Accessibility Statement
Candid Therapy and Counseling, LLC
Website covered: www.candidtherapyandcounseling.com
Email: lauren@candidtherapyandcounseling.com
Standards: WCAG 2.2 Level AA; ADA Title III; NJ LAD; PA Human Relations Act
Services covered: Individual, Couples, Family and Sex Therapy
If you are in crisis, please do not wait for us to respond to an accessibility request.
Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
New Jersey residents can call the NJ Hopeline at 1-855-654-6735.
Table of Contents
• Candid Therapy and Counseling, LLC
• 1. Our Commitment
• 2. The Standards We Follow
• 3. What We Have Done on This Website
• 4. Accessibility of Our Services, Not Just Our Website
• 5. How We Test and Verify Accessibility
• 6. Known Limitations and What We Are Doing About Them
• 7. A Note on Accessibility Overlays
• 8. Third-Party Tools and Vendors
• 9. How to Request an Accommodation or Report a Barrier
• 10. Complaints and Escalation
• 11. Language Access
• 12. Governance: Who Is Accountable
• 13. Feedback About This Statement
• Version History
• Notes and Placeholders for the Practice
1. Our Commitment
Candid Therapy and Counseling, LLC is a mental health practice. We see people at some of the hardest moments of their lives. Many of the people who need us most are disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, or living with conditions that affect how they read, hear, move, see, or process information.
Access is not a courtesy we extend to some clients. It is part of clinical care. If you cannot read our website, cannot reach us by our published channels, cannot use our scheduling tool, or cannot follow a video session, then you are being denied equal access to mental health care. We treat that as a clinical and an ethical problem, not just a technical one.
This statement explains what we have done, what we still need to do, how we test our work, and how you can reach us when something is not working.
2. The Standards We Follow
We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, version 2.2, at Level AA. WCAG is published by the World Wide Web Consortium. It is the standard that federal courts most often apply, that the Department of Justice has pointed to for decades, and that public and private organizations use as the shared benchmark for digital accessibility. We treat WCAG 2.2 Level AA as our target because it is the current version of that standard.
We also work toward the following legal obligations.
The Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA applies to our practice in two ways. Title III prohibits discrimination by places of public accommodation. We are a professional office open to the public. The Department of Justice has stated consistently since 1996 that Title III's nondiscrimination and effective communication requirements apply to a public accommodation's goods, services, privileges, and activities offered online, not only to its physical premises. That means our website is covered. The Department of Justice expects public accommodations to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services, which can include a screen-reader-compatible website, captioned video, documents in accessible formats, qualified interpreters, and notetakers. We take that obligation to our website and to our services.
The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. The LAD prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation on the basis of disability and other protected characteristics. The relevant provisions are at N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 through 10:5-49 and N.J.S.A. 10:5-4.1. New Jersey requires covered entities to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. We treat digital access as part of that obligation.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The PHRA prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of disability and other protected characteristics. The relevant provisions are at 43 P.S. §§ 951 through 963. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission enforces the Act. A complaint may be filed with the Commission.
Section 504 and Section 1557. We do not currently participate in Medicare or Medicaid, and we do not receive federal financial assistance. Because of that, the nondiscrimination rules in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act do not currently apply to us. We want you to know what that means and what would change it. If this practice ever begins accepting Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal funds, those rules will apply. At that point we will adopt the notices, language access services, and auxiliary aid procedures that those rules require, and we will publish a Notice of Nondiscrimination. We have built this statement so that it can be extended rather than replaced.
State web accessibility policies. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both maintain accessibility standards for their own agencies and for vendors who contract with them. Those standards are not directly binding on a private practice. We follow them as guidance because they reflect the current consensus on what good looks like.
Professional ethical standards. Our clinical decisions about communication, documentation, and informed consent follow the ethical codes of the mental health professions we belong to. Those codes require us to communicate in ways clients can understand. That obligation extends to how we present information online.
3. What We Have Done on This Website
The following accessibility features are in place or are part of our standard for new content and new pages.
3.1 Structure and navigation
We use proper semantic HTML heading structure, so that a screen reader user can move through a page by headings and understand how the page is organized. Each page has one main heading.
We provide a skip-to-main-content link so that keyboard users do not have to tab through the navigation on every page.
We use landmark regions, so screen reader users can jump directly to navigation, main content, and the footer.
Page titles describe the page, and they come first so a screen reader announces them.
We write link text that makes sense out of context. We avoid phrases like "click here" and "read more" as standalone link text.
The site works at 200 percent browser zoom and at 400 percent zoom without loss of content or function. Text reflows rather than requiring horizontal scrolling on small screens.
3.2 Keyboard and input
Every interactive element can be reached and operated with a keyboard alone. That includes the navigation menu, the contact form, and any modal dialogs or accordions.
Focus is always visible. You can see where you are on the page at all times. Our focus indicators meet the WCAG 2.2 focus appearance criteria.
We do not use keyboard traps. There is a documented way to leave every component.
We do not drag-and-drop anything. There are no swipe-only or gesture-only controls. WCAG 2.2 added a criterion about dragging movements specifically because they exclude people who use switches, head pointers, eye gaze, or voice control. We avoid them.
Touch targets are large enough to hit reliably. Our controls meet or exceed the 24 by 24 CSS pixel minimum that WCAG 2.2 sets, and we aim for 44 by 44 pixels for the primary actions.
We provide a visible pointer-cursor and hover state on clickable elements so that people with low vision and people using assistive pointing devices can find what is clickable.
3.3 Text and visual presentation
Body text meets or exceeds a 4.5 to 1 contrast ratio against its background. Large text meets or exceeds 3 to 1. We test contrast rather than eyeballing it.
We never use color alone to convey meaning. If a form field is required or in error, we say so in words as well as in color.
Text is resizable without breaking the layout.
We do not use images of text where real text would work.
We avoid motion that cannot be paused. Where animation exists, we respect the operating system setting for reduced motion.
Text spacing can be adjusted through user stylesheets without loss of content, in line with WCAG 2.2's text spacing expectations.
3.4 Images and media
Every meaningful image has alternative text that conveys its purpose. Decorative images are hidden from assistive technology so they do not create noise.
Charts, diagrams, and infographics have text descriptions nearby, so the information is not locked inside a picture.
Videos we produce have synchronized captions that identify speakers. Where a video carries substantive content, we also provide a transcript.
Audio content has a transcript.
If we ever publish content that flashes, we will keep it below the threshold that triggers seizures.
3.5 Forms
Every form field has a visible label that is programmatically associated with the input, so screen readers announce what to enter.
Required fields are identified in text, not only by color or an asterisk.
Error messages tell you what went wrong and how to fix it. Errors are announced to screen readers as they occur.
We do not block paste into fields. Blocking paste prevents password managers and assistive tools from working.
We do not use CAPTCHA puzzles that depend on vision or on solving a puzzle quickly. Where we need to block automated submissions, we use methods that offer an accessible alternative.
Time limits on forms are generous. If a form ever has a time limit, you can turn it off or extend it.
3.6 Documents
Documents we publish, such as intake packets, our Notice of Privacy Practices, and this statement, are built with real headings, real lists, and real table headers. They are tagged so that screen readers can navigate them.
We check the reading order and the alt text in every PDF we publish.
We can provide any document in an alternative format on request. Please see Section 9.
4. Accessibility of Our Services, Not Just Our Website
A website is only one door into a practice. We have made the following commitments about the services themselves.
4.1 Intake and communication
You may complete intake paperwork in an accessible digital format, or we can read it to you by telephone and complete it with you.
You may communicate with us by telephone, by email, through a client portal, or in writing, whichever works for you. If you need us to use one channel and not another, tell us and we will note it in your file.
We will speak in plain language. If we use a clinical term, we will explain it. If you would like written materials in large print, in plain language, in a different format, or read aloud, just ask.
We will not rush you. If you need more time to process information or to answer, we will give it to you.
4.2 Interpretation and auxiliary aids
We will arrange a qualified sign language interpreter for sessions when you need one. Please give us as much notice as you reasonably can so we can book a qualified interpreter rather than relying on someone who is not qualified. We do not ask family members to interpret clinical sessions, and we will pay for the interpreter rather than passing the cost to you.
We will arrange Communication Access Real-Time Translation, often called CART, captioned telephone service, or other auxiliary aids when they help.
We use a telehealth platform that supports live captions and transcripts. We will help you turn those features on.
If a case-by-case assessment would help, we will do one. The assessment looks at your specific access needs and what would make communication as effective as it is for a client without a disability. We will document it and we will share it with you.
4.3 The telehealth platform
Our video platform supports keyboard navigation, screen reader use, live captions, transcripts, and adjustable text size. If you need a specific feature, tell us and we will help you set it up, or we will test it with you before a session rather than during one.
If the platform does not work for you, we will explore alternatives. Those may include telephone sessions, a different platform, or in-person sessions.
4.4 Sensory and cognitive access
We can adjust lighting, seating, and the pace of a session. We can keep background noise down, avoid strong scents, and let you choose where to sit.
We welcome service animals. Service animals may accompany you anywhere clients are permitted to go. Emotional support animals are governed by different rules, so please ask us in advance so we can plan.
You are welcome to bring a support person, an advocate, or a family member to sessions and to intake. You may also ask us to meet without them. It is your choice.
We will provide written summaries after sessions or after intake when that helps you remember what was discussed. Just ask.
4.5 Physical space
If you attend sessions in person, please tell us if you need step-free access, a wider doorway, a chair without arms, a table at a specific height, or a quiet room.
Please tell us in advance about any mobility or space requirement so we can confirm what we can provide. If we cannot meet a need at our location, we will tell you honestly and will work with you on an alternative, which may include a different location or telehealth.
4.6 Scheduling
We can schedule by telephone if you would rather not use an online tool. We can also schedule by email.
If the online scheduler is not accessible to you, please tell us. We will book the appointment for you directly. You should never be blocked from care because a widget does not work with your assistive technology.
5. How We Test and Verify Accessibility
We do not rely on a single method. Accessibility claims based on one automated scan are unreliable. Our approach has four parts.
Automated testing. We run automated accessibility scanning tools against our pages. These tools catch a meaningful share of technical issues, such as missing alt text, improper heading order, insufficient contrast, missing form labels, and duplicate identifiers. We run them as part of our publishing workflow and after any significant redesign.
Assistive technology testing. We test with screen readers and other assistive technologies, including:
• VoiceOver with Safari on macOS and iOS.
• Voice control through operating system speech recognition.
• Screen magnification and high-contrast modes.
• Browser zoom at 200 percent and 400 percent.
Feedback from real users. We ask clients and community members to tell us when something does not work. That feedback is the most useful input we get, and it carries the most weight in what we fix first. Please see Section 9.
6. Known Limitations and What We Are Doing About Them
We would rather tell you what is not finished than claim a level of compliance we have not verified. The following limitations are known to us as of the date of this statement.
Third-party components. Some parts of our site come from vendors we do not control. Examples may include the scheduling widget, the payment processor, the telehealth platform, and embedded video players. We can change the way we use these tools and can raise issues with the vendor, but we cannot rewrite the vendor's code. Where a vendor falls short, we provide a human alternative, which generally means that you can call or email us and we will do the task for you.
Legacy documents. Some of our older forms and handouts were created before we adopted our current standards. They may not be fully tagged. We are rebuilding them as we review them. Meanwhile, every one of them is available in an accessible format on request, at no cost and without delay.
Video captions. Captions we produce ourselves are reviewed for accuracy. If a video is provided by a third party, we check whether captions are available and accurate. If a caption is wrong, tell us and we will fix it or provide a transcript.
Complex tables. Some older content uses tables for layout. We are converting these to responsive layouts as we touch each page.
Plain language review. Not everything on our site has been through a formal plain language review. That work is ongoing. If you find something confusing, that is useful information, and we want to hear it.
Front-end tests will never be finished. Accessibility is not a project with an end date. The site changes, the standards change, and new assistive technology appears. We will keep testing.
7. A Note on Accessibility Overlays
We do not use an accessibility overlay widget as a substitute for accessibility. An overlay is a script that sits on top of a website and tries to fix accessibility problems automatically, often through a floating button in a corner of the screen.
We are not against tools. We are against the idea that a tool can replace doing the work. Overlays cannot write meaningful alternative text. They cannot fix an illogical heading order. They cannot repair a badly designed form. They frequently conflict with the assistive technology that people already use, and they can make a page harder to use rather than easier. The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against overlay vendors that claimed to make sites fully compliant. Many disability rights organizations have asked website owners not to rely on them.
Our position is that the underlying code must be accessible. If you use an assistive technology and encounter an overlay on our site, please tell us, because that would be a mistake on our part.
8. Third-Party Tools and Vendors
We use outside services for scheduling, video sessions, payment processing, electronic records, and analytics. We select vendors with accessibility in mind.
Before we adopt a tool, we review its accessibility documentation and test its core functions with a screen reader and with a keyboard.
When we contract with a vendor, we look for a commitment to accessibility, and we look for a business associate agreement where the law requires one for protected health information.
When a vendor tool is not accessible, we do not leave you stranded. We provide a human alternative. That means you can call or email us and a person will complete the task with you or for you.
We raise issues with vendors. When a tool blocks a client, we tell the vendor. We also tell other clinicians, because vendor pressure works better in numbers.
We re-evaluate. We review our key vendors at least once a year, and sooner if we hear about a problem.
Third-party sites we link to have their own accessibility practices. We cannot control them. If you find that a link we provide leads to an inaccessible site, tell us, and we will try to find a better source or describe the content to you directly.
9. How to Request an Accommodation or Report a Barrier
This is the most important section of this statement. Please use it. We want to hear from you, and reporting a barrier will never be held against you or cost you anything.
Contact us at: lauren@candidtherapyandcounseling.com
Telephone: (215) 253 - 7905
When you contact us, it helps if you can tell us:
• What you were trying to do.
• What happened instead.
• The page address, if you have it, or a description of where you were.
• What device, browser, and assistive technology you were using.
• How we can reach you, and in what format.
• Whether you would like an update, or just want us to know.
You do not have to provide any of that. If you would rather just say "I could not schedule an appointment on my phone," that is enough. We will work it out from there.
What we will do, and when.
We will acknowledge your message within two business days.
We will give you a substantive response within ten business days. A substantive response means either that the issue is fixed, or that we have a plan with a stated timeline, or that we have found an alternative that works for you right now.
If the issue is urgent, please say so in the subject line. If you need to schedule an appointment and the online tool is blocking you, we will book it by telephone or email the same day we see your message.
We will not charge you for an accommodation. We will not require you to fill out a form. We will not ask you to prove your disability in order to make our website usable. If we need to know something about your access needs in order to arrange a service, we will ask in the least intrusive way we can, and we will keep it confidential.
Alternative ways to get our information.
If any part of this website is not usable for you, we will provide the information another way. We can read information to you by telephone. We can send it as an accessible document. We can send it in plain language. We can send it in large print. We can send it by mail. Please just ask.
10. Complaints and Escalation
We hope we resolve everything directly. We know that sometimes we will not, and you are entitled to take a complaint outside this practice. You do not need our permission and you do not need to talk to us first.
Internal. Please start with us at lauren@candidtherapyandcounseling.com if you are willing. We would like the chance to fix it. You may also use the grievance procedure described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. You may file a disability discrimination complaint concerning a public accommodation. The PHRC enforces the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Note that the Act has a filing deadline, so please contact the Commission promptly.
New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. You may file a disability discrimination complaint under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Please note that the LAD has a filing deadline, so please contact the Division promptly.
United States Department of Justice. You may file an ADA complaint with the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. The Department's ADA information line is 1-800-514-0301, and the website is www.ada.gov.
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. If this practice ever becomes subject to Section 504 or Section 1557, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights. That office handles complaints about health care accessibility and language access. The website is www.hhs.gov/ocr.
Your state licensing board. Accessibility within a clinical relationship is also a professional conduct matter. You may complain to the board that licenses your clinician.
If you are a client, your therapy does not depend on this. Please hear that clearly. If you complain about accessibility, we will not end your treatment, we will not reduce your access to appointments, and we will not treat you differently. If you would rather that someone other than your clinician handle the complaint, tell us, and we will route it accordingly.
11. Language Access
At this time, our clinical services are delivered in English. If English is not your preferred language, please tell us. We will work with you to find a path forward. That may include arranging interpretation for scheduling and administrative communication, referring you to a clinician who provides services in your language, or helping you find a practice that can serve you better.
Why we are careful here. We are a small practice, and clinical work is different from other kinds of communication. A clinician who cannot understand nuance, idiom, and emotional register cannot provide good therapy. So we do not use machine translation for clinical conversations, and we do not use a bilingual family member as an interpreter for clinical content. We would rather refer you to someone who can truly serve you than provide something that looks adequate and is not.
Our website content can be translated by your browser. Where we can provide written materials in another language, we will. Please ask us and we will tell you honestly what we can do.
If this practice ever becomes subject to Section 1557, we will adopt the full language access program that rule requires, including translated notices, taglines in the required languages, and qualified interpreter services at no cost to you.
12. Governance: Who Is Accountable
Accessibility does not maintain itself. Responsibility sits with a specific person here.
Accountable person: the Practice Owner and Clinical Director, who is the designated accessibility contact.
Annual review: we review this statement and our accessibility practices at least once a year, and after any significant website change.
Record keeping: we keep records of accessibility reports we receive, how we responded, and what we changed as a result.
Budget: we set aside time and money each year for accessibility work. We would rather spend it on prevention than on defending a complaint.
Vendors: we include accessibility expectations in how we choose and review our vendors.
13. Feedback About This Statement
This statement is a working document. If something in it is unclear, inaccurate, or missing something you need, please tell us. We will correct it and we will note the change in the version history below.
If you would like this statement in another format, including large print, plain language, or an audio recording, we will provide it. Just ask.
Notes and Placeholders for the Practice
Before publishing, please replace or confirm the following items.
• (215) 253 – 7905 appears in Sections 9 and 10. A telephone number is important, because a practice that offers only email as an alternative to an inaccessible website is offering a weaker alternative.
• Section 6, Independent audit. If you commission a third-party audit, replace the current wording with the audit provider, the date, the standard tested, the pages or templates covered, and the results.
• Section 6, Legacy documents. If you finish remediating your documents, delete the corresponding entry.
• Section 4.5, Physical space. Confirm the specific access features of your office, or delete the section if you are telehealth only.
• Section 5, Assistive technology testing. Confirm that the listed tests have actually been performed, and adjust the list to match what you really do. A claim of testing you have not run is worse than making no claim at all.
• Section 4.2, Interpretation. Confirm your arrangements for qualified interpreters and the funding mechanism.
• Section 11, Language access. Confirm or adjust your actual capacity.
A final reminder. If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 or call 911. You do not need to wait for an accessibility response to get help.