Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with our website and services, we may collect the following information:

Personal and contact information

• Parent or guardian name
• Telephone number and email address
• Preferred branch and service
• Information provided in contact forms, appointment requests or messages

Child-related and developmental information

If you voluntarily share information about your child, we may receive details concerning speech and language development, behaviour, developmental concerns, therapy requirements or assessment enquiries. Please provide only information necessary for your enquiry through general website forms.

Technical information

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, referring website and website interaction data. The information collected depends on the website technologies in use.

2. How We Use Your Information

We may use personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries and requests for information.
• Contact parents or guardians regarding appointments and available services.
• Understand which therapy services a family is enquiring about.
• Coordinate assessments, consultations and service-related communications.
• Improve website functionality, content and user experience.
• Monitor website performance and understand how visitors find and use our website.
• Maintain website security and prevent spam, fraud or misuse.
• Meet applicable legal, regulatory and professional obligations.
• Send promotional communications where permitted by law and, where required, with your consent.

We will use personal information only for appropriate purposes and in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

3. Children's Information and Sensitive Data

Austin Center provides services primarily for children and families. We recognise that information relating to a child's health, development, behaviour or assessment may be sensitive. Parents or legal guardians should submit information on behalf of a child only where they are authorised to do so. We request that visitors avoid submitting detailed medical reports, identity documents or other highly sensitive information through general contact forms unless specifically requested through an appropriate channel.

Access to child-related information should be restricted to authorised personnel and service providers who need it for legitimate operational or service-related purposes, subject to applicable law. We do not knowingly use children's information for unrelated promotional purposes without an appropriate lawful basis and any required consent.

4. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to support essential website functions, remember preferences, understand website traffic and measure performance. Where enabled, analytics or advertising technologies may help us understand how visitors interact with our pages and whether website campaigns generate enquiries.

You may be able to manage cookies through your browser settings or a website cookie-preference tool, where available. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. Where consent is required for non-essential cookies or tracking technologies, we will seek consent as applicable.

5. WhatsApp, Telephone and Third-Party Platforms

Our website may provide links or buttons for WhatsApp, telephone calls, email, maps, social media or other third-party services. If you contact us through WhatsApp or another external platform, your information may also be processed by that platform under its own privacy policy and terms. We do not control the privacy practices of independent third-party providers. Please avoid sharing unnecessary sensitive medical or personal information through public social media channels or general messaging links.

6. Sharing of Personal Information

We do not sell personal information to third parties.

We may share information where necessary with:

• Authorised Austin Center personnel involved in responding to enquiries or providing relevant services.
• Website hosting, maintenance, security and technical support providers.
• Analytics, communication or appointment-management providers, where used.
• Professional advisers, regulators, law enforcement or other authorities when legally required or permitted.

Service providers should be given only the information reasonably necessary for their assigned functions and should be subject to appropriate confidentiality and data-protection requirements.

7. Data Storage, Security and Retention

We take reasonable measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure. These measures may include access controls, secure systems and appropriate technical and organisational safeguards. However, no website or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including responding to enquiries, providing services, maintaining required records and meeting applicable legal or regulatory obligations. Retention periods depend on the nature of the information and the relevant requirements. When information is no longer required, we will take appropriate steps to delete, anonymise or securely dispose of it, subject to applicable retention obligations.

8. International Data Transfers

Some website hosting, analytics, communication or technical service providers may process information in countries outside the United Arab Emirates. Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take steps required by applicable law to ensure that the transfer is permitted and that appropriate safeguards are in place.

9. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable law and any relevant limitations, you may have the right to:

• Request information about the personal data we hold about you.
• Request access to or a copy of your personal information.
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion, restriction or cessation of certain processing where legally applicable.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
• Raise a concern or complaint about how your information is handled.

To make a request, contact us using the details below. We may need to verify your identity or authority before responding, particularly where the request concerns a child. Some information may need to be retained where required by law or applicable professional obligations.

10. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to external websites or services for convenience. We are not responsible for the privacy policies, content or security practices of websites we do not operate. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before sharing information with them.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services, website technologies or legal requirements. Any revised version will be published on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date.