From scan to published statement

An accessibility statement is generated from a scan, but only becomes public once you approve it. You can view and download the draft at any time. It is only published when every requirement is met – anything missing is listed on the page under “Before publishing, the following must be resolved:”, and each item links to the matching section of this article.

The service shows the blocking reasons in German, whatever the interface language. Each section below quotes the German wording with a translation.

The way in six steps

1. Add the website. Under “Websites” → “Add website”, enter the address. More: Adding a website and verifying the domain.
2. Verify the domain. In the website’s “Settings” tab, by DNS record, meta element or file – or with the WordPress plugin.
3. Scan. In the “Overview” tab → “Start scan now”. The result appears in the scan report.
4. Review. In the report, go through the findings and uncertain results, and answer the manual checks via “Answer the checks now”.
5. Complete the details. In “Settings”, answer the applicability check and check who is declaring. Then, in the “Overview” tab, section “Statement”, choose “Prepare publication”, fill in the mandatory details and choose “Save details”.
6. Approve. Under “Release”, choose “Review before publishing”. The page shows a summary; only the final confirmation button publishes.

What blocks publication

The scan is not finished

“Die zugrunde liegende Prüfung ist nicht abgeschlossen.” – The underlying scan is not finished.

Wait until the report is complete. If the scan failed, start a new one in the “Overview” tab and publish from its result.

Too few pages evaluated

“Die Prüfung konnte zu wenige Seiten auswerten, um eine Konformitätsaussage zu tragen.” – The scan could evaluate too few pages to support a conformance statement.

A statement needs a result for at least 80 % of the selected pages. The report says how many pages could not be evaluated. Common causes are pages that respond with an error, bot protection or a firewall that blocks the scanner, or a server that aborts because of too many requests. Fix the cause and scan again. How to recognise the scanner: the scanning robot.

Manual checks are open

“Es sind noch … manuelle Prüfschritte offen.” – … manual checks are still open.

In the report, open “Answer the checks now” and answer every question – even if the automated scan found nothing at all. New questions can appear after a new scan. How it works: Answering the manual checks.

The domain is not verified

“Die Domain ist nicht bestätigt.” – The domain is not verified.

Verify it in the website’s “Settings” tab or with the WordPress plugin via “Verify domain now”. The verification is re-checked daily; if you remove the proof later, it is lost. Instructions: Adding a website and verifying the domain.

The name of the responsible body is missing

“Es fehlt der Name der verantwortlichen Stelle.” – The name of the responsible body is missing.

Enter it in the website’s “Settings” under “Who is declaring”. Without its own entry, the website uses your organization’s name. If you manage the website for someone else, their name belongs there: Managing websites for clients.

The contact for reports is missing

“Es fehlt ein Kontakt, an den Barrieren gemeldet werden können.” – There is no contact to which barriers can be reported.

Under “Contact for reporting barriers”, enter an email address, a form or a phone number. If there is an email address, reports submitted through the statement’s form are forwarded to it. More on all details: Filling in the statement’s mandatory details.

The applicability check is open

“Der Betroffenheits-Check dieser Website ist noch offen.” – The applicability check for this website is still open.

In the website’s “Settings”, answer whether any of the listed services is provided through the offering, and choose “Save answer”. If none applies, leave everything unticked – that is an answer too. As long as the question is open, only a voluntary statement is generated, and it cannot be published.

The check concerns websites in Germany and Austria that are not run by a public body. What the answer changes: Which accessibility statement do I need?.

The responsible authority is missing

“Es fehlt die zuständige Durchsetzungs- oder Schlichtungsstelle.” – The responsible enforcement or conciliation body is missing.

Under “Responsible enforcement body”, enter at least the name. It is pre-filled from the jurisdiction; for state authorities and municipalities, enter the body of the respective state. A voluntary statement does not need one.

Plan and role

If publishing is not offered at all, one of three requirements is missing, and the page says which:

• Plan: publishing is included from the Starter plan. In every plan, you can download the draft and use it yourself: Using the draft yourself.
• Role: only “Owner” and “Administration” may publish. People with the “Editing” role prepare; someone with one of the other two roles approves. Team and roles
• Scan without an account: a free scan belongs to none of your websites. Add the website, verify the domain and scan it there again.

The conformance status

The service suggests a status based on the result. Under “Differing conformance claim” you can choose a different one, but you have to give a reason; the suggestion, the change and the reason are recorded together. “Fully conformant” cannot be chosen while findings are open. More: The conformance status – and when you may deviate.

What happens after publishing

• The statement is immediately available at its permanent public address – with a report form, as a PDF and with all earlier versions.
• The version is recorded permanently: with date, underlying scan and the person who approved it. Corrections appear as a new version.
• An embed shows the new version within a few minutes, the WordPress plugin after up to 60 minutes – possibly only after clearing a page cache: WordPress doesn’t show the statement, or shows an old one.
• If a later scan produces a different result, the statement is marked as outdated and stays online: Versions, “outdated” and PDF.

How the statement gets onto your website: Getting the statement onto your website.