Open to everyone

Accessibility statement

Our commitment to making the website and our clinics accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or assistive technology used.

Better Health Osteopathy is committed to digital and physical accessibility. We want anyone who needs care to be able to find us, learn about what we do, book an appointment, and visit our clinics with as little friction as possible.

Last updated: 2026-05-09.

Our commitment

We aim to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards on this website. WCAG 2.1 AA is the recognised international benchmark for accessible web content and the standard referenced in NZ government accessibility guidance.

We treat accessibility as ongoing work, not a one-off compliance exercise. As content grows and the site evolves, we audit accessibility regularly and address issues as they surface.

What we do on the website

Structure and navigation

  • Skip-to-main-content link at the top of every page
  • Semantic HTML throughout: proper heading hierarchy, landmarks, lists
  • Breadcrumbs on every section page so you always know where you are
  • Keyboard-accessible navigation, including a focus-trapped mobile menu drawer

Visual design

  • Text contrast meeting WCAG AA contrast ratios
  • Text resizable up to 200% without loss of functionality
  • No information conveyed by colour alone (e.g. red-flag callouts use icon + colour + text)
  • Visible focus indicators for keyboard users

Reading

  • Plain-English drafting throughout, avoiding clinical jargon where it isn't necessary
  • Short sentences, scannable structure, summary cards on long pages
  • Alt text on meaningful images (decorative images are flagged appropriately)

Forms

  • Labels associated with inputs
  • Error messages linked to the relevant field
  • Required fields clearly marked

Interactive elements

  • FAQ accordions use native HTML <details> elements (keyboard-accessible by default)
  • Mobile menu has full ARIA support: role="dialog", focus trap, escape-to-close
  • External links flagged so they don't open unexpected new tabs without warning

Motion and animation

  • We honour prefers-reduced-motion site-wide. If you have reduced-motion turned on in your operating system, transitions and animations are suppressed automatically.
  • No auto-playing video, parallax, or motion that you can't stop.

What we know we still need to improve

We're being honest about where we have ongoing work to do:

  • Image and photo alt text. As we add more visual content (clinic photos, practitioner headshots, treatment images), each needs descriptive alt text. We audit this when content is added.
  • Live regions for dynamic content. Where the page updates without a full navigation (e.g., FAQ accordion expanding), we need to ensure screen readers are notified consistently.

If you find accessibility issues we haven't listed, please tell us. We treat reports as input we want, not friction.

Physical accessibility at our clinics

Fendalton clinic

416 Ilam Road, Fendalton. Ground-floor access, on-site parking, accessible entry. Please let us know if you have specific access needs when booking; we can plan the visit accordingly (e.g., quieter time slots, longer appointments, support-person presence).

Cashmere clinic

101 Colombo Street, Somerfield. Ground-floor access, parking on-site or nearby, accessible entry. Same request: tell us about access needs when booking and we'll accommodate where we can.

Treatment-specific accommodations

  • Mobility: our treatment tables are height-adjustable; we can support transfers from wheelchairs, walking aids, and other mobility devices.
  • Communication: we work with patients who use sign language, lip-reading, or other communication needs. Bring an interpreter or support person if it helps; we can also pace conversations and write things down.
  • Sensory needs: if you find clinic environments overstimulating, we can dim lighting, reduce conversation, and use the quieter of the two treatment rooms. Tell us when booking.
  • Cognitive accessibility: we can write down instructions, use simpler language, and check in with you about what's been understood. Support people are welcome.

Reaching us about accessibility

If you encounter an accessibility issue, want to ask about specific accommodations, or have a suggestion for improvement:

For feedback specifically about the website, mention "website" in your message. For feedback about a clinic visit, mention which clinic. We aim to respond within 5 working days; complex issues may take longer to investigate, in which case we'll keep you updated.

Standards and references