Last Updated January 1, 2025
Easter Seals, Inc. (an Ohio not-for-profit company hereinafter referred to as "Easterseals," "we," "our," or "us") understands that data privacy and the protection of personal information is important to you. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and share your personal information, and your rights and choices regarding the personal information we collect about you.
Please read this Policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your personal information and how we will process it. You can also click on the links below to navigate to a specific section.
1. Scope of Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to all donors, members, website visitors, business partners, employees, job applicants, and individuals who otherwise interact with Easterseals whom we collect personal information from. We often refer to your interactions with us as using our "services" throughout this Notice.
2. Personal Information Collection
We collect a variety of information as part of our operations, including personal information and other information. "Personal information" is any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with an identifiable individual.
a. How We Collect Personal Information
Easterseals collects information, including personal information, from and about its donors, event attendees and program participants, individuals who interact with our affiliate members, employees and job applicants, individuals who visit our website and other individuals who choose to interact with us. We collect information from or about you in the following ways:
b. Types of Personal Information We Collect
The types of personal information we collect depend on how you interact with us, including whether the interaction is through one of our affiliate members or directly with us. In many cases, the personal information we collect will be apparent from the context in which you provide the information.
We collect the following types of personal information from you depending on how you interact with us (e.g., donor, employee, etc.).
Categories of Personal Information
Contact Information: This includes your name, mailing address, email address, social media handle, or other similar identifiers. Relevant individuals: Donors, Employees and job applicants, Website visitors, Event attendees, Program participants, Individuals who interact with our affiliate members, Easterseals affiliate member users.
Identification Information: This includes your SSN, driver's license number, passport number, or similar legal identification information. Relevant individuals: Employees and job applicants.
Profile Information: This includes information about your activity and interactions with us, including your donor tendencies and donation history, information you voluntarily provide to us or that we collect from other sources regarding your interests, preferences, and characteristics. We compile this information we collect about you to better understand you. Relevant individuals: Donors, Website visitors, Event attendees, Program participants, Individuals who interact with our affiliate members, Easterseals affiliate member users.
Health Information: This is information about your health, disability, or medical condition which may include "Protected Health Information" (PHI). Relevant individuals: Event attendees, Program participants, Individuals who interact with our affiliate members, Employees and job applicants (if you choose to participate in our group health plan).
Financial Information: This includes information about your wealth and financial status, income, credit card, bank account, or payment information. Relevant individuals: Donors, Employees and job applicants, Individuals who interact with our affiliate members.
Location Information: This includes information about your location. Relevant individuals: Donors, Website visitors, Easterseals affiliate member users.
Professional or Employment-Related Information: Current or past job history or performance evaluations. Relevant individuals: Employees and job applicants, Affiliate clinical and non-clinical service providers.
Internet or Other Similar Network Activity: Browsing history, search history, information on your interaction with a website, application, or advertisement. Relevant individuals: Website visitors, Donors, Easterseals affiliate member users.
Interaction Information: This includes information about your attendance at events we host or programs we sponsor, as well as information about correspondence with us and other ways you interact with us. Relevant individuals: Donors, Event attendees, Program participants, Website visitors, Individuals who interact with our affiliate members, Easterseals affiliate member users.
Sensitive Personal Information: We may collect certain sensitive personal information including race, gender, and age information. This information is collected in aggregate form. Relevant individuals: Employees and job applicants, Individuals who interact with our affiliate members, Easterseals affiliate member users.
We may not collect all the above categories of information from each category of individual who interacts with us. Please note that if you voluntarily provide us with additional information when you interact with us that does not fit one of these categories of information or individuals set forth above, we will collect the information and use it for the purposes you direct or that we disclose to you.
In certain circumstances, we may also inadvertently receive "Protected Health Information." "Protected Health Information" ("PHI") is individually identifiable health information. While we never intentionally collect PHI from an individual, we sometimes collect aggregated PHI when we gather information about the effectiveness of our programs in order to understand whether a program that we or our affiliate members offered resulted in improved outcomes for the individuals or communities our programs are designed to serve.
3. How We Use Personal Information
We use personal information for our legitimate business purposes to further our mission and for other purposes disclosed to you at the time data is collected. More specifically, we use personal information in the following ways:
We may aggregate and de-identify personal information we collect from you to understand the effectiveness of our programs, services, and offerings, as well as to understand our donor base and donor trends. When we aggregate or de-identify information, it is no longer personally identifiable.
4. How We Disclose Personal Information
Easterseals may share your personal information in the following circumstances, and as otherwise described in this Notice:
5. Easterseals Affiliate Members
Easterseals has a number of Affiliate members throughout the United States who interact directly with the populations we serve by bringing Easterseals' mission and work directly into the community in which the affiliate member operates. While our Affiliate member organizations are associated with and use Easterseals branding, they may have their own practices regarding how they collect, use, share, and retain information when you interact with them.
As described above, Affiliate members share information with us, and we share information with our Affiliate members. This information sharing occurs so that we can understand the impact of our and our Affiliate members' programs and services, yield actionable insights, and drive future-forward decision making so that we can continue to further the Easterseals' mission.
6. Links to Other Sites
Easterseals' website may contain links to other sites, including to our Affiliate members, as well as links to non-affiliated third parties, such as social networks or business partners. These linked sites may have personal information collection, use, and disclosure practices that differ from Easterseals' practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of websites that you visit before sharing your personal information with them. Please also be aware that if you disclose personal information, PHI, or other sensitive information through public forums, at an event, or on online message boards, this information may be used by others. We take no responsibility for the content, security, or confidentiality of any information posted on or conveyed in these public spaces.
7. Security of Personal Information
Easterseals knows that information security is of the utmost importance to our donors, affiliate members, website visitors, and individuals whose information we collect. We maintain reasonable technical, administrative, physical, and organizational safeguards in proportion to the sensitivity of information we collect that are designed to prevent unauthorized access, use, and disclosure of personal information.
However, no electronic data transmission or processing of personal information is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee the security of personal information. We encourage you to assist us with securing your personal information by using a strong password and not disclosing your login credentials, where applicable, to anyone. If we become aware of an incident that affects your personal information, we will investigate and comply with all reporting obligations.
8. Transmission of Health-Related Information
Easterseals understands the sensitivity of collecting and using health-related data. It is not Easterseals' intent to collect personally identifiable health-related information or PHI. If we do collect personally identifiable health-related information or PHI, it will not be used by or shared with entities other than Easterseals or our affiliate members, unless the information is de-identified. Any transfer of personally identifiable health-related data between Easterseals organizations will take place in a secure environment with access allowed only to certain qualified employees of Easterseals. Easterseals will comply with all regulations set forward by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). To learn more about HIPAA, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
9. Retention of Personal Information
We will retain your information only for as long as necessary to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. This may mean that we will continue to retain certain information even after we stop providing our services directly or indirectly to you, after you delete your user profile, or cease interacting with us, as required by law or for our legitimate business purposes. We may also retain de-identified, aggregated, or anonymous information that does not identify a particular individual. In all cases where we retain data, we do so in accordance with limitation periods and record retention obligations that are imposed by applicable law.
10. Your Rights & Choices Regarding Your Personal Information
Easterseals offers various rights that are consistent with state consumer privacy laws. Easterseals offers the option to access, correct, and delete your personal information. If you are a registered user of our website, access your Easterseals profile and update your contact information and user preferences. Upon your request, we will delete, aggregate, or de-identify personal information related to you that is retained in our organizational databases, unless we are required to continue to retain the information in an identifiable format. To exercise your right to deletion, or to modify or correct your information other than through the link above, please contact us via a method set forth in the below "Contact Us" section.
You can also change your communication preferences and opt-in or opt-out of marketing communications from Easterseals. To opt-out of receiving email communications, postal mail or from participating in the list rental and exchange program, or to request a disclosure of list rental and exchange information, please follow the directions below.
We will endeavor to fulfill all requests within a reasonable timeframe.
11. Cookies
Our website uses or may use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar technologies (collectively, "cookies"). Cookies are small text files stored directly on a website visitor's computer or mobile device that automatically collect certain information from users such as browser type, IP address, time spent online, pages visited, referring URL, and additional aggregated website traffic data. We also rely on partners to provide features of our services, which may involve using cookies.
We use cookies for the following purposes:
The use of cookies has become standard among website operators. Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies. You can usually set your browser to refuse cookies that are not necessary or to indicate when a cookie is being set. To understand your options regarding cookies, you can visit the help section of your web browser.
If you refuse cookies, you may not be able to use certain functions on our website and our website may not function as smoothly as it does when cookies are enabled.
12. International Transfers of Personal Information
Easterseals and all of its Affiliate members are located in the United States, and all programming offered by Easterseals and its Affiliate members occurs in the United States. Because of the global nature of the internet, the Easterseals website may be accessible from jurisdictions other than the United States, even though Easterseals does not operate, provide, or market its services outside of the United States. If you access the Easterseals website outside of the United States, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States. Since the data protection laws of various countries differ, information transferred to the United States may not be subject to the same level of protection as the jurisdiction in which you reside. If you choose to access our website from a jurisdiction outside the United States, we rely on your consent to transfer the data to the United States. To the extent you do not consent to data transfers to the United States, please do not provide us with your personal information or visit our website.
13. Information from Children
Our website is not directed towards children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 13 through our website without parental consent. If you become aware that we have collected personal information from an individual under the age of 13 through our website without parental consent, please let us know so that we can take appropriate action.
14. Changes to this Notice
We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time. If we make material updates to this Notice, we will endeavor to provide you notice by placing a prominent notice on this website and/or sending an email notification of the change. We will also update the "last updated" date at the top of this policy. Any changes will be effective immediately on posting unless otherwise indicated. Continued use of our services after updates to our Notice will be deemed consent to the changes.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Notice or our information practices, please contact us or write to us at:
ATTN: Privacy Manager
Easter Seals, Inc.
141 W. Jackson Blvd
Suite 1400A
Chicago, IL 60604
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBTAIN A PAPER COPY OF THIS NOTICE UPON REQUEST.
WHO WILL FOLLOW THIS NOTICE
This notice describes Easterseals South Florida ("Easterseals") practices and that of (a) any health care professional authorized to enter information into our medical record, (b) volunteers we allow to help you while you are receiving Easterseals services, and (c) all Easterseals employees and staff.
PATIENT HEALTH INFORMATION
Under federal law, your patient health information is protected and confidential. Patient health information includes information about your symptoms, test results, diagnosis, treatment, and related medical information. Your health information also includes payment, billing and insurance information.
USE AND DISCLOSURE OF HEALTH INFORMATION
Easterseals may use your health information for purposes of providing you treatment, obtaining payment for the services you receive and for health care operations, including administrative purposes and evaluation of the quality of care that you receive. Unless otherwise indicated, your health information may be used or disclosed only after Easterseals has obtained your written consent or authorization. Easterseals has established a policy to guard against unnecessary disclosure of your health information.
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AND PURPOSES FOR WHICH YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AFTER YOU HAVE PROVIDED YOUR WRITTEN CONSENT:
For example, Easterseals may use your health information to evaluate its staff performance, combine your health information with other Easterseals consumer/patients in evaluating how to more effectively serve all Easterseals consumer/patients, or disclose your health information to Easterseals staff and contracted personnel for training purposes. Also, Easterseals may disclose certain information about you including your name and your general health status.
FEDERAL PRIVACY RULES ALLOW EASTERSEALS TO USE OR DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT OR AUTHORIZATION FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:
AUTHORIZATION TO USE OR DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION
Other than as stated above, Easterseals will not disclose your health information other than with your written authorization. If you or your representative authorizes Easterseals to use or disclose your health information, you may revoke that authorization in writing at any time. If you revoke your permission, Easterseals will no longer use or disclose health information about you for the reasons covered by your written authorization. You understand that Easterseals is unable to take back any disclosures that have already been made with your authorization, and that Easterseals is required by law to retain our records of the services provided to you.
YOUR RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
You have the following rights regarding your health information that Easterseals maintains:
OUR LEGAL DUTY
Easterseals is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide to you and your representative this Notice of its duties and privacy practices. Easterseals is required to abide by terms of this Notice as may be amended from time to time. Easterseals reserves the right to change the terms of its Notice and to make the new Notice provisions effective for all health information that it maintains. If Easterseals changes its Notice, Easterseals will post a revised copy of the current notice at each of the Easterseals facilities reflecting its effective date.
COMPLAINTS
You or your personal representative have the right to express complaints to Easterseals and to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you or your representative believe that your privacy rights have been violated. Any complaints to Easterseals should be made in writing to the Privacy Officer or designee. Easterseals encourages you to express any concerns you may have regarding the privacy of your information. You will not be retaliated against in any way for filing a complaint.
CONTACT PERSON
Easterseal’s contact person for all issues regarding specific requests, patient privacy and your rights under the Federal privacy standards is:
Privacy Officer or Designee
Easterseals South Florida
1475 NW 14th Avenue
Miami, Fl 33125
(305) 325-0470
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Notice is effective April 14, 2003.
If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact:
Privacy Officer or Designee at Easterseals South Florida
1475 NW 14th Avenue Miami, Fl 33125
Telephone: (305) 325-0470
