Why TYPO3 accessibility matters in the EU
TYPO3 powers a large share of German-speaking public-sector and enterprise websites, and BITV 2.0 / EN 301 549 obligations already bind many of its operators. TYPO3 has solid accessibility foundations (accessible backend, fluid-based templates), but real-world output depends on the integrator: content elements, custom Fluid templates and extensions frequently introduce missing labels, weak contrast and broken heading hierarchies. With the EAA extending duties to more private operators from June 2025, verification matters.What gets checked
16 automated rules covering images, links, forms, headings, language, viewport, contrast, ARIA misuse, and more — mapped to real WCAG success criteria.
Instant results
Paste your URL, get a letter grade with every issue listed by severity. No account, no email, no waiting for an audit report.
Built for the EAA
The rule set targets what EU enforcement and enterprise procurement actually look at: WCAG 2.1 AA basics you can document today.
How to check your TYPO3 site
- Open the free EAA/WCAG scanner.
- Paste your TYPO3 URL — any published page: homepage, a product page, or a category listing.
- Read your grade. Each finding shows the exact element and why it matters, so fixes are concrete, not vague advice.
- Fix and re-scan. Most image-alt, heading, and form-label issues are fixed right inside TYPO3's editor or theme settings. Re-run the scan to confirm.
- Copy the shareable link from the result page — useful when a client or colleague needs to see the findings.
Common fixes in TYPO3
When your scan flags a failing rule, here is where to fix it:
| Issue | Where to fix in TYPO3 |
|---|---|
| Missing alt text on images | Every FAL image reference has an alt-text field in the media adjustment — fill it per language. For content images set it in the image properties of the content element. |
| Low contrast text | Fix in your site package's TypoScript constants / SCSS variables, then clear cache. Do not patch contrast inline per element — fix the variable once. |
| Missing heading structure | Header type is chosen per content element (Type dropdown). Audit pages where editors picked "Layout" headings instead of real H2/H3, and constrain choices in your pageTSconfig. |
| Missing form labels | EXT:form labels are configured in the form YAML definition — every field needs a label element, not just a placeholder. |
| Generic link text ("read more", "click here") | Replace hardcoded "more" links in Fluid templates with aria-label or visually hidden text carrying the page/item title. |
| Missing page language | Language is derived from the site configuration (sites.yaml). Verify each language tree sets the correct hreflang/lang value. |
| Skip link / keyboard navigation | Ensure your base Fluid layout includes a skip-to-content link and that extension output (news lists, menus) is reachable by keyboard in DOM order. |
TYPO3-specific tools & resources
TYPO3 ships with useful foundations — these approaches take you further:
T3C / agency audits
Most TYPO3 agencies offer BITV tests based on EN 301 549 — useful for public-sector BIK compliance.
Lighthouse + WAVE
Free first-pass checks that cover roughly a third of WCAG issues on rendered TYPO3 pages.
Editor training
Most recurring TYPO3 issues come from editor choices (headings, alt text). A short style guide reduces them permanently.
Maintaining EAA compliance on TYPO3
Accessibility is not a one-time fix — sites change through content edits, theme updates and new pages. Keep compliance sustainable:
- Re-test after major core or extension upgrades — output markup can change between LTS versions.
- Add accessibility rules to your review process for new content elements and extensions.
- Keep an up-to-date accessibility statement if you are under BITV/EN 301 549 — it is legally required.
Related reading
Dig deeper into the compliance work that comes after the scan:
Go deeper
Automated scanning catches roughly a third of accessibility issues — but it catches the ones that are cheapest to fix first. For the complete picture, our e-book covers the full checklist plus a 14-day fix plan.