This AboutFace website provides general information and personal stories related to facial differences and the psychosocial issues of living with facial differences for individuals and families. In some cases it may include medical information related to a specific issue or story. However, this information should not be taken as advice or treatment options. Always verify any information or facts you might find on this or any website with your health care provider. This information is provided for personal use only. You may reproduce the content of our website for personal use and non-commercial distribution. We would ask that you give credit to AboutFace for any content collected and used.

It has been with much care and attention that information has been collected and organized on this website for the general use of the public. However, the information is provided “as is” without any representation, warranty or condition as to completeness, accuracy or usefulness, whether expressed, implied, legal or otherwise.

Although we encourage individuals to seek information from various sources and provide this listing of other resources, AboutFace does not warrant the integrity of the information on other sites. Moreover, AboutFace does not endorse or promote any medical treatment, nor do we provide referrals to any individual or individual medical center, regardless if they are linked on our site.

AboutFace operates on the self-help model and supports individual choices regarding treatment and support, or lack there of. AboutFace is not responsible for content of other sites, nor will we be held liable for any misused or erroneous information reviewed or collected from other sites.

AboutFace Privacy Statement

At AboutFace, we take the privacy and confidentially of our clients, members, donors and volunteers very seriously. Their right to privacy is of utmost importance to us. As well, we recognize that the private information we collect from our clients is sensitive and personal, however, it is also key to providing quality services and relevant programs to these individuals. AboutFace only uses the information collected to target and segment its membership accordingly. It produces mailing lists for various purposes: to mail the quarterly newsletter or other related information; to inform members, clients or donors of current or upcoming events, programs and services; and, to make appropriate and effective peer connections, be it age, condition, medical procedure, or geographic related.

At different stages throughout this website, AboutFace will require you to share personal information. We collect the information from two areas, public information and/or personal/private information. The first area, public information, is considered general information that one could find in a phone book, website, directory, etc. The second relates mainly to clients who are involved with the organization, including date of birth, congenital condition, medical procedures, partner information, and family history. For donors, this might also include credit cards or banking information for monthly donors. Again, this information is only collected for our internal use. The staff will use this information when connecting individuals, or targeting programs or service of interest, i.e. child programs versus adult programs or for processing monthly donations requirements.

As part of our commitment to compliancy with PIPA, AboutFace has developed and implemented internal policies and procedures to protect the privacy rights or our clients, donors, volunteers and members. The information we collect is managed in an industry-rated computer program providing restricted access to non-regulated staff members and access codes for entry. In addition, AboutFace as a principle does not trade, barter, lease or sell its lists (clients, donors, etc.) to anyone including industry or commercial members, clients, sponsors or any other external entity. Any and all lists produced for internal use only, and are shredded manually by a trained records-management staff to insure the confidentially of our clients, donors and membership base, once the list is no longer required. Consent forms are also required when participating in all organization programs or events. This is done to enable AboutFace to use the pictures, audiotapes, videotapes, or quotations from clients for any charitable purpose to illustrate our activities, demonstrate our programs, or document our work. Clients are given the option to opt “into” or “out of” such activities at any time.

In all cases, AboutFace will require members to sign a form of consent outlining that they understand the terms and conditions of our information collection. This form is included in all registration, application or consent materials used by our clients and members. They are given the option to opt out of entering into our database.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact us at (800) 665-3223 or annap@aboutfaceinternational.org

Online Community

Registration in the AboutFace Online Community is distinct from AboutFace Membership. To register to participate on the AboutFace discussion boards, you must provide specific information to verify your real name, age and country of origin. Users maintain their own profile and AboutFace does not have access to user passwords. The collected registration information is stored in its own database and will not be disclosed. AboutFace will only contact members with information relevant to their participation in the Online Community. For online privacy, the site is secured with encrypted log-ins and a SPAM Filter.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact us at (800) 665-3223 or forum@aboutfaceinternational.org.

Hyperlinks to AboutFace

You are welcome to hotlink to our website from your own site. We encourage hotlinks for information sharing and would recommend that you hyperlink to our main page. We would appreciate you advising us of the hyperlink.

AboutFace will set up a hyperlink to other websites related to facial differences if your site meets at least one of the following criteria:

1. Sites that address facial differences and psychosocial issues of living with facial differences;
2. Self help sites that encourage personal discovery, growth and nurturing;
3. Parent resource groups and organizations that deal with support and information;
4. Organizations that deal with disability and access for kids.

If you are interested in having AboutFace establish a hotlink with your website, please submit your request to anng@aboutfaceinternational.org