Privacy & Terms

1Who We Are

Children with Abilities Network (CAN) is a nonprofit organisation based in Nairobi, Kenya, dedicated to empowering children with disabilities through inclusion, advocacy, education, and community support.

This Privacy Policy applies to our website (childrenwithabilitiesnetwork.org), our in-browser assistant (Amara), and any other digital services we operate. By using our website, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Organisation: Children with Abilities Network (CAN)
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Email: info@childrenwithabilitiesnetwork.org
Phone: +254 707 027 727

2Information We Collect

Information you provide directly

• Name, email address, and phone number when you contact us, sign up for updates, or fill in a form
• Organisation name and role when you enquire about partnership or volunteering
• Any messages or enquiries you send to us via email or our contact forms

Information collected automatically

• Browser type, device type, and operating system
• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and links clicked
• Referral source (how you arrived at our website)

Information we do not collect

• We do not collect payment or financial information through this website
• We do not collect sensitive personal information such as medical records, diagnoses, or health history
• We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13 without parental consent

3How We Use Your Information

We use information collected only for legitimate purposes that support CAN's mission:

• To respond to your enquiries, messages, or requests for support
• To send you programme updates or newsletters — only with your consent
• To process volunteer applications or partnership enquiries
• To improve our website, services, and content based on usage patterns
• To ensure the security and integrity of our digital services
• To comply with applicable Kenyan laws and regulations

4How We Share Your Information

CAN does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. We may share information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: Trusted vendors who help us operate our website and services (for example, email platforms and hosting providers), bound by confidentiality obligations
• Legal requirements: Where required by Kenyan law, court order, or a government authority
• Safety: Where necessary to protect the safety or wellbeing of any individual

Our Amara assistant runs entirely within your browser and does not transmit your conversations to CAN or to any third party — see Section 11.

5Cookies & Tracking

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and analyse site usage. Types of cookies we may use:

• Essential cookies: Required for basic website functionality
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and choices, including your accessibility preferences

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

6Children's Privacy

CAN's mission centres on children with disabilities, and we take children's privacy with the utmost seriousness. Our website is intended primarily for use by parents, caregivers, educators, advocates, and community partners — not directly by children.

• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13
• If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately
• We will promptly delete any such information upon notification

7Data Security

We take reasonable and appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These include:

• Secure HTTPS encryption on our website
• Restricted access to personal data within our team on a need-to-know basis
• Regular review of our data handling practices

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but commit to responding promptly to any data incidents.

8Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by law. Specifically:

• Contact form submissions are retained for up to 24 months
• Newsletter subscriber information is kept until you unsubscribe
• Amara conversations are processed entirely in your browser and are not stored by CAN
• Analytics data is retained in aggregated, anonymised form

9Your Rights

As a user of our website and services, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right of access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to deletion: Request that we delete your personal data, subject to legal obligations
• Right to object: Object to how we process your personal information
• Right to withdraw consent: Withdraw any consent you previously gave us at any time
• Right to unsubscribe: Opt out of communications at any time using the unsubscribe link in our emails

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@childrenwithabilitiesnetwork.org. We will respond within 30 days.

10Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites, resources, or partner organisations. CAN is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external websites you visit.

11AI Assistant (Amara)

Our website features a lightweight assistant named Amara, designed to answer common questions about CAN — our programs, enrollment, resources, and how to support a child with a disability.

• Amara runs entirely within your browser using a fixed set of pre-written responses
• Your messages are not sent to CAN's servers or to any third-party AI provider, and they are not stored
• Amara provides general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical, legal, or psychological advice
• Please avoid sharing sensitive personal information or identifying details about a child in the chat

12Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

13Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how CAN handles your personal information, please reach out to us:

1Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Children with Abilities Network website located at childrenwithabilitiesnetwork.org (the "Site"), including our Amara assistant and all associated services.

By using the Site, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age (or a parent/guardian accessing on behalf of a minor), that you have read and understood these Terms, and that you agree to be bound by them. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Site.

2About CAN

Children with Abilities Network (CAN) is a nonprofit organisation based in Nairobi, Kenya. Our mission is to empower children with disabilities through inclusion, advocacy, education, and community support.

The content on this Site is provided for general informational and awareness purposes. Nothing on this Site constitutes professional medical, therapeutic, legal, or psychological advice.

3Use of the Website

You may use our Site for lawful purposes only. You agree to use the Site in a manner that:

• Respects the rights and dignity of children with disabilities and their families
• Does not violate any applicable Kenyan or international laws or regulations
• Does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of CAN or any third party
• Does not involve the transmission of harmful, abusive, defamatory, or obscene content
• Does not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Site or its systems
• Does not interfere with the proper functioning of the Site

CAN reserves the right to restrict or terminate access to the Site for any user who violates these Terms.

4Intellectual Property

All content on this Site — including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, icons, and the CAN name and branding — is the property of Children with Abilities Network or its content partners and is protected by applicable copyright and intellectual property laws.

• You may share or reference our content for educational, advocacy, or awareness purposes with appropriate attribution to CAN
• You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, or commercially exploit any part of this Site without prior written permission from CAN
• The CAN logo and name are trademarks of Children with Abilities Network and may not be used without written authorisation

To request permission to use CAN's content or branding, please contact us at info@childrenwithabilitiesnetwork.org.

5AI Assistant (Amara)

Our website features an in-browser assistant named Amara, built to provide general information about CAN and how to access our support.

By using Amara, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Amara provides general informational responses only and does not constitute professional medical, psychological, legal, or therapeutic advice
• Amara's responses are pre-written and may not cover every question or always be fully up to date
• You should always consult a qualified professional for specific medical, therapeutic, or legal concerns regarding a child
• You will not share sensitive personal information, confidential medical records, or identifying details about children in the chat
• CAN is not liable for any decisions made based on Amara's responses

6Disclaimer of Warranties

The Site and all its content, including the Amara assistant, are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.

CAN does not warrant that:

• The Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses or harmful components
• The information provided is always accurate, complete, current, or suitable for any particular purpose
• Results obtained from using the Site will be accurate or reliable

CAN makes no warranty regarding the suitability of any information, service, or resource on the Site for any specific child's needs or circumstances.

7Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, CAN, its directors, staff, volunteers, and partners shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from:

• Your use of or inability to use the Site or Amara
• Reliance on any information provided on the Site or through the Amara assistant
• Unauthorised access to or alteration of your data
• Any interruption, error, or omission in the Site's operation

This limitation applies regardless of whether CAN has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

8Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to external websites, resources, partner organisations, or service providers. These links are provided for your convenience and information only.

CAN does not endorse, control, or take responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or terms of any third-party websites. Visiting linked sites is done entirely at your own risk.

9User Conduct

You agree not to use the Site or Amara in ways that:

• Harass, demean, or discriminate against persons with disabilities or their families
• Spread misinformation about disability, special needs, or CAN's services
• Attempt to reverse engineer, hack, or tamper with our systems
• Use automated tools to scrape or extract content from the Site without permission
• Impersonate CAN, its staff, or any other person or organisation
• Engage in any activity that could damage the reputation or operations of CAN

CAN reserves the right to block access to any user who engages in prohibited conduct.

10Children's Safety

The safety and wellbeing of children is central to everything CAN does. Our Site is designed for use by adults — parents, caregivers, educators, advocates, and partners.

• If you are under 18, please use this Site under the supervision of a parent or guardian
• Do not share personal details about a child (name, location, medical information) in the Amara chat or any contact form
• If you have concerns about a child's immediate safety or wellbeing, please contact the appropriate local authorities or emergency services — CAN is not an emergency response service

11Governing Law

These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kenya. Any disputes arising from or related to the use of this Site shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nairobi, Kenya.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

12Changes to These Terms

CAN reserves the right to modify these Terms of Use at any time. Updated Terms will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. Significant changes will be communicated where reasonably possible.

Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

13Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about these Terms of Use, or if you would like to report any violation, please contact us: