Deutsche Oper Berlin endeavours to make its website deutscheoperberlin.de and its mobile application accessible. The declaration on accessibility is required by the Berlin Act on Accessible Information and Communication Technology (BIKTG Bln). The technical requirements for accessibility are based on the current version of the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV 2.0).

This declaration of digital accessibility applies to the Deutsche Oper Berlin website published at www.deutscheoperberlin.de.

When was the accessibility statement created?

This statement was created on 18 May 2022 and last revised on 20 January 2025.
The statements in this declaration were last reviewed on 20 January 2025.

The review of compliance is based on a self-assessment last conducted by Stiftung kulturserver.de gGmbH on 20 January 2025.

This assessment was carried out using the following tools:

• ‘Screen Reader’ plug-in version 53.0.2784.13 for the Chrome browser
• Windows 11 speech output
• Screenreader Jaws, Version 2024
• a review carried out on 20 January 2025 using the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool

How accessible is the website?

• This website/application is only partially accessible.
• The requirements of BITV 2.0 are only partially met by this offer.

The following elements are used on individual pages, which are not completely barrier-free

We are constantly developing our website and its content to further minimise accessibility issues. The areas listed below are not barrier-free for certain reasons:

Labelling, user guidance, marking, usability:

• Some labels are missing for images, form controls, buttons, links, input purposes, hover information and references.
• Headings, links and references are sometimes empty. Links do not always contain a second label.
• Full operability of the entire website with the mouse/keyboard is not yet guaranteed.
• The programme uses ‘infinite scroll’ and has no off switch for this function.
• The PDF documents used on the website are not barrier-free. They are replaced by a link to the offer from an external provider: https://issuu.com/deutscheoperberlin. The Deutsche Oper has no influence on the barrier-free implementation of this external area.
• Some templates need to be converted with regard to the Aria environment. Anchor tags and control elements with their focus are also included in the revision for better usability. Pausing, stopping and hiding content also form part of this revision step. The Deutsche Oper is constantly implementing these.
• The keyword search is not yet optimally developed for accessibility.

In some cases, these work areas are not fully designed due to the graphical and technical development and must be retrofitted accordingly. This concerns the requirements of EN 301549 9.1.1 Non-text content, 9.1.3 Info and relationships, 9.2 Operable, 9.3 Comprehensible, 9.4 Robust.

The labelling and usability, complete labelling for optimal user guidance, will be further developed. The work will be carried out step by step in the 2025/26 season.

Understanding texts, hierarchies and alternatives:

• The text hierarchies are not always clear. There are some formal errors in the syntax, which should not, however, impair accessibility.
• There are several redundant alternative texts, which should either be deleted or replaced.
  Alternative texts for images have been created as far as possible.
• The contrast between text and background colours is not always optimal. Therefore, a contrast switch has been programmed for the home page. Other pages will follow in the revision. However, the media content is also dependent on the choice of the contrast switch, as the stage situation allows, and therefore not always optimally contrasting.
• The images in the pictures and videos are not always sufficiently contrasting. This is often due to the artistic work – e.g. the stage design or the costumes, which represent a suitable setting for the production.
• There are currently numerous videos with alternative film captions. The Deutsche Oper is constantly expanding this service.
• There are only a few videos with audio description.
• There are very few videos with subtitles.
• In some cases, these workspaces are not fully designed due to the graphical, technical and editorial work and must be retrofitted accordingly.

In some cases, these workspaces are not fully designed due to the graphical, technical and editorial work and must be retrofitted accordingly.  This applies to the requirements listed here from EN 301549 9.1.1 Text alternatives, 9.2.3 Audio description or media alternative, 9.2.2.2 Pause, stop, fade out, 9.3.1 Info and relationships, 9.3.2 Significant order, 9.4.3 Contrast.

Due to the volume of work and budget, a positive change in terms of accessibility can only be introduced slowly and steadily. In the course of the 2025/26 season, the content will be further optimised in this regard.

Readability, comprehensibility

• The website is not fully available in simple language according to the BIKTG guidelines. The texts are currently being revised and will be made available soon. The offer will be gradually expanded.
• There is currently no offer in German sign language according to the BIKTG guidelines. Work on this is in the planning stage.
• The display of images and the text size of the website can be controlled via the browser. If you would like to see the content larger, please use the keyboard shortcuts ctrl + (enlarge) and ctrl - (reduce).
• The accessible content is currently optimised for the desktop version. This will be revised in the course of 2025.

This concerns the requirements listed here from EN 301549 9.1.1 Text alternatives, 9.2.3 Audio description or media alternative, 9.2.2.2 Pause, stop, fade out, 9.3.1 Info and relationships, 9.3.2 Meaningful order, 9.4.3 Contrast.

The supporting offers are in progress. Due to the volume of work and budget, a positive change in terms of accessibility can only be introduced slowly and steadily here. In the course of the 2025/26 season, the content will be further optimised in this regard.

Additional information

In order to improve accessibility beyond the legal requirements, we have implemented the following additional content:

• Numerous images posted before 2021 also often have an alternative description text.
• Videos posted before 2021 that have a specific connection to the programme have also been provided with an alternative description text.

Feedback mechanism / Would you like to report barriers?

Would you like to report information on the implementation of accessibility or existing barriers? Are you unable to adequately perceive, operate or understand something on our website or mobile application? Do you require information in an accessible format? If so, please let us know.

Contact details for the Deutsche Oper Berlin public relations team – online editorial team:

Ina Gysbers

Postal address:
Richard-Wagner-Straße 10
10585 Berlin

Link E-mail adresse: Ina Gysbers

Telephone: 030-343 84 241

If you need help, we are happy to help. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Contact details for the state commissioner for digital accessibility – enforcement proceedings

If no satisfactory solution can be found, especially after you have provided information to the previous point of contact, you can contact the State Commissioner for Digital Accessibility and seek enforcement proceedings.

Please always contact the public institution concerned first!

Link to the contact form for enforcement proceedings

Contact form for enforcement proceedings [in German]

Further information on the enforcement procedure and the State Commissioner for Digital Accessibility:

Information on the enforcement procedure [in German]