Methodological approaches to identify honorable best practice in barrier-free web design

In the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 the major German social organisation "Aktion Mensch" (German Association for the Care of the Disabled) and the "Stiftung Digitale Chancen" (Digital Opportunities Foundation) have for the first time jointly initiated a competition for the design of barrier-free websites. The so-called BIENE-Award is meant to honour the best barrier-free web sites in the German language and to present them as best practice examples. BIENE1 stressing the objectives of promoting communication, joint action and productive cooperation. This article refers upon the methodological approach underlying the evaluation of competitive award contributions.