They Deserve a Life Privacy Notice
Last updated: November 14, 2026
At They Deserve a Life ("we," "our," or "us"), we advocate for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to live full, meaningful lives. We respect your privacy, and this notice explains — in plain language — what information our website collects, how we use it, and the choices you have.
This notice describes only what our website actually does today. As our organization and website grow, we will update this page, and we will not begin new uses of your information without describing them here first.
Information We Collect
Information you give us voluntarily
Newsletter subscriptions. If you sign up for advocacy updates, we receive the email address you provide and your consent choice on the signup form. Subscribing is entirely voluntary, and we use your email address for one purpose: sending you occasional advocacy updates, news, and stories from our community — currently about once a month.
Contact inquiries. If you contact us directly by email, we receive whatever information you choose to include, such as your name, email address, and the contents of your message. We use it only to read and respond to your inquiry.
Shared stories. If you choose to share your family's story or experiences with us, we receive the information you provide. We will not publish, quote, or share your story publicly without asking for and receiving your explicit permission first, and we will confirm with you how your name or your family member's name would appear before anything is published.
Technical information collected automatically
Like most websites, ours runs on a website platform that processes standard technical information needed to deliver the site, such as your browser type, device type, and general location based on internet address.
Analytics. Our website includes a built-in analytics service provided by our website platform. It may collect information about which pages are viewed and which buttons or links are clicked, to help us understand what content is useful. This analytics collection only takes place after you accept cookies in the banner shown when you first visit. If you decline, your visit is not included in that collection. We do not use advertising trackers, social media pixels, or any other third-party tracking services.
How We Use Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Send advocacy updates to newsletter subscribers who have consented to receive them;
- Read and respond to messages you send us;
- Review stories shared with us, and follow up with you about permission before any publication;
- Understand, in aggregate, how visitors use the site so we can improve it;
- Meet legal obligations if required, such as responding to lawful requests.
What We Do Not Do
To be direct about our practices:
- We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to anyone.
- We do not create customer accounts or profiles.
- We do not sell products or process payments through this website.
- We do not collect job applications through this website.
- We do not use your information to build advertising profiles or send advertising.
Third-Party Services
Our website is built and hosted on a website platform (GoDaddy), which stores form submissions on our behalf and delivers email notifications to us when someone signs up. Those submissions are visible to us and to the platform as the service provider operating the form system. We do not otherwise share your personal information with third parties except as needed to operate the website, comply with the law, or protect the rights and safety of our organization and others.
Cookies and Browser Storage
We use minimal browser storage. When you respond to the cookie banner, your choice is remembered in your browser so we do not ask again on every visit. The built-in analytics service may use cookies or similar technologies, and only does so after you accept. You can decline in the banner, or change your mind later by clearing your browser storage for this site and choosing again, or by contacting us. Declining analytics does not affect your ability to use the website or subscribe to updates.
Your Choices and Rights
Unsubscribe. Every advocacy update we send will include an unsubscribe link. You can also ask us to remove you from our email list at any time by emailing us, and we will do so promptly.
Access, correction, and deletion. You may ask us what information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it. Email us at marylynne@theydeservealife.org with your request, and we will respond within a reasonable time.
Withdraw consent. If you previously consented to analytics, you may withdraw that consent as described in the Cookies and Browser Storage section above.
A Note on Sensitive Information
Please do not include sensitive medical, diagnostic, financial, or detailed personal information about yourself or an individual with disabilities in website forms or other public submissions. Public forms are not the right place for that information, and we would rather connect with you directly. If you would like to discuss something personal, email us first at marylynne@theydeservealife.org and we will handle it with the care it deserves.
Children
Our website is intended for adults — particularly adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families — and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us information, please contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to This Notice
We will post any changes to this notice on this page, and the revised version takes effect when posted with an updated date. If we make a material change in how we use personal information, we will describe it clearly here — and if it affects newsletter subscribers, we will mention it in an update before it takes effect.
Contact Us
Questions, requests, or concerns about your privacy can be directed to: marylynne@theydeservealife.org.