Against the background of the WCAG Guidelines (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and the Accessibility Strengthening Act, which aims to ensure the accessibility of products and services by June 28, 2025, our goal is to design digital content that is accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. These guidelines and legal requirements provide a comprehensive framework to break down barriers and improve usability.
At softgarden, we are committed to continuously adapting our products to these standards to ensure an inclusive and barrier-free online experience. We value collaboration with our customers to jointly meet the requirements and create an accessible digital world.
Table of Contents
Accessibility Implementation
To meet the requirements of the WCAG guidelines and the Accessibility Strengthening Act, we at softgarden have developed a comprehensive strategy to make our products and solutions accessible. This includes the following areas:
softgarden Products: This includes our ATS suite, Media Shop, Onboarding Solution, Referral Manager, Career Page Pro Builder (partially supported), and Feedback Solution.
Solutions aimed at applicants: This includes the job portal, application forms, Career Page Pro, job ads, and the Onboarding Solution.
Current Progress
We are currently in the process of making our products WCAG compliant by June 28, 2025.
Some areas are already compliant and offer you a barrier-free experience. The list is continuously being updated:
Career pages, landing pages, and application forms of Career Page Pro (January 2025)
Exceptions and Special Features:
Applicant Management System: Accessibility is offered and implemented only in the new design. The focus is initially on the main use cases in the recruiting area.
Agency Module: This module is currently excluded from adaptations.
Website Builder of Career Page Pro: Due to the complexity of graphic and dynamic elements, all requirements cannot be fully met here.
Your Support is Needed
We ask for your understanding and assistance in implementing some adaptations that are your responsibility.
These include:
Adjusting the color contrasts of your content on career pages and job ads.
Providing alternative texts for images to increase accessibility.
Adding subtitles to videos to offer all users a complete experience.
For the integration of third-party plugins that can help you further adapt the presentation of your content, you have various options available. Please note that the responsibility for the integration and compliance of these plugins lies with you.
Further Support and Resources:
We are here to support you! More information about accessibility and the requirements in recruiting can be found here: https://softgarden.com/de/barrierefreiheitsstaerkungsgesetz-im-recruiting/
We also recommend regularly reviewing and adjusting your corporate design guidelines.
Answers to Your Questions on WCAG Compliance
What adjustments are being made to softgarden products? | Accessibility measures are being implemented gradually. Many features, such as support for alt texts, content enlargement, and subtitle provision, are already available. Further features, such as full keyboard operability and optimized navigation, will be provided in the first quarter of 2025. |
Will the application form also be adapted for accessibility? | Yes, the application form will be adapted to WCAG 2.1 AA requirements. This also includes clear input assistance and error messages to facilitate use. |
Will the dashboard for applicant management also be adapted? | All new features of the applicant management system are already being developed according to guidelines for accessible web content. By the second quarter of 2025, the system should fully comply with the guidelines. |
When exactly will the adaptations be made? | The full implementation of the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines will take place in the first half of 2025. Adaptations are being developed in the background and then automatically rolled out to our customers. |
Why are additional products like Eyeable offered if softgarden is independently adapting its products for accessibility? | The integration of other providers for accessibility can occur in the Career Page Pro Builder to provide easy access to more in-depth functionalities for users with limitations. Many browsers and operating systems already have such functionalities natively integrated, which is why softgarden does not offer this part of the implementation itself. |
Are there additional costs if Eye-Able or another solution is used? | The use of third-party plugins is the responsibility of the customer. We do not offer customization, compliance checks, or support for these products. Customers cannot book the Eye-Able solution directly through our marketplace but should contact directly. Your contact details will be forwarded to the provider Eye-Able. |
What needs to be considered when embedding the career portal via iFrame? | The softgarden-side content displayed via the iFrame originates from the career page at softgarden and will therefore be accessible after implementing the above measures. Ensuring your company's own elements meet legal accessibility requirements externally requires due care. |
The Declaration of Conformity is available here for download.
Just click the link below to download the document.