DeafBlind Ontario Services DeafBlind Ontario Services

Privacy Statement

Content

Last Modified: February 4, 2026

Although few if any of the activities of DeafBlind Ontario Services (“DBOS”) and DeafBlind Ontario Foundation (“DBOF”) (DBOS and DBOS are, collectively, “we”, “us”, or “our”) for which we collect, use, or disclose personal information are governed by privacy law, we are committed to protecting the privacy of donors, supporters, participants, volunteers, and visitors (collectively “you”) to www.deafblindontario.com (the “Site”). Accordingly, we have voluntarily implemented this Privacy Policy (the “statement”) to explain how we collect, use, disclose, and retain your personal information, and how you can access and correct your personal information.

1. Application and Scope of this Statement

This statement applies to the collection, use, disclosure and retention of personal information by DBOS and DBOF in connection with our fundraising, program, training, and community engagement activities and this Site (collectively, the “Services”). DBOS and DBOF act as related parties for personal information collected via the Site and shared between the organizations for the purposes described in this statement.

2. Your Consent

By providing (or authorizing another person to provide) us with your personal information, you consent to the collection, use, disclosure and retention of that information by us in accordance with this statement and as otherwise permitted by applicable law. We might also obtain your additional consent in certain circumstances, including when required by law, to collect, use, disclose, or retain your personal information for other specific purposes. You 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 as set out in this statement.

3. How We Define Personal Information

In this statement, “personal information” means information about an identifiable individual, such as an individual’s name and email address, but does not include (to the extent permitted by law) information that is publicly available in a telephone or website directory or that is business contact information that enables an individual to be contacted at a place of business. Personal information also does not include information that has been anonymized or de-identified, as explained in section 14.

4. Collection of Personal Information

Depending on the interaction, we may collect: name, contact information (email, mailing address, phone number), donation amount and preferences, tax receipt information, event attendance 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. We collect personal information in various ways and from various sources, including information we collect directly or indirectly from you; information we collect from other persons and organizations, including when you have authorized the other person or organization to provide us with your personal information; and information we collect automatically through our website, emails, and advertisements.

5. How We Use Personal Information

We may use your personal information collected for purposes relating to or arising from your relationship and transactions with us and as otherwise set out in this statement or permitted by applicable law, including:

  • 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).
  • Complying with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Facilitating your interactions or transactions with us, for example, personalizing and enhancing your experience on the Site and at our programs and events.
  • Maintaining, protecting, and improving the Services;

6. 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. We and our service providers may use, process, and store your personal information at facilities in Canada and numerous other countries. Personal information processed in other jurisdictions may be subject to access by law enforcement and national security authorities in those jurisdictions.

7. How We Disclose Personal Information

(a) Specific Consents

We may disclose your personal information to other persons in accordance with express or implied consents that you give during your interactions and transactions with us. For example, if you make a donation, we may disclose your name on the Site with your consent.

(b) Partners and Other Third Parties

In some circumstances, we may share personal information with our partners and other third parties. We will only disclose your personal information to a third party if we have obtained your consent to do so, if you have provided your consent to the third party or if we are legally required or permitted to do so. For example, if you register for an event offered by us that involves third parties, we may disclose information to that third party to the extent necessary to provide that event to you.

(c) Law Enforcement/Legal Disclosures

We may disclose your personal information as required or authorized by applicable law, including to comply with a subpoena, warrant, or court or arbitral order or litigation disclosure obligation. We may disclose your personal information to law enforcement agencies or other independent organizations if we reasonably believe the disclosure is necessary or appropriate in connection with national security, law enforcement, or other issues of public importance, or if we reasonably believe the disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect and enforce our legal rights, interests, and remedies or to protect our rights, interests, business, operations, or donors or other persons. We have no control over, or responsibility or liability for, the use, disclosure, or retention of your personal information by the agencies, independent organizations, or other persons to whom we disclose the information in the foregoing circumstances, and the collection, use, disclosure, or retention of the disclosed information by those agencies, independent organizations, or other persons is not subject to this statement.

8. Accuracy

We take reasonable steps but ultimately rely on you to ensure that your personal information held by us is accurate, complete, and up to date. You may request corrections (see section 10).

9. Safeguards

We protect personal information with reasonable 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.

10. Access and Correction

You may reasonably 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. Subject to applicable exceptions and limitations prescribed by applicable law, you will be given reasonable access to your personal information and you will be entitled to verify the accuracy and completeness of your personal information and have the information corrected as appropriate.

11. What Are Your Privacy Choices?

(a) 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.

(b) Advertising Choices

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 statement.

(c) Opt out of marketing communications

You can choose not to receive our marketing or promotional messages by email or text message by clicking on “unsubscribe” in an email or text message you receive from us. It may take up to ten (10) business days to register a change to your communication preferences.

Please note that even if you indicate your choice not to receive marketing or promotional messages from us, we may still communicate with you by email or text message regarding your use of our Services (e.g., to send you receipts and service messages) and as otherwise permitted by applicable law.

(d) Withdrawing Consent

You may withdraw your consent to our collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information as explained in this statement at any time on reasonable written notice to us, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. To withdraw your consent, you may contact us in writing using the contact information in section 20.

12. Children’s Privacy

Our Site does not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without the consent of a legal guardian. If you believe we might have any personal information from or about a child, please contact our Privacy Officer. If we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will delete such information from our servers immediately.

13. Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to meet the purposes for which the information was collected, to comply with our legal obligations, and to enforce or protect our rights. We will delete or destroy records of your personal information, or de-identify the information, when we are no longer required or permitted by applicable law to retain the information.

14. Non‑Personal Information

We may use your personal information to create de-identified data, so that the information no longer relates to an identifiable individual (“non‑personal information”). We may use, disclose, transfer, and retain non-personal information for any purpose and in any manner whatsoever. If non-personal information is combined with personal information, then we will treat the combined non-personal information as personal information for the purposes of this statement for as long as the non-personal information is combined with the personal information.

15. Links to Other Sites

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible or liable for those third‑party websites, their products or services, or their collection, use, disclosure, or retention of your personal information. This statement does not apply to the collection, use, disclosure, or retention of your personal information by third‑party websites. Please review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit and, if you have any questions about how a third party website collects, uses, discloses, or retains your personal information, please contact the owner or operator of such website.

16. Social Media and Similar Situations

When you use certain aspects of our Site or other resources to access or post information to social media websites, the personal information that you post or share in connection with these third party websites is visible to other persons and can be read, collected, used, and disclosed by other persons, including to send unsolicited messages to you. When you click on a link to a social media website, you will leave our website and go to that social media website. Any information provided to such social media websites is governed by their own privacy policies, which you may read on the applicable website. You are solely responsible for the personal information that you choose to post or share in those situations. We have no control over, or responsibility or liability for, the collection, use, disclosure, or retention of the personal information that you disclose in those situations, and this statement does not apply to the collection, use, disclosure, or retention of your personal information by those websites.

17. Accessibility and Alternate Formats

We will provide this statement and, where feasible, personal information in alternate formats upon request to accommodate individuals with sensory disabilities. Please contact the Privacy Officer to request an alternate format.

18. Changes to this Statement

We may update this statement from time to time. We will post the revised statement on the Site with an updated “Last Modified” date. Material changes will be highlighted or communicated through appropriate channels. If you provide us with your personal information after the Last Modified date, we will understand you to have agreed to our handling your personal information in accordance with this statement.

19. Notices to You

You consent to us sending you emails (to the email address you provide to us) regarding this statement and related matters.

20. Contact Us

For any questions or complaints about how we handle your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Email: info@deafblindontario.com

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