Static vs. Dynamic Accessibility Statements: The § 14 BFSG Compliance Trap

One of the main requirements in the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) is the Accessibility Statement—a document that must be publicly available on your website or app. But there is an important information that many are overlooking: according to § 14 BFSG, your statement must be regularly updated.

The Static Snapshot Problem

Most companies treat an accessibility statement like a privacy policy—something they write once and forget. This is a "static" approach. A static statement is based on a one-time audit. It describes the state of your website on a specific Tuesday in October.

The problem? Modern websites are never static. Every time you upload a new product to your Shopify store, post a blog entry, or update your cookie banner, your accessibility posture changes.

If your static statement says you are 100% compliant, but a new update introduces a keyboard trap or missing alt text, your statement is now legally inaccurate. In the German market, where "Abmahnungen" (cease and desist letters) are a common risk, an outdated compliance document is an open invitation for litigation.

The Dynamic Solution: Real-Time Transparency

A dynamic statement, or "Live Statement," is a living document. It connects directly to automated monitoring tools that scan your digital assets in the background. When a new barrier is found, the system updates the statement to reflect the current status. When a developer fixes an issue, the "Live" status is restored immediately.

This approach does three things for your business:

Ensures Legal Compliance

You automatically satisfy the "regularly updated" requirement of § 14 BFSG without lifting a finger.

Reduces Maintenance Costs

Manual audits can cost upwards of €10,000 per cycle. Dynamic monitoring reduces the need for frequent full-scale manual revisions by catching the "low-hanging fruit" automatically.

Builds User Trust

Users with disabilities rely on accurate information. If a certain part of your site is currently inaccessible, a Live Statement tells them exactly what to expect, preventing frustration and showing a commitment to transparency.

Why SMBs and Agencies are Switching

For digital agencies, managing static statements for 50 clients is an administrative nightmare. By using navable's Live Statement feature, agencies can offer "Compliance-as-a-Service." The software does the heavy lifting of monitoring and documenting, allowing the agency to focus on creative development while ensuring their clients stay on the right side of the law.

Accessibility is no longer a one-time project; it is a continuous process of improvement. A dynamic statement is the only scalable way to prove you are making that effort every single day.

Checklist: Static vs. Dynamic Comparison

Static Accessibility Statement

• ❌ Based on one-time audit
• ❌ Becomes outdated with every website update
• ❌ High manual maintenance effort
• ❌ Legal risk from outdated information
• ❌ No automatic § 14 BFSG compliance

Dynamic Accessibility Statement (Live Statement)

• ✅ Real-time updates through automated monitoring
• ✅ Always current compliance status
• ✅ Automatically fulfills § 14 BFSG update requirement
• ✅ Reduces audit costs by up to 70%
• ✅ Maximum transparency for users
• ✅ Minimizes legal risk