digital Accessibility Specialist (m/f)'.

Consultants for digital accessibility support companies, public authorities, and organizations with digital measures for accessibility.

Job and applicant exchanges for this profession include Appentwickler Jobs, Fachinformatiker.de, get in (Engineering), ingenieur.de, ingenieur1.de, Ingenieurcenter Deutschland, ingenieurweb, JustEngineersNet, and Programmierer-Jobboerse.de.

Relevant associations and organizations include the Bundesverband Informationswirtschaft, Telekommunikation und neue Medien e.V. (Bitkom), German UPA - Berufsverband der Deutschen Usability und User Experience Professionals e.V., Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), IG Metall (IGM), VDE Verband der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e.V., ver.di - Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft, and Webmasters Europe e.V.

Working conditions require adherence to various regulations and legal requirements, such as guidelines and regulations on accessibility and usability. They involve customer contact, advising companies, public authorities, and other organizations on accessibility. Frequent absence from home is common due to consulting activities for various companies and organizations, potentially abroad. They perform screen work, for example, testing online offerings or preparing audit reports. Work in office spaces involves conducting coordination meetings with design and development teams. They may also work in training rooms, for instance, training employees on accessibility topics.

Work materials include documents such as guidelines and regulations on accessibility and usability, test protocols, audit reports, technical documentation, and training materials. Products created include accessible websites, web applications, and mobile apps. They use computer technology and software like developer software, programming languages, testing systems, content management systems, and video conferencing tools. Office equipment and presentation tools such as PCs, internet access, telephones, tablets, smartphones, projectors, and flipcharts are also part of their work tools.

Consultants for digital accessibility design concepts for accessible websites, web applications, mobile apps, and documents. Their goal is to enable people with disabilities unrestricted access to information on the internet. To achieve this, they test existing online offerings and verify compliance with technical standards and legal requirements. They document their findings in audit reports, provide recommendations for action, and support their implementation.

Professions that provide access to this role include Certified IT Specialist for IT Consulting (Geprüfter Berufsspezialist für IT-Beratung) and Web Designer (Webdesigner).

Continuing vocational training (Anpassungsweiterbildung) helps to keep professional knowledge up-to-date and adapt it to new developments (e.g., in web development, software quality assurance, or IT security).

Further professional and career opportunities open up – depending on prior professional education – through an undergraduate (grundständiges Studium) or postgraduate (weiterführendes Studium) degree (e.g., in Computer Science). Under certain conditions, it is also possible to study without a general higher education entrance qualification. For more information: Access to higher education in the individual federal states (Bundesland) of Germany.

Advise companies, public authorities, and other organizations on digital accessibility and inform them about the legal frameworks on the topic. Support clients or specialist departments in implementing accessible and user-oriented websites, web applications, and mobile apps, as well as in creating accessible documents, e.g., in PDF format. Test the accessibility of websites and web-based applications, specifically checking compliance with (international) standards, legal requirements, and guidelines. Document test results in an audit report, formulate recommendations for action for better accessibility. If necessary, conceive and implement accessible user interfaces for websites, web applications, and mobile apps in collaboration with design and development teams. Prepare and conduct training sessions and workshops on accessibility, e.g., for editors, web designers, or web developers.

The following lists professions or activities that show similarities to the original profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants. Furthermore, employers can consider individuals from these professions as alternatives for filling a position in the original profession. Some alternative professions only comprise partial activities of the original profession, while others require an induction period, which can vary in length in individual cases. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of Digital Accessibility Consultant: Job and staffing alternatives for the overall activity (usually short induction period): Certified IT Consulting Specialist. In related professions: E-Government Consultant. A list of all possible degrees of relatedness can be found here: Explanations of the individual degrees of relatedness.