Policies & Statements

Website Terms of Use, Data and Privacy Policy, and Anti-Discrimination Statements

Introduction

Welcome to agecentral.org (“the Site”), the official website of Central Illinois Agency on Aging, Inc., DBA Age Central (“Age Central”). This document contains

1. Website Terms of Use
2. Privacy & Data Policy
3. Anti-Discrimination Statements
4. Equity Statement
5. Additional Compliance Statements, Procedures & Forms
   • Non-Discrimination Notice to the Public (English and Spanish)
   • Non-Discrimination ADA/Title VI Complaint Procedures
   • Discrimination ADA/Title VI Complaint Form
   • ADA Reasonable Modification Request Form

By using the Site, you agree to abide by all sections of this integrated policy.

2. Website Terms of Use

2.1 Acceptance of Terms

This website is offered to you conditioned upon your acceptance, without modification, of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein (the “Terms”). Your use of the Site constitutes your agreement to all such Terms. Please read them carefully and keep a copy for your records.

2.2 Electronic Communications

Visiting agecentral.org, sending emails to any Age Central domain, or submitting contact forms constitutes electronic communication. You consent to receive electronic communications, and you agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications that we provide to you electronically, via email and on the Site, satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.

2.3 Links to Third-Party Sites / Third-Party Services

Age Central’s Site may contain links to external websites (“Linked Sites”). Linked Sites are not under our control, and Age Central is not responsible for the content of any Linked Site, including any further links or updates within those Linked Sites. We provide these links as a convenience; their inclusion does not constitute endorsement by Age Central.

2.4 No Unlawful or Prohibited Use / Intellectual Property

You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use this Site strictly in accordance with these Terms. As a condition of using the Site, you warrant that you will not use it for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these Terms. You may not:

• Use the Site in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair our systems.
• Attempt to obtain materials or information through means not intentionally made available via the Site.
• Modify, publish, reverse-engineer, transfer, or sell any portion of the Site’s content without explicit permission.

All content (text, graphics, logos, software, etc.) is the property of Age Central or its content suppliers and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

2.5 International Users

If you access the Site from outside the United States, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws. You agree not to use any Age Central content in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.

2.6 Refund Policy

Unless otherwise specified, Age Central does not offer refunds or exchanges for donations, program fees, or other transactions. However, if you believe there was an error or extenuating circumstance, please contact us using the information below.

2.7 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Age Central, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and third parties from any losses, costs, liabilities, or expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of or related to:

• Your use or inability to use the Site or services;
• Any user content posted by you;
• Any violation of these Terms;
• Any violation of third-party rights;
• Any violation of applicable laws or regulations.

2.8 Liability Disclaimer

Information, software, products, and services on the Site may include inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically added, and Age Central may make improvements and/or changes at any time. To the maximum extent permitted by law, all information, software, products, services, and related graphics are provided “as is” without warranty or condition of any kind. Age Central disclaims all warranties and conditions regarding this information, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

2.9 Termination / Access Restriction

Age Central reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate or limit your access to the Site and related services at any time, without notice. To the maximum extent permitted by law, this agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, and you hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of courts in Illinois in all disputes arising out of or relating to the use of the Site.

If any portion of these Terms is deemed invalid or unenforceable by a court, the invalid or unenforceable provision will be superseded by a valid, enforceable provision reflecting as closely as possible the original intent. The remainder of these Terms shall remain in effect. This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and Age Central regarding the Site and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications, whether electronic, oral, or written.

2.10 Changes to Terms

Age Central reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to change these Terms at any time. The most current version of the Terms will supersede all previous versions. We encourage you to periodically review the Terms to remain informed of any updates.

3. Privacy & Data Policy

3.1 Overview

Protecting your private information is our priority. This Privacy Policy applies to agecentral.org and any associated digital properties, and governs data collection, usage, and practices regarding personal information.

3.2 Collection of Personal Information

Age Central may collect:

• Personally identifiable information, such as name, address, email, phone number, etc., if you register for services, donate, or communicate with us.
• Billing and payment information when you make donations or other financial transactions.
• Demographic or voluntary information if you fill out surveys or forms.
• Website usage data (IP address, browser type, access times, referring website addresses) for usage analysis and service improvement.

We collect and process this information in accordance with applicable law, and only as needed to deliver services, fulfill your requests, comply with legal obligations, or pursue our legitimate interests.

3.3 Use of Your Personal Information

Your personal information may be used to:

• Operate our website(s) and deliver requested services or information;
• Process donations or transactions;
• Send you updates on programs, events, or services;
• Conduct surveys or research to improve offerings;
• Comply with legal obligations or enforce policies.

Age Central does not sell, rent, or lease personal information to third parties. We may share data with trusted partners who perform functions on our behalf under strict confidentiality obligations.

3.4 Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this Policy, to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce agreements. When it is no longer needed, we securely dispose of it.

3.5 Children Under Thirteen

Age Central does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. If you are under 13, please seek permission from a parent or guardian before using our Site or services.

3.6 Security Measures

We employ reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

3.7 Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time to reflect organizational or legal changes. We encourage you to review it periodically.

4. Anti-Discrimination Statement

Age Central prohibits discrimination against any client, employee, volunteer, or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, political beliefs, marital status, family or parental status, or sexual orientation.

We do not require individuals to:

• Attend religious or political meetings to receive services;
• Make statements of faith or membership in a religious or political organization;
• Restrict assistance to special groups;
• Provide Social Security numbers unless required by law or specific program regulations.

Age Central affirms its commitment to recognizing, addressing, and eradicating all forms of racism and ethnic oppression. Staff and volunteers strive to identify, discuss, and remedy issues of racial and ethnic disparities in our community.

5. Equity Statement

Age Central is committed to fostering equity both internally (among our employees, volunteers, and board) and externally (through our programs, initiatives, and partnerships). We aim to:

• Develop policies reflecting kindness, dignity, and nonjudgmental approaches;
• Acknowledge and address biases or discrimination in our processes;
• Engage diverse groups with a variety of backgrounds and life experiences;
• Assess and adapt our services to ensure fair and equitable access for older adults in our region.

6. Additional Compliance Statements & Procedures

6.1 Non-Discrimination Notice to the Public (English & Spanish)

6.2 Non-Discrimination ADA/Title VI Complaint Procedures

These procedures provide guidance for all complaints filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) as they relate to any program or activity that is administered by Age Central including consultants, contractors and vendors. Intimidation or retaliation as a result of a complaint is prohibited by law. In addition to these procedures, complainants reserve the right to file a formal complaint with other State or Federal agencies or to seek private counsel for complaints alleging discrimination. Every effort will be made to resolve complaints at the lowest possible level.

1. Any person who believes he and/or she has been discriminated against based on race, color, national origin, or disability may file a Discrimination complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form.
2. Formal complaints must be filed within 180 calendar days of the last date of the alleged act of discrimination or the date when the alleged discrimination became known to the complainant(s), or where there has been a continuing course of conduct, the date on which the conduct was discontinued or the latest instance of the conduct.
3. Complaints must be in writing and signed by the complainant(s) and must include the complainant(s) name, address and phone number. The ADA/Title VI contact person will assist the complainant with documenting the issues if necessary.
4. Allegations received by fax or e-mail will be acknowledged and processed once the identity of the complainant(s) and the intent to proceed with the complaint have been established. For this, the complainant is required to mail a signed, original copy of the fax or email transmittal for the complaint to be processed.
5. Allegations received by telephone will be reduced to writing and provided to the complainant for confirmation or revision before processing. A complaint form will be forwarded to the complainant for him/her to complete, sign, and return for processing.
6. Once submitted Age Central will review the complaint form to determine jurisdiction. All complaints will receive an acknowledgment letter informing her/him whether the complaint will be investigated by Age Central or submitted to the State or Federal authority for guidance.
7. Age Central will notify the IDOT Civil Rights Office of ALL Discrimination complaints within 72 hours via telephone at (217) 782-2762; or email at DOT.Complaint@illinois.gov.
8. Age Central has 30 business days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case, the Authority may contact the complainant. The complainant has 30 business days from the date of the letter to send the requested information to the investigator assigned to the case. If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within 30 business days, the Authority can administratively close the case. The case can be administratively closed also if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.
9. After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was no Discrimination violation and the case will be closed. An LOF summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member, or other action will occur.
10. A copy of either the closure letter or LOF must also be submitted to IDOT within 72 hours of that decision. Letters may be submitted by hardcopy or email.
11. A complainant dissatisfied with Age Central’s decision may file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) or the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) offices of Civil Rights:
    • IDOT: ATTN ADA/Title VI Program Coordinator, 69 W. Washington Street, Room 2100, Chicago, IL 60602
    • FTA: Attention Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington DC 20590
12. A copy of these procedures can be found online at: agecentral.org.
    If information is needed in another language, contact (309) 674-2071.

6.3 Discrimination ADA/Title VI Complaint Form

Please submit this form in person at the address below or mail this form to:
Age Central
ATTN: Executive Director
700 Hamilton Blvd
Peoria, IL 61603

Phone: (309) 674-2071
Email: info@agecentral.org

6.4 ADA Reasonable Modification Request Form

Once completed, please mail or email this form to:
Age Central
ATTN: Reasonable Modification
700 Hamilton Blvd
Peoria, IL 61603
Email: info@agecentral.org

To request a modification by phone, please call the following number: (309) 674-2071.

Requests for reasonable modifications may be denied on the following grounds:

1. It is a fundamental alteration to the nature of the program, service, or activity,
2. It is a direct threat to the health or safety of others,
3. It is not a requirement by the requester to use the service, or
4. The modification creates an undue financial/administrative burden.

Age Central will strive to acknowledge and approve or deny requests within three (3) business days of receipt. All riders who are denied a request can appeal. For a copy of our Appeals Form and the complete Reasonable Modification Policy, please visit agecentral.org.

All information is kept confidential. Upon request, all materials are available in accessible format and in languages other than English.

7. Contact Information

If you have any questions or comments regarding these Terms of Use, Privacy & Data Policy, Anti-Discrimination Statements, or any of the compliance forms and procedures herein, please contact:

Age Central
700 Hamilton Blvd
Peoria, IL 61603
Phone: (309) 674-2071
Email: info@agecentral.org
TTY: 1-800-526-0844 or 711
Website: agecentral.org

Effective as of 2025.