Accessibility Statement

KOTORI LAB is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the German Act on the Strengthening of Accessibility (Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz - BFSG), which transposes the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) into German law.

1. Compliance Status

We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 level AA, which are the basis for the harmonized European standard EN 301 549 required by the BFSG. Based on our self-assessment, this website is partially compliant: most content is accessible, but the known limitations listed in section 3 remain.

As a private project site without commercial e-commerce offerings (B2C sales), we do not fall under the strict legal obligations of the BFSG. However, we voluntarily strive to provide an accessible and inclusive digital environment for all users.

2. What we do to support accessibility

• Motion switch: The “Animations” / “Motion” switch in the top navigation turns off all animations and moving effects on every page: the title glitch effect, the letter animations, the scrolling text bands, the film-grain overlay, the moving background particles and the cursor effects. Content then appears immediately without transitions.
• Respects your system setting: If your operating system or browser is set to “reduce motion”, the website starts with animations switched off. You can still switch them on manually.
• Your choices are remembered: Your settings for motion, language and the Halloween edition are stored only in your own browser (see our Privacy Policy) and apply across all pages.
• No rapid flashing: The short glitch effect on the title appears at most once every few seconds and can be switched off completely with the motion switch. The optional Halloween edition uses a slow, gentle glow without sudden changes in brightness.
• Two languages: The main page is available in German and English. The language of the page is set correctly for screen readers when you switch.
• Keyboard access: All switches and links are real buttons and links that can be reached and used with the keyboard, with a clearly visible focus outline. Every page has a “skip to content” link that appears when you press the Tab key.
• Screen readers: Purely decorative elements (background particles, film grain, the custom cursor, the Halloween moon, fog and spider, and repeated copies of the scrolling text) are hidden from assistive technologies. The animated title is announced as “KOTORI LAB”.
• No external tracking or fonts: The website uses system fonts and loads no third-party scripts, which keeps it fast and predictable.

3. Non-accessible Content

We are continuously working to improve the user experience for everyone. Due to the highly visual and experimental design, some elements may currently present accessibility challenges:

• Custom mouse cursor: On devices with a mouse, the system cursor is replaced by a custom cursor. System settings for a larger or high-contrast cursor are therefore not applied. Touch devices are not affected.
• Animations on by default: Unless your system is set to “reduce motion”, animations are switched on when you first visit. They can be switched off at any time with the motion switch.
• Changing word: On the main page, one highlighted word changes automatically every few seconds while animations are on. It stops when animations are switched off.
• Outlined text: Some large decorative words are shown as outlines only (for example “LAB” in the title and parts of the scrolling text). Their contrast may be lower; the same text is also available in a readable form for screen readers.
• Legal texts in English: The Legal Notice, Privacy Policy and this statement are currently only available in English.

4. Preparation of this Accessibility Statement

This statement was prepared on April 24, 2026 and last updated on October 9, 2026.

The assessment of the website's compliance with the BFSG and WCAG 2.1 requirements was carried out via a self-assessment by the developer.

5. Feedback and Contact Information

If you notice any accessibility issues on our website or need information regarding non-accessible content, please let us know. We welcome your feedback and will try to resolve any issues promptly.

You can contact us at:

Email: contact@kotorilab.com

6. Enforcement Procedure

If you do not receive a satisfactory response to your accessibility inquiry from our contact options, you have the right to contact the conciliation body (Schlichtungsstelle) established under the German Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities Act (BGG).

The conciliation body has the task of resolving conflicts between people with disabilities and public or private entities without the need to go to court.