Which language level is right?
Easy Language follows specific rules, including short sentences, consistent wording, explained technical terms and clear design. DIN SPEC 33429 brings together recommendations for German Easy Language.
Plain Language focuses on the intended readers. DIN ISO 24495-1 describes general principles, and DIN 8581-1 applies them to German factual texts. Learn more about these standards, their intended audiences and target-group testing.
Plain Language under DIN 8581-1
For texts that need to be clearer without being simplified as much as Easy Language, I provide Plain Language in line with DIN 8581-1. See the Plain Language service.
Who benefits from Easy Language?
- Public authorities and public bodies: Section 11 of the German Disability Equality Act (BGG) says public bodies should communicate in straightforward, easy-to-understand language with people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. On request, they should explain specified official documents in that form or, if that is not sufficient, in Easy Language. It also calls for more information to be provided in Easy Language.
- Businesses with services covered by the BFSG: Since June 2025, the German Accessibility Strengthening Act has applied to certain products and consumer services, including specific services in e-commerce, banking, telecommunications and passenger transport. Check whether your particular product or service is covered. The BFSG does not prescribe Easy Language, but accessible information is an important part of communication. Read more about the BFSG.
- Federal public bodies: Section 4 of BITV 2.0 requires information in Easy Language and German Sign Language on the homepage about essential content, navigation, the accessibility statement and other available information in those formats.
- Agencies with public-sector clients: Agencies seeking public-sector contracts should be able to plan for accessible communication reliably.
Where AI helps and where professional work begins
Language models can simplify wording and produce drafts. That alone is not enough for a version ready to publish.
- Technical terms, figures and legal statements need to be checked for the specific project.
- Word choice, sentence structure and organization need to remain consistent throughout the text.
- Any review by a target or review group is arranged by the client. I can prepare the text and incorporate feedback within the agreed scope.
- Design, images and technical accessibility require additional expertise.
Website accessibility analysis
Drawing on my quality-assurance background, I review representative pages and functions from technical and editorial perspectives. We agree on the scope and applicable WCAG criteria in advance.
The written report records specific findings, affected page types, priorities and recommendations. Depending on the scope, it may cover keyboard operation and visible focus, headings and semantic structure, contrast, alternative text, links, forms and language barriers.
Technical implementation is a separate engagement. You can give the report to a provider of your choice. If requested, I can recommend Andersen Webworks for implementation. My analysis is not a certificate of conformance or legal advice.
The compact analysis starts at EUR 790.
What you can commission
You can provide a finished source text, notes, subject-matter information or a project brief. I can prepare the version your project needs:
- Easy Language texts for websites, brochures and forms
- Language versions for explanations under Section 4 of BITV 2.0
- Source texts in standard language for use as the basis of an Easy Language version
- Plain Language revisions in line with DIN 8581-1
- Quality assurance for existing or AI-assisted drafts
- Website accessibility analysis of representative pages, with a written report
Any review by a target or review group is arranged by the client. I can prepare the text and incorporate feedback within the agreed scope. Learn more about the review process.
References: German Future Prize and funding guide
For the German Future Prize, I translated the foreword by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the texts of the nominated teams from the 2024 and 2025 editions into Easy Language.
The Easy Language texts are published in the accessibility section of the German Future Prize website.
For the DARP funding guide, in a Federal Ministry of Finance and PD context, I also worked on source texts and Easy Language content.