Public bodies are obligated under Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council to make their websites and mobile applications accessible. In the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, this directive has been transposed into state law through the Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (BGG NRW, §§ 10–10e) and the Accessibility of Information Technology Ordinance North Rhine-Westphalia (BITV NRW).

Scope of this Accessibility Statement
Digital accessibility is not only a technical necessity but a clear reflection of social awareness that promotes values such as inclusion, responsibility, and transparency. For this reason, the Zollverein Foundation strives to ensure its website is accessible in accordance with BITV NRW and BGG NRW.

This statement applies to:
www.zollverein.de

Status of compatibility with the requirements
The website www.zollverein.de is partially compliant with the requirements of BITV NRW.

Assistive Software for Digital Accessibility
The assistive software Eye-Able® offers 25 functions that allow digital content to be individually adapted to personal needs.

Non-accessible content
The following content is only partially accessible:

• PDF documents: Many PDF files provided on this website are not accessible. These will be revised over time.
• Videos: Videos currently do not have subtitles, audio descriptions, or alternative texts. We are working to expand this offering.
• Colour contrast: Some pages or elements may not fully meet WCAG 2.1 contrast requirements. We are continually optimising the design.
• Alternative texts: Some images, graphic controls or downloadable files (PDFs) may lack meaningful alt texts. These gaps are being closed progressively.
• Heading structure: The programmatic heading hierarchy may differ from the visual structure on some pages.
• Keyboard operability: Some graphic elements cannot be operated using a keyboard. Focus indication may not always be clearly visible.
• Other controls: Not all controls provide name, role or status in a way that assistive technologies (e.g. screen readers) can interpret.
• Map services: Maps on the website are not sufficiently supplemented with alternative text.
• Plain Language: Content is not currently available in Plain Language.
• Sign Language: Content is not yet available in German Sign Language.
• Link descriptions: Not all text links have descriptive alt text. We are working to improve this.
• Newsletter: Depending on the email programme used, accessibility issues may arise in the newsletter display.
• Ticket shop: Online ticket shops are operated by third-party providers and are not fully accessible.

Explanation
The Zollverein Foundation is continuously improving the accessibility of its website. However, due to the vast amount of content, not all areas and services are yet accessible.

Creation of this Accessibility Statement
This statement was created on: 24 June 2025

It is based on a self-assessment conducted in March 2025 using common testing tools such as WAVE, axe, and Google Lighthouse, in accordance with WCAG 2.1 – Level AA.

This statement was last reviewed on: 24 June 2025

Feedback and Contact
If you encounter any barriers on our website, please let us know.

You can use our [contact form] or write an email to: info@zollverein.de

For specific questions about accessibility, you may contact Silke Ladnar-Duckwitz, inclusion officer at the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site:
Silke Ladnar-Duckwitz
Phone: +49 201 24681-232
Email: inklusion@zollverein.de

Dispute Resolution Procedure
If, even after providing feedback to the contact persons mentioned above, you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may contact the Arbitration Service in accordance with § 16 of the German Disability Equality Act (BGG). The BGG Arbitration Service aims to assist with out-of-court dispute resolution on accessibility matters between persons with disabilities and federal public authorities. The arbitration procedure is free of charge and does not require legal representation.

For more information on the arbitration process and how to submit an application, please visit: www.schlichtungsstelle-bgg.de.
You can reach the Arbitration Service at the following address:

Arbitration Service under the German Disability Equality Act
at the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities

Mauerstraße 53
10117 Berlin
Telephone: +49 30 18 527-2805
Email: info@schlichtungsstelle-bgg.de

Enforcement Procedure
If you believe that the accessibility of our website is insufficient and results in a disadvantage for you, you may contact the responsible enforcement authority:

Ombud Office for Accessible Information Technology
of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
at the State Commissioner for People with Disabilities

Fürstenwall 25
40219 Düsseldorf
Email: ombudsstelle-barrierefreie-it@mags.nrw.de