Privacy Policy

Last modified: December 2025

DeafBlind Ontario Services and DeafBlind Ontario Foundation (collectively, ‘DBOS/DBOF’, ‘we’, ‘us’, or ‘our’) are committed to protecting the privacy of donors, supporters, participants, volunteers, and visitors to www.deafblindontario.com (the ‘Site’). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and safeguard personal information, and how individuals can access and correct their information, in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable guidance from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC).

1. Who We Are and Scope

This policy applies to the Site and to DBOS/DBOF’s fundraising, program, training, and community engagement activities. DBOS and DBOF act as joint controllers for personal information collected via the Site and shared between the organizations for the purposes described in this policy.

2. Accountability

We are responsible for personal information under our control. We have appointed a Privacy Officer to oversee compliance with this policy and PIPEDA, including inquiries, access requests, corrections, complaints, and breach notifications.

Privacy Officer:

Leslie Giesbrecht, Director of Communication and Employee Engagement

l.giesbrecht@deafblindontario.com

905-853-2862

Toll-free 1-855-340-3267

3. Purposes for Collection

We collect personal information for:

• Processing donations, issuing tax receipts, and recognizing/acknowledging gifts (including in-honour/in-memory notifications).
• Event/workshop registration and participation (including the DeafBlind Virtual Resource Centre).
• Communications such as newsletters, invitations, program updates, appeals, and impact reports (with unsubscribe options).
• Responding to inquiries, feedback, and service requests.
• Operating, securing, and improving the Site (including analytics and security monitoring).

4. Personal Information We Collect

Depending on the interaction, we may collect: name, contact information (email, mailing address, phone), donation amount and preferences, tax receipt information, event details, accessibility needs, communication preferences, and payment information processed securely by our payment providers. We also collect technical/usage data (e.g., IP address, browser, device, pages visited, timestamps) through cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve the Site.

5. Consent and Your Choices

We obtain meaningful consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information, except where inappropriate or permitted/required by law. Consent may be implied for purposes integral to the requested service (e.g., processing a donation or registration) and is express for non-essential or sensitive purposes (e.g., certain marketing or profiling). Individuals may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice, by contacting us or using provided preference/opt-out tools.

6. Limiting Collection, Use, Disclosure, and Retention

We limit collection to what is necessary for the purposes identified. We use and disclose personal information only for those purposes, unless we obtain consent or are required by law. We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfil those purposes and to meet legal/accounting obligations (see 19. Retention).

7. Accuracy

We take reasonable steps to ensure personal information is accurate, complete, and up to date. You may request corrections (see 10. Access & Correction).

8. Safeguards

We protect personal information with administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to its sensitivity, including encrypted transmission of payment data, access controls, secure storage, staff training, and vendor contractual requirements.

9. Openness

We make our privacy practices publicly available through this policy and related notices, including concise explanations in forms and consent interfaces.

10. Access and Correction

You have the right to request access to your personal information held by us, to obtain information about its use and disclosure, and to request corrections where inaccurate or incomplete. Contact the Privacy Officer to submit a request. We will respond within legally required timeframes.

11. Complaints and Challenging Compliance

If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer (see 2. Accountability).

12. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate the Site, remember preferences, and understand engagement. On your first visit, our cookie banner offers choices to accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time in our cookie settings or by adjusting your browser settings.

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our Site and Google advertising features to reach supporters. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on and manage Google Ads personalization in your Google account. See the links in the online version of this policy.

13. Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a ‘Do Not Track’ (DNT) setting. Our Site does not currently respond to DNT signals, but we provide opt-out mechanisms and cookie controls as described above (see 12. Cookies and Similar Technologies).

14. Children’s Privacy

Our Site does not address anyone under the age of 13 (“Children”). We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and are aware that your Children have provided us with Personal Information, please contact us. If we discover that a Child under 13 has provided us with Personal Information, we will delete such information from our servers immediately.

15. Transfers to Service Providers and Cross-Border Processing

We may transfer personal information to trusted third-party service providers (e.g., payment processors, email and analytics providers) to perform services on our behalf. When personal information is transferred for processing, we remain responsible for it and require service providers to protect it through contractual measures. Personal information processed in other jurisdictions may be subject to access by law enforcement and national security authorities in those jurisdictions.

16. Legal Disclosures

We may disclose personal information if required or permitted by law (e.g., subpoena, court order) or when necessary to protect the security or integrity of our systems and services.

17. Business Transactions

If DBOS/DBOF enters into a merger, acquisition, amalgamation, or asset transfer, personal information may be transferred as part of the transaction, subject to applicable legal requirements and continued protection consistent with this policy.

18. Breach of Security Safeguards

We have procedures to assess and respond to any breach of security safeguards. Where a breach creates a real risk of significant harm, we will notify affected individuals and report to the OPC, and we will keep records of all such breaches as required by law.

19. Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to meet the purposes in this policy and our legal obligations.

20. Electronic Communications (CASL)

We comply with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). For commercial electronic messages, we obtain consent, identify ourselves, and include an unsubscribe mechanism.

21. Links to Other Sites

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

22. Accessibility and Alternate Formats

We will provide this policy and, where feasible, personal information in alternate formats upon request to accommodate individuals with sensory disabilities. Contact the Privacy Officer to request an alternate format (see 2. Accountability).

23. Changes to this Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. We will post the revised policy on the Site with an updated effective date. Material changes will be highlighted or communicated through appropriate channels.

24. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, or to withdraw your name from an email or other contact list, please contact us.

Email: info@deafblindontario.com | l.giesbrecht@deafblindontario.com

Phone: 905-853-2862 | Toll-free: 1-855-340-3267