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Website Privacy Statement

Updated 2021

The American Music Therapy Association is committed to preserving your right to privacy as well as using technology that provides as powerful and safe an online experience as possible. This statement applies to the AMTA website and governs data collection and usage. It also describes choices available to you regarding our use of your personal information and how to access and update this information. By using the AMTA website, you consent to the data practices described below. If you have questions or concerns regarding this policy or practices, please contact us at webmaster@musictherapy.org

Collection of Personal Information

While this site does not require registration or personal information to browse, some information is automatically transmitted to our web servers so the site can operate on the Internet. Non-personally identifiable information may be automatically collected. This information may include: IP address, browser type, domain names, access times, and referring website addresses. This information is used by AMTA for the operation of member services, to maintain quality of service, and to provide general statistics regarding use of the AMTA website and track frequently-used pages in order to value and improve services in accordance with the mission of AMTA.

AMTA collects personally identifiable information that is voluntarily submitted from members and individuals using the contact us form, through joining AMTA, or purchasing items from the AMTA online store. These data include elements such as email address, name, home or work address, and telephone number(s). AMTA may also collect anonymous demographic information, which is not unique to you, such as ZIP code, age, gender, and preferences.  This information, in many cases, is necessary in order to provide the product or service requested. AMTA stores customer information in a password-protected, encrypted database to fulfill requests and manage member information and payments.

Use of Cookies

This website uses cookies. A cookie is a small text file stored on a user's computer for record-keeping purposes. The information stored in cookies does not link to any personally identifiable information submitted while on the site.  Depending on your preset Internet browser settings, files may be stored on your computer to remember history, password preferences, and for quicker browsing. For current members who log into the member-only area, this website temporarily stores and displays your name.

Session ID cookies are used to make it easier to navigate the site. A session ID cookie expires when you close your browser. A persistent cookie remains on your hard drive for an extended period of time. You can remove persistent cookies by following directions provided in your Internet browser's "help" file.

If you reject cookies, you may still use this site, but your ability to access some areas of our site, such as member information, contests, or surveys, may be limited.  The use of cookies by partners, affiliates, tracking utility companies, or other service providers is not covered by our privacy statement.

Log Files

This site, as is true of most web sites, uses third-party tracking services to gather certain information automatically and store it in log files. This information includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamp, and clickstream data. This information, which does not identify individual users, is used to analyze trends, administer the site, track users' movements around the site, and gather demographic information about the user base as a whole.

Google Analytics

This web site uses a tool called "Google Analytics" to collect information about site use. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users visit this site, what pages they visit when they do so, and what other sites they used prior to coming to this site. Information from Google Analytics is used to improve the site and services. Google Analytics collects only the IP address assigned to you on the date you visit this site, rather than your name or other identifying information. The information collected through the use of Google Analytics is not combined with personally identifiable information. Although Google Analytics plants a permanent cookie on your web browser to identify you as a unique user the next time you visit this site, the cookie cannot be used by anyone but Google. Google's ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics about your visits to this site is restricted by the Google Analytics Terms of Use and the Google Privacy Policy. You can prevent Google Analytics from recognizing you on return visits to this site by disabling cookies on your browser.

Links To Other Sites

This web site contains links to other sites that are not owned or controlled by AMTA.  You are encouraged to be aware when you leave this site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that you are directed to.  This statement applies only to information collected by this web site. AMTA is not responsible for the privacy statements or content on external websites.

Social Media Feeds and Widgets

This web site includes social media features, such as the Facebook “Like” button and other widgets. These features may collect your IP address, which page you are visiting, and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of the company providing it.

Please keep in mind that if you directly disclose personally identifiable information or personally sensitive data through AMTA public message boards and social media sites, this information may be seen and used by others on the internet.  Privacy policies for social media sites are set by the company providing the service and you should consider your privacy when posting to, commenting, or sending messages to AMTA through social media sites. AMTA has no control over the privacy policies of these social media sites even though AMTA may maintain a presence there. This includes third-party-provided pages such as blogs.

Public Forums

This web site offers publicly accessible blogs or community forums. Be aware that information you provide or post in these areas may be read, collected, and used by others who access them.

Testimonials

We may post your testimonial with no names or identifying information. If you want your testimonial removed, please contact the AMTA national office.

Information Collected from Members

If you join AMTA, you will be asked to provide a primary address, phone number, and email address for the purposes of providing you AMTA member benefits, sending journal copies (if you opt-in to print), and providing a listing for you in the Find a Music Therapist referral directory. Only AMTA members are eligible to appear in this directory.  

Members of AMTA are advised that our vendor for the association’s database does not allow for suppression of certain individual fields in your primary address. You may enter more than one address in your online record; please be advised that the address marked "primary" is the one used for the online directory by default, however, you may choose an address other than the “primary” and indicate that one be used for the online directory by checking “Show in Directory” for that address.  You may opt-out from appearing in the online directory entirely by checking the "Do Not Publish Online" box.  To make these changes, log into your account on this website and edit your information.  Alternatively, you may contact the AMTA national office and a staff member will be happy to help. If you would like to provide your phone number to AMTA, but do not want it listed online, you can request that your phone number be marked as unlisted by contacting the AMTA national office.

Members of AMTA will receive AMTA newsletters and communications at their primary email address. AMTA may, less frequently, send emails to non-members who have created a record with information of interest or importance to the music therapy community.

Sharing of Personal Information

AMTA collects and uses information to operate functions of the AMTA website and deliver services and benefits you request. AMTA uses your personally identifiable information to inform you of other products or services available from AMTA and its affiliates.  AMTA may contact you via surveys to conduct research about your opinion of current services or potential new services that may be offered.

From time to time, AMTA provides member lists to external business partners about offerings that may be of interest to you. In those cases, your unique information (e-mail, name, address, or telephone number) is provided for limited use by a third party for a specific purpose, reviewed and approved by AMTA to be consistent with the mission of the association. Vendors purchasing AMTA lists are not allowed to reuse or share that information with others.  AMTA does not sell lists of non-members. You may opt-out of appearing in third party communications by indicating so in your member record.  AMTA may share data with trusted partners to help perform statistical analysis, send correspondence, or provide customer support. All such third parties are prohibited from using personal information except to provide the specific task, and are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information. 

AMTA does not disclose sensitive personal information, such as income, marital status, etc., without your explicit consent and/or informing you how these data are used and aggregated. While AMTA does occasionally send survey invitations asking for workforce and other information for association goals, this information is requested through a voluntary, usually anonymous, survey.  Data from such surveys are reported in aggregate form only, with no personally identifiable information.

AMTA will retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. If your personally identifiable information changes, or if you prefer your information is no longer stored, you may correct, update, delete/deactivate your record by logging into your online account or contacting the AMTA national office and your request will be responded to within 30 days. AMTA will retain and use information as necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements.

Security of Your Personal Information

The security of your personal information is important to us. AMTA follows generally-accepted standards to protect personal information submitted, both during transmission and it is received. AMTA’s vendors secure personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. When personal information (such as a credit card number) is transmitted, it is protected through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol.

Legal Disclaimer

AMTA is subject to the investigatory and enforcement powers of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Your personal information would only be disclosed as required by law, such as to comply with a subpoena, or similar legal process when a belief in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, protect your safety or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a legal mandate exists.  AMTA will disclose your personal information, without notice, only if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on AMTA or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of AMTA; and, (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of AMTA, or the public.

Changes to this Statement

AMTA will occasionally update this Statement of Privacy to reflect association changes and service upgrades, and customer feedback. AMTA encourages you to periodically review this statement to be fully informed.

Contact Information

AMTA welcomes comments or concerns. Please contact AMTA directly at 301-589-3300. AMTA will use all reasonable and feasible means to promptly investigate and remedy the problem.