About accessibility

What is Accessibility?

Products of the SBB should be usable by as many people in as many situations as possible. This includes, in particular, users with disabilities. The consideration of digital accessibility provides the flexibility, to use a product independently of personal or situational limitations.

Why accessibility?

Accessibility belongs as standard in good product design. Usability and User Experience are closely related topics and it has been shown that accessible solutions offer advantages to all users.

In addition, SBB is legally obliged to make available all travel-related information in an accessible way. This is stipulated at national level by the Law on Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities (BehiG). Also, in its Sustainability Strategy 2017-2020 SBB has itself committed to completely accessible digital channels.

SBB products apply the standards of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines WCAG 2.1 for Level AA.  

Who is accessibility for?

Accessibility is important for all users. Almost everyone experiences at least one type of disability in the course of their life, whether permanent, temporary or in certain situations. For example, a person with impaired vision relies on good contrast. Optimum contrast settings are also helpful after eye operations for temporary sight problems. And people who can see well also benefit, for example when they wish to read content on their phones outdoors in bright sunlight.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 21% of the population live with some form of disability (FSO reference).

Below is an overview of the measures that are particularly helpful for people with different disabilities.

Blind people

• Well structured documents
• Descriptions of visual elements, such as images or icons
• Keyboard operation option

People with visual impairments

• Good contrast
• Easily scalable layout
• Separation of content and layout

People with hearing impairments

• Descriptions of audio elements
• Visual feedback for all actions
• Texts in simple language
• Simply written texts

People with motor impairments

• Generous target sizes such as buttons
• Keyboard operation option
• No unwanted automatic actions

People with learning difficulties and attention disorders

• Simply written texts
• Clearly legible fonts
• No distracting elements