Ally

We use "Ally" as a shorthand for the English term "Accessibility", which is translated into German as "Barrierefreiheit".
In our context, it refers to accessibility on the internet.

Accessibility on the Internet is an important topic that is often neglected. Many websites and applications are not accessible to people with disabilities or limitations. This can lead to these individuals being excluded from certain information and services, which is not only unethical but also legally problematic.
Agile software development offers a way to incorporate accessibility from the very beginning of the development process, ensuring that all users can equally benefit from the software.

Applications and websites should be designed so that they can be used by truly all users - including those with physical or mental limitations.

The word "ally" is often written with a number in the middle: "a11y". The number 11 here refers to the number of letters in the middle of the word "Accessibility". It follows a convention in information and communication technology where recurring important terms are abbreviated in this manner. Another example would be the term "internationalization" abbreviated as "i18n".

Barriers are diverse. We differentiate between:

Physiological barriers

  • Limited motor skills
  • Lack of fine motor skills

Possible difficulty: Links and buttons that are close together can be hard to click. Sometimes clicking may not be possible at all, or using the mouse and/or keyboard may be difficult.

Auditory barriers

  • limited or absent hearing ability

Possible difficulty: Video and audio tracks may be incomprehensible. Notifications in apps or on websites may also be unintelligible.

Visual barriers

  • Red-green color blindness
  • Color blindness
  • lack of vision

Possible difficulty: Content is perceived differently. Graphics and images without an ALT tag may not be noticed.

For more information on the topic, you can find in the blog article "What is a11y?".

What is ally and what is not?


Here are some sources that provide more information on this topic:

  • Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI):
    The WAI is an initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) aimed at making the web accessible to all. On their website, you can find comprehensive information about web accessibility as well as guidelines and tools for creating accessible websites and applications.
  • Section 508:
    Section 508 is part of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act, which requires that all electronic and information technology products and services of the federal government be accessible. Although these regulations apply only to the U.S. government, they are an important benchmark for accessibility in general.
  • Agile Manifesto:The Agile Manifesto is a declaration by software developers who advocate for an agile software development methodology. One of the principles of the manifesto states, "Deliver working software regularly, with a preference for the shorter timescales between concept and implementation." This principle emphasizes the importance of aligning development from the start with the needs of users, which also includes accessibility.
  • Inclusive Design:Inclusive Design is an approach aimed at designing products and services to be as accessible and user-friendly as possible for as many users as possible. Inclusive Design can help eliminate barriers and reach a broader audience, including individuals with disabilities or limitations. Agile software development can be supported by the Inclusive Design approach, considering the needs of all user groups from the outset.