City improves accessibility on its website by offering simpler language and sign language options
Starting May 10, 2025, the city of Halle (Saale) will expand its website to include offerings in Easy-to-Read language and German Sign Language (DGS). This extensive expansion aims to meet the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and provide barrier-free access for a wider audience.
The city has partnered with the German Deaf Sports Association (DGSV) and the office for Easy-to-Read language from Lebens(t)raum e.V. in Halle to create content in these languages. The collaboration also received financial support from the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health and Equality Saxony-Anhalt.
In Easy-to-Read language, the website provides information about the functionality, services, and tasks of the city administration. The translations for this language were tested for understandability by people with cognitive impairments before publication. For German Sign Language, the new offerings include videos explaining the website's functions, such as navigation, appointment booking, and city map.
To facilitate these translations, the city has offices for Easy Language and AI applications for translations in Germany. For the first time, the city used artificial intelligence from the provider SUMM AI to translate further texts, especially in the area of services. The editorial accuracy of these translated texts was checked by the online editorial team of the city's press office.
Easy Language is an additional language for better and barrier-free communication, primarily for people with learning difficulties, cognitive impairments, older people, people with dementia, dyslexia, functional illiterates, deaf or visually impaired people, aphasics, people with limited German knowledge, and others. German Sign Language, which communicates through specific gestures, facial expressions, mouth movements, body posture, and "sounds" (word formation), has been recognized as an official language in Germany since 2002.
The expanded barrier-free offerings can be found at the top of the page header on the city's website. It's important to note that in Germany, there are several slightly different guidelines for Easy Language.
The collaboration between employees of the press office, the department of digital administration, and the local participation management made the extensive expansion of barrier-free access possible. The city of Halle continues to strive for inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that all citizens can fully participate in digital services.
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