Accessibility Statement
The German Cancer Research Center is committed to making this website accessible, in accordance with the Federal Disability Equality Act (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz, BGG) and the Accessible Information Technology Ordinance (Barrierefreie-Informationstechnik-Verordnung, BITV 2.0).
This accessibility statement applies to the website sds.vms.dkfz.de of the Surgical Data Science Initiative.
Conformance status
This website is partially compliant with the requirements of the BGG and BITV 2.0. The content listed below is not yet accessible.
Non-accessible content
Explanations in Leichte Sprache and German Sign Language
The explanations in Leichte Sprache (easy-to-read German) and German Sign Language required by § 4 BITV 2.0 are not yet available. This website is published in English only and addresses an international specialist audience. We are currently assessing how this requirement applies to this site and how it will be met.
Images carrying substantial information
The "Evolution of surgery" diagram on the Overview page conveys information beyond what its alternative text captures, and no long description is available yet (WCAG 2.1, success criterion 1.1.1). We are working on one.
PDF documents
The downloadable programmes of past workshops are not fully accessible:
- SDS-2016-program.pdf (12 pages) contains no tag structure, so a screen reader cannot interpret its content meaningfully.
- Agenda-SDS-Workshop-2023.pdf is tagged, but carries no document title in its metadata.
These files document past events and were produced before the accessibility requirements for PDF documents applied. The essential information about every workshop is available as accessible HTML on the pages under Events.
External content
This website links to external resources, such as publisher and preprint servers. We have no influence over their accessibility.
How this statement was prepared
This statement was prepared on 4 September 2026.
It is based on a self-assessment. Every page of the site was tested in both light and dark appearance with the automated tool axe-core 4 (WCAG 2.0, 2.1 and 2.2 rule sets, conformance levels A and AA), supplemented by manual checks of keyboard operation, focus visibility, reflow at 320 × 256 pixels, behaviour under altered text and line spacing, and contrast ratios.
The defects found were corrected. A full assessment under the BITV test procedure by an independent body has not yet been carried out; automated tools cover only part of the requirements.
Reporting barriers
Have you noticed a problem with the accessibility of this website, or do you need content in an accessible format? Please get in touch — we welcome the report.
Surgical Data Science Initiative
Division of Intelligent Medical Systems (IMSY)
German Cancer Research Center
Im Neuenheimer Feld 223
69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Arbitration procedure
If we do not answer your report to your satisfaction, you may contact the arbitration body established under § 16 BGG. It mediates between people with disabilities and federal public bodies. The procedure is free of charge and you do not need legal representation.
The following is given in German, the language in which the arbitration procedure is conducted.
Wenn wir Ihre Rückmeldung aus Ihrer Sicht nicht befriedigend beantworten, können Sie sich an die Schlichtungsstelle nach § 16 BGG wenden. Die Schlichtungsstelle BGG vermittelt zwischen Menschen mit Behinderungen und öffentlichen Stellen des Bundes. Das Schlichtungsverfahren ist kostenlos, ein Rechtsbeistand ist nicht erforderlich.
Schlichtungsstelle nach § 16 BGG
bei dem Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für die Belange von Menschen mit Behinderungen
Mauerstraße 53
10117 Berlin
Telefon: +49 30 18 527 2805
E-Mail: info@schlichtungsstelle-bgg.de
Internet: www.schlichtungsstelle-bgg.de