More questions?
Call 211 to get help or visit their website by clicking here.
More questions?
Call 211 to get help or visit their website by clicking here.
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), like all governmental bodies in Texas, is subject to chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, also known as the Texas Public Information Act. The Texas Public Information Act creates a presumption that all information collected and maintained by a governmental body is public information that is available to members of the public who ask for it. The only information that a governmental body may refuse to release is information that the Public Information Act specifically excepts from disclosure. Accordingly, in most circumstances, the law will require DADS to release to the public the information collected about visitors to its website if the information is requested.
Although the law will usually require DADS to release information collected about visitors to its website, DADS does not automatically collect any personal information. DADS uses server logs to record a visitor's IP address and to collect general information about the visit to the DADS website, such as the time of the visit, the length of the visit, and the pages accessed during the visit.
The only personal information that DADS obtains about website visitors is the information the visitors provide when they communicate with the agency through the website. State law makes your e-mail address confidential in most circumstances. However, website visitors who wish to communicate with DADS through the website should keep in mind that the law probably requires the agency to release most of the other information they provide if the information is requested.
DADS does use transient or session cookies for some activities, like the DADS Search and the Quality Reporting System. However, no information is stored on either the visitor's or DADS' computer; the transient cookies go away completely when the visitor exits the browser.
DADS contracts with a company called GovDelivery, Inc., to provide e-mail updates. When you sign up for e-mail updates, you are giving your information to both DADS and to GovDelivery. When DADS has your information, it is subject to this privacy policy. When GovDelivery has your information, it is subject to their privacy policy. Click here to go to the GovDelivery privacy policy.
Anyone may ask for any information about themselves collected by DADS. The request should be put in writing and mailed, hand-delivered, faxed, or e-mailed to DADS. Consult the Public Information Policy and Procedures on this website for more details about how to ask DADS for information.
Individuals may also ask DADS to correct information it collects about them. A request to correct information must be in writing and must
A request to correct information should be sent to the portion of DADS with whom the subject of the information does business. Anyone who does not know where to send a request to correct information should send it to the Public Information Director in the closest regional office or to the DADS Information and Referral Unit, P.O. Box 149030, Austin, Texas 78714-9030.
DADS is not responsible for the privacy policies, or lack of policies, in place at any site linked to or from the DADS site and not within the domain of "www.dads.state.tx.us." This includes the State of Texas Assistance and Referral System (STARS).
For site security purposes and to ensure that the site remains available to all users, DADS uses software to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. Raw data logs are used for no other purposes. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this site are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Texas Penal Code Chapters 33 (Computer Crimes) or 33A (Telecommunications Crimes).
Updated: August 20, 2009