Accessibility Policy

Last Updated: 11/12/25

Our Commitment to Accessibility

Path With Heart Therapy is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people of all abilities. We are continually working to improve the accessibility and usability of our website pathwithhearttherapy.com to ensure that our content, resources, and information are available to everyone, including individuals with disabilities.

We believe that everyone deserves access to information about mental health services and resources, regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities.

Accessibility Standards

We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards, which are internationally recognized guidelines for web accessibility. These standards help make web content more accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including:

  • Visual impairments (blindness, low vision, color blindness)

  • Hearing impairments (deafness, hard of hearing)

  • Motor impairments (difficulty using a mouse, slow response time, limited fine motor control)

  • Cognitive impairments (learning disabilities, distractibility, difficulty remembering or focusing)

  • Neurological differences (seizure disorders, autism spectrum, ADHD)

Accessibility Features

Our website incorporates various features and design elements to enhance accessibility:

Navigation and Structure

  • Logical structure: Content is organized in a clear, hierarchical manner

  • Consistent navigation: Navigation elements appear in the same location throughout the site

  • Skip links: Ability to bypass repetitive navigation elements

  • Descriptive headings: Clear headings and labels that describe content topics

  • Keyboard navigation: Full functionality available via keyboard for users who cannot use a mouse

Visual Accessibility

  • Sufficient color contrast: Text and background colors meet WCAG contrast ratios

  • Resizable text: Text can be resized up to 200% without loss of functionality

  • Alternative text: Images include descriptive alt text for screen readers

  • Visual indicators: Focus indicators clearly show where keyboard navigation is focused

  • No color-only information: Information is not conveyed by color alone

Multimedia Accessibility

  • Video captions: Videos include closed captions or transcripts when available

  • Audio descriptions: Important visual information is described in audio format when appropriate

  • Text transcripts: Audio content includes text transcripts when possible

Readability and Comprehension

  • Plain language: Content written in clear, straightforward language

  • Readable fonts: Legible fonts and appropriate font sizes

  • Adequate spacing: Sufficient white space and line spacing for readability

  • Consistent layout: Predictable and consistent page layouts

Forms and Interactive Elements

  • Clear labels: All form fields have clear, descriptive labels

  • Error identification: Form errors are clearly identified and described

  • Keyboard accessible: All interactive elements can be accessed via keyboard

  • Sufficient time: Adequate time provided for reading and interacting with content

Third-Party Content and Tools

Our website may integrate third-party services and tools, such as:

  • Practice Better EHR System: For appointment scheduling

  • Squarespace Email Campaigns: For newsletters

  • Social media widgets: For connecting to social platforms

  • Analytics tools: For understanding website usage

While we strive to ensure that third-party tools are accessible, we have limited control over their accessibility features. We encourage users to contact us if they experience accessibility barriers with any third-party tools integrated into our site, and we will work to provide alternative methods of access when possible.

Ongoing Improvements

Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and we are committed to continually improving our website's accessibility. Our efforts include:

  • Regular accessibility audits: Periodic reviews of our website for accessibility compliance

  • User testing: Gathering feedback from users with diverse abilities

  • Staff training: Educating our team about accessibility best practices

  • Updates and remediation: Addressing identified accessibility issues promptly

  • New content review: Ensuring new content meets accessibility standards before publication

Accessibility of Clinical Services

In-Person Services

Jamie Van Auken provides in-person therapy services at The Buddha's Medicine, located at:

3310 SE Oak St
Portland, OR 97214

For information about physical accessibility of The Buddha's Medicine clinic, including:

  • Wheelchair accessibility

  • Accessible parking

  • Building access features

  • Accessible restrooms

Please contact The Buddha's Medicine directly.

Telehealth Services

Telehealth services are available for residents of Oregon and Washington, providing increased accessibility for individuals who:

  • Have mobility limitations

  • Live in remote or rural areas

  • Have transportation challenges

  • Prefer receiving services from home

  • Have scheduling constraints that make in-person visits difficult

Telehealth sessions are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platforms in compliance with both Oregon and Washington telehealth regulations. Please let us know if you have specific accessibility needs related to telehealth services.

Communication Accessibility

We are committed to providing accessible communication during clinical services, including:

  • Accommodations: We can work with you to arrange necessary accommodations

  • Alternative formats: Clinical materials can be provided in alternative formats when possible

  • Communication preferences: We respect diverse communication styles and preferences

  • Sensory considerations: We can adjust lighting, sound, and environmental factors in sessions when possible

If you require specific accommodations for clinical services, please inform us during the scheduling process or as early as possible so we can make appropriate arrangements.

Assistive Technology Compatibility

Our website is designed to be compatible with common assistive technologies, including:

  • Screen readers: JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack

  • Speech recognition software: Dragon NaturallySpeaking

  • Screen magnification software: ZoomText, MAGic

  • Alternative input devices: Switch controls, head pointers, eye-tracking devices

  • Browser accessibility features: Text zoom, high contrast modes, reader views

If you experience difficulty using our website with any assistive technology, please contact us so we can work to resolve the issue.

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome feedback about the accessibility of our website and clinical services. If you:

  • Encounter accessibility barriers

  • Have suggestions for improving accessibility

  • Need information in an alternative format

  • Require accommodations for clinical services

  • Have questions about our accessibility efforts

Please contact us:

Jamie Van Auken, MA, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, E-RYT 500
Path With Heart Therapy
c/o The Buddha's Medicine
3310 SE Oak St
Portland, OR 97214
Email: Contact
Phone: 971-259-8958

When reporting an accessibility issue, please provide:

  • Your name and contact information

  • The web page or service where you encountered the issue

  • A description of the accessibility barrier

  • The assistive technology you were using (if applicable)

  • Any suggested solutions

We take all accessibility feedback seriously and will respond to your inquiry within 3-5 business days. We will work with you to provide the information or service you need in an accessible format or manner.

Alternative Access Methods

If you experience difficulty accessing our website or online resources, we can provide information through alternative methods:

  • Phone consultation: Call to discuss services and resources

  • Email information: Request specific information via email

  • Printed materials: Request printed materials by mail when available

  • In-person consultation: Schedule a free consultation to discuss services

Contact us to request alternative access methods, and we will work with you to ensure you have access to the information you need.

Formal Complaints

If you wish to file a formal complaint about accessibility:

Internal Process: Contact us using the information above with details of your accessibility concern. We will:

  1. Acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 3 business days

  2. Investigate the issue

  3. Provide a response within 10 business days

  4. Work with you to resolve the issue

External Resources:

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may file a complaint with:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 1-800-368-1019
TDD: 1-800-537-7697
Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr

Technical Specifications

Our website's accessibility relies on the following technologies to work with your web browser and assistive technologies:

  • HTML5

  • WAI-ARIA (Web Accessibility Initiative – Accessible Rich Internet Applications)

  • CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

  • JavaScript (designed to degrade gracefully when disabled)

These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used.

Assessment and Testing

We assess the accessibility of our website using:

  • Automated testing tools: WAVE, axe DevTools, Lighthouse

  • Manual testing: Keyboard navigation, screen reader testing

  • User feedback: Real-world experiences from users with disabilities

  • Professional audits: Periodic third-party accessibility audits when resources allow

Accessibility Statement Updates

This Accessibility Policy may be updated periodically to reflect:

  • Changes to accessibility standards or guidelines

  • New accessibility features implemented on our website

  • Resolution of identified accessibility issues

  • Feedback from users

The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when this policy was last revised.

Organizational Commitment

Accessibility is integrated into our organizational culture and practices. This commitment extends to:

  • Clinical services: Ensuring therapeutic services are accessible to diverse populations

  • Professional development: Ongoing training in accessibility and inclusive practices

  • Community engagement: Advocating for accessibility and inclusion in mental health services

  • Digital presence: Maintaining accessible digital platforms for information and communication

Additional Resources

For more information about web accessibility and your rights:

Thank You

Thank you for visiting Path With Heart Therapy. We appreciate your feedback and your patience as we work to ensure our website and services are accessible to everyone.

Our commitment to accessibility reflects our broader therapeutic philosophy: every person deserves to be met where they are, with their unique needs honored and respected.

Contact for Accessibility Matters:

Jamie Van Auken, MA, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, E-RYT 500
Path With Heart Therapy
c/o The Buddha's Medicine
3310 SE Oak St
Portland, OR 97214
Email: Contact
Phone: 971-259-8958