Thank you for visiting the National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) and reviewing the NCRTM web policy. The policy is simple: the NCRTM collects no personal information about you unless you choose to provide that information. The NCRTM does not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. Some of the NCRTM website features (such as the Submit Materials to the NCRTM and the Subscribe for Monthly NCRTM Library Updates forms) let you voluntarily submit personal information. In those cases, the NCRTM will provide a specific notice before you begin submitting any personal information, explaining how your information will be safeguarded. If you want to know more about how the NCRTM records non-personal information about your visit or how the NCRTM uses information that you voluntarily submit, read on.
Non-personal Information Recorded
If you do nothing during your visit but browse through the website, read pages, or download information, the NCRTM’s operating system will automatically record some general information about your visit. During your visit, the NCRTM’s web operating system will record:
- The Internet domain for your Internet service, such as "xcompany.com" or "xcompany.net" if you use a private Internet access account, or "yourschool.edu" if you connect from a college or university domain.
- The type of browser (such as "Chrome version X" or "Microsoft Edge version X") that you are using.
- The type of operating system that you use (such as Macintosh, Unix, or Windows).
- The date and time you visit the NCRTM website, and the web pages you visit.
- The address of the previous website you were visiting, if you linked to the NCRTM website from another website.
The NCRTM uses this information for statistical analysis, to help make the NCRTM website more useful to visitors. This tracking system does not record information about individuals.
Cookies
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memo M-10-22: Guidance for Online Use of Web Measurement and Customization Technologies allows Federal Agencies to use sessions and persistent cookies.
When you visit any website, its server may generate a piece of text known as a "cookie" to place on your computer. Placing cookie text allows websites to "remember" visitors' preferences, surfing patterns and behavior while they are connected.
The cookie makes it easier for you to use the dynamic features of web pages. Cookies from NCRTM web pages only collect information about your browser's visit to the website; they do not collect any personal information about you.
There are two types of cookies, single session (temporary), and multi-session (persistent). Session cookies last only as long as your web browser is open. Once you close your browser, the cookie disappears. Persistent cookies are stored on your computer for longer periods.
Session Cookies: The NCRTM uses session cookies for technical purposes such as to enable better navigation through the NCRTM website. Session cookies let the NCRTM server know that you are continuing a visit to the NCRTM website. The OMB Memo 10-22 Guidance defines the NCRTM’s use of session cookies as "Usage Tier 1-Single Session." The Guidance states, "This tier encompasses any use of single session web measurement and customization technologies."
Persistent Cookies: The NCRTM uses persistent cookies for one reason: to enable Google Analytics to differentiate between new and returning visitors to the NCRTM website.
A Google's Analytics (a third-party analytics provider) persistent cookie remains on your computer between visits to the NCRTM website for six months. Knowing if a user visited the NCRTM website within the past six months tells the NCRTM the difference between visitors and "unique visitors" or those who visit the NCRTM website more than once during this time period. This is an industry standard and provides high-level information on the breadth of traffic to and content usage of the given digital services. It is a powerful, invaluable metric because it's the only measure that accurately calculates how many individual users visited the NCRTM website in a given time. Combined with total visits, it tells a more comprehensive story about NCRTM website users and their visit patterns.
The OMB Memo 10-22 Guidance defines the NCRTM’s use of persistent cookies as "Usage Tier 2-Multi-session without Personally Identifiable Information (PII)." The Guidance states, "This tier encompasses any use of multi-session web measurement and customization technologies when no PII is collected."
If you do not wish to have session or persistent cookies stored on your machine, you can opt out or disable cookies in your browser. You will still have access to all NCRTM website information and resources. However, turning off cookies may affect the functioning of some NCRTM website features. Be aware that disabling cookies in your browser will also affect cookie usage at all other websites you visit.
The NCRTM uses a third-party analytics provider (Google Analytics) to analyze the data collected through the session and persistent metrics cookies. The third-party analytics provider does not receive personally identifiable information through cookies and does not combine, match, or cross-reference NCRTM website information with any other information. Please review the third-party analytics provider's privacy policy for additional information.
Pursuant to OMB Memo 10-22 Guidance Attachment III, V, cookies collect information similar to that automatically received and stored on the servers hosting the NCRTM website; they do not collect personally identifiable information. The NCRTM does not access or store the raw information collected through the cookies. The NCRTM views aggregate statistical analyses prepared by the NCRTM’s third-party analytics provider, but the analyses do not include any personally identifiable information. The NCRTM does not sell, rent, exchange, or otherwise disclose this information to persons or organizations.
E-mail Information
Received If you decide to send the NCRTM an electronic mail message (e-mail), the message will usually contain your return e-mail address. If you include personally-identifying information in your e-mail because you want the NCRTM to address issues specific to your situation, the NCRTM will only use the information to respond to your request. In other limited circumstances, including requests from Congress or limited other parties, the NCRTM may be required by law to disclose information that you submit.
Also, e-mail is not necessarily secure against interception. Please send only information necessary to help process your request.
Information Collected from Interactive Forms
Some NCRTM web pages offer interactive forms that let you voluntarily submit personal information (such as your e-mail address, name, or organization). This occurs when you use the Submit Materials to the NCRTM and the Subscribe for Monthly NCRTM Library Updates forms. In those cases, all submitted information is used only for the expressed purposes for which it is intended and is not made available to any third party.
Links to Other Websites and Protecting Your Privacy
The NCRTM’s policy discloses the privacy practices for the website. However, the NCRTM website also provides links to other websites. When you leave the NCRTM website (ncrtm.ed.gov), you will be visiting websites that are beyond the NCRTM’s control. The NCRTM tries to ensure that links that leave the NCRTM the website are clearly labeled, usually with a Disclaimer (exiting to another website). These other websites may send their own cookies to users, collect data, or solicit personal information. The privacy policies and procedures described here for the NCRTM do not apply to any external links. The NCRTM encourages you to read the privacy policies of any website you link to from the NCRTM website, especially if you share any personal information. Be informed. You are the person best qualified to protect your own privacy.
Social Media
The NCRTM is using third-party social media websites to provide NCRTM content in formats that may be useful or interesting. However, ncrtm.ed.gov is the official source of information from the NCRTM. The NCRTM cannot attest to the accuracy of other information provided by these or any other linked websites. Using third-party websites does not constitute an endorsement by the NCRTM, the Department of Education or any of its employees of the sponsors of the websites or the information or products presented on the websites. Also, please be aware that the privacy protection provided on the NCRTM website may not be available on third-party websites. Please note that when the NCRTM uses social media websites, the NCRTM does not collect or in any way use personally identifiable information.
Questions?
If you have questions about this policy, please contact us at ncrtm@neweditions.net.