Deutschland · Germany
Hallo. Das ist unsere Geschichte.
Hesse went first. Then the whole country.
Access on this page: Signed: Deutsche Gebärdensprache — pending How this page is tested
On 10 December 1998 Hesse became the first German state to recognise German Sign Language — after a year of the Deaf association and Deaf pastoral care arguing it into every party's office. On 1 May 2002 the nation followed: section 6 of the Federal Disability Equality Act declares DGS an independent language. Since 2013 no film gets federal funding without an audio-described version, and section 47 requires a barrier-free version by cinema release. Since 28 June 2025 the Accessibility Strengthening Act binds private business too, with fines up to €100,000. The law is ours. The screens are still not signed.
DGS video — this story, in our language
A named German Deaf creator tells this page's story in DGS. The video is the page, and the text is its transcript's cousin. This video existing is the reason this page is allowed to exist.
One state said it first. The law now says it everywhere.
Now we deliver it — ourselves.
What do you want to do?
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I want access
Watch.Understand.Belong.
Films, news, and services — in DGS, captions, or audio description.
Go -
I create access
Create.Get paid.Be seen.
Deaf signers, interpreters, captioners, audio describers — your work, your name, your income.
Go -
I provide access
One API.Every screen.
Platforms, governments, cinemas, companies — deliver real access with one integration.
Go -
I back access
Host.Sponsor.Invest.
The builders who will turn a 2002 recognition into a signed screen — be part of the firsts.
Go
More than one of these can be yours. The access is for you, and you can be paid to help make it.
Access in Germany today
The law now says:
DGS is an independent language — § 6 BGG, since 1 May 2002. Federal film funding requires a barrier-free version — subtitles for the Deaf and audio description — by cinema release, § 47 FFG. Since 28 June 2025 the BFSG puts the same duty on private products and services, from banking apps to e-books, with fines up to €100,000.
And we know the exhausting part: recognition is not a sign-language law. The Deaf association is still asking for one, because a language 'recognised' in 2002 is still absent from most of what Germany watches.
Recognition came in 2002. The delivery comes next — made by us. That is what ally is: Deaf and blind creators, paid to make the access — DGS, captions, audio description — delivered to any screen.
In plain words
The law is on your side. What is missing is the service — and that is what gets built here, with the community.
Why captions alone are not enough → Why sign language
Talk to us
Tell us who you are
Write in your own language. We reply in it.
- Emailpartners@a11y.media
- Video messageSend a signed video — no writing needed
Contact us by form, email, or a signed video message — never voice-only.