Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Advance Academy ("we", "us", "our") is a BCBA-certified ABA therapy provider serving families across Canada. Our primary office is located at 5900 Avebury Rd, Mississauga, ON L5R 3M3, with a second office at Halton Hills Dr, Halton Hills, ON L7G 4S4.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, you can contact us at:

• Email: care@advanceacademy.ca
• Phone: (613) 363-4823

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal information only when necessary and only to the extent needed to provide our services and communicate with you effectively.

Information You Provide Directly

• Your name, email address, and phone number when you contact us or book a consultation
• Your child's name, age, and developmental information relevant to ABA therapy
• Information about your child's autism diagnosis or developmental assessment results
• Ontario Autism Program (OAP) registration details if applicable
• Address and location information for in-home therapy scheduling
• Any other information you choose to share with us through our contact form or consultation calls

Information Collected Automatically

• IP address and browser type when you visit our website
• Pages visited, time spent on site, and referral source (via Google Analytics)
• Device type and operating system
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 7)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to your inquiries and consultation requests
• To provide, coordinate, and manage ABA therapy services for your child
• To communicate progress updates, session scheduling, and therapy-related information
• To assist with Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding applications and documentation
• To improve our website and services through anonymous analytics data
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations
• To send service-related communications (not marketing without your consent)

We do not use your personal information for any purpose not listed above without your explicit consent.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on the following grounds under PIPEDA and applicable Canadian privacy law:

• Consent: You have given us consent to collect and use your information by contacting us or submitting a form on our website
• Contract: Processing is necessary to provide the ABA therapy services you have requested
• Legal obligation: We may process information as required by Ontario health regulations and applicable Canadian law
• Legitimate interest: To operate, improve, and communicate about our services

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: Third-party tools we use to operate our website and business (e.g. Google Analytics, contact form providers), subject to data processing agreements
• OAP and government bodies: When required to process Ontario Autism Program funding applications on your behalf, with your consent
• Professional referrals: With your explicit consent, we may share relevant information with other healthcare professionals involved in your child's care
• Legal requirements: When required by law, court order, or regulatory authority
• Business transfers: In the unlikely event of a merger or acquisition, your information may be transferred, subject to the same privacy protections

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations. Specifically:

• Client therapy records are retained for a minimum of 7 years in accordance with Ontario professional standards
• Contact and inquiry information is retained for up to 2 years if no service relationship is established
• Website analytics data is retained per Google Analytics default settings (up to 26 months)

When information is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymized.

7. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and analyze website usage. We use:

• Essential cookies: Required for the website to function properly
• Analytics cookies: Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site (anonymized data)
• Preference cookies: To remember your settings and preferences

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. By continuing to use our website, you consent to our use of cookies as described above.

8. Your Privacy Rights

Under PIPEDA and applicable Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to withdrawal of consent: Withdraw your consent to processing at any time (subject to legal limitations)
• Right to deletion: Request deletion of your personal information where no legal obligation requires us to retain it
• Right to complain: Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at care@advanceacademy.ca or call (613) 363-4823. We will respond within 30 days.

9. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted through our website
• Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure storage of client therapy records
• Regular review of our security practices

While we take every reasonable precaution, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. If you have concerns about the security of your information, please contact us immediately.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are designed for children with autism, and we collect information about children as part of providing therapy services. We collect children's information only from their parents or legal guardians, and only with explicit consent. We do not collect personal information directly from children, and we do not knowingly collect information from minors for marketing purposes.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including the Ontario Autism Program (AccessOAP), Autism Ontario, and other resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website or services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our handling of your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer:

• Email: care@advanceacademy.ca
• Phone: (613) 363-4823
• Address: 5900 Avebury Rd, Mississauga, ON L5R 3M3
• Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

You also have the right to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.