Website Privacy Notice

Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Web Site Accessibility

The Department of Disabilities and Special Needs attempts to make all of its web resources accessible to anyone with disabilities in accordance with federal law. If you have a problem accessing the content on this or any other Department of Disabilities and Special Needs website, use the contact link at the bottom of the web page to notify us. We will then work to make the web page or feature accessible, or to provide the information in a format that is accessible.

SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Website Privacy Statement

OVERVIEW

This privacy statement addresses the collection, security, and disclosure of information that is obtained during your use of the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs website. The privacy of our website visitors is important to the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

Please note that information provided by visitors to this website may be subject to disclosure as required by State or federal law or as otherwise described in this privacy statement.

 

CHANGES TO THIS STATEMENT

The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs may change this privacy statement from time to time. If we change this privacy statement at some point in the future, we will post the changes on our website. By continuing to use the website after we post any changes, you accept and agree to this privacy statement, as modified.

 

INFORMATION COLLECTED AND STORED AUTOMATICALLY

When you visit our website, we may automatically gather and store the following information about your visit so that we can track how our website is used, in order to make improvements. This information is stored and used in the aggregate only and is not used to contact you personally.

  1. If you are using this site to read or download information:
    • the IP address from which you access our website;
    • the name of the domain from which you access the Internet;
    • the type of browser and operating system used to access our website;
    • the date and time you access our site;
    • the pages, files, documents, and links that you visit; and
    • the website URL that referred you to this website (the address for the last website you visited before visiting this one).
  2. If you are using this site to send us an email:
    By sending us an electronic mail message, you may be sending us personal information (e.g., name, physical address, email address).  One example of this would be an official Freedom of Information Act request. We may store the name and addresses of the requester in order to respond to the request or to otherwise resolve the subject matter of your email.
  3. If you are using this site to register:
    Our site may ask visitors, who request specific information, to fill out a registration form. Other information that may be collected at this site through questionnaires, feedback forms, or other means, enables us to determine a visitor's interests, with the goal of providing better service to our customers.

 

For statistical purposes, we may collect and store the following information:

 

COOKIES

In addition to information collected automatically, we use cookies to support the internal functionality of the website. Cookies, which are small pieces of information sent to your browser by a website that you visit, are stored on your computer and used to track usage patterns, traffic trends, and customer behavior, as well as to record other information from a website. When you register on this website, cookies also allow us to save information so that you will not have to re-enter it the next time you visit. Many content adjustments and customer service improvements are made based on the data derived from cookies.  Information that we collect from cookies will not be used to create profiles of individual users and only will be used in aggregate form. The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs may use cookies to store information on your computer.

 

DATA PRIVACY:

The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs will endeavor to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of your information.  However, in the course of performing their job duties, SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs employees may be able to view, or have access to, the information you provide.

In addition, because the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs is a public agency, information collected on this site may be subject to disclosure under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  FOIA includes various exemptions, however, including an exemption that permits public bodies to withhold from disclosure certain types of information of a personal nature in order to preserve the privacy of individuals.

 

DATA SECURITY:

We are committed to data security and the data quality of personal information that is either available from, or collected by, our websites and have taken precautions to protect personal information from loss, misuse or alteration. Any third parties responsible for this information are committed to the same principles and also are required by contract to follow the same policies and guidelines as the State of South Carolina in protecting this information.

 

DATA SHARING:

The Family Privacy Protection Act of 2002:  This Act prohibits persons or private entities from using any personal information obtained from a state agency for commercial solicitation purposes. A person knowingly violating this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the penalties specified in South Carolina Code of Laws Section 30-2-50(D).

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), 15 U.S.C. § 6501, et seq.: Our website is not geared towards children under 13 years of age.  Younger visitors should always check with their parents or guardians before entering information on any website, and we encourage families to discuss their household guidelines regarding the online sharing of personal information.

 

DATA YOU PROVIDE TO US:

If your data is stored in our system, it may be accessed by our staff members in the performance of their job duties and may be subject to disclosure by rule, regulation, or law. For example, we may be required, by law, to disclose your data without your consent and without notice in order to comply with a valid legal process, such as a subpoena, court order, or search warrant.

 

LINKS TO OTHER SITES:

The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs website links to other government sites and occasionally to private organizations. Once you leave the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs website, you are subject to the privacy policy for the sites you are visiting. The SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs website is not responsible for the contents of any off-site web page. A link to a page does not constitute an endorsement.

Questions about this privacy statement may be directed to the Enterprise Governance Risk and Compliance Office at RISK@ddsn.sc.gov

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) (PDF)