Effective Date: August 12, 2026
Meraki Autism Center (“Meraki,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect information when you visit merakiautismcenter.com, contact us, or receive services from us.
This policy covers information collected through our website and general business communications. Protected health information (“PHI”) created or received in the course of providing clinical services is governed separately by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and by our Notice of Privacy Practices, which is provided to clients at intake and available on request. Where the two documents differ with respect to PHI, our Notice of Privacy Practices controls.
1. Information We Collect
Personal Information
Information that identifies you or the individual you are inquiring about, which you provide voluntarily. This includes your full name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and the name and age of a prospective or current client. If you apply for a position with us, this also includes your resume, work history, and any information contained in your application materials.
Program Participation Data
Information related to services you inquire about or receive, including referral source, insurance carrier and coverage details, diagnosis and evaluation information you choose to share with us, scheduling and attendance records, and service authorization status. Clinical records generated during treatment are maintained as PHI under HIPAA.
Communications
The contents of messages you send us through our website contact form, by email, by phone, by fax, or by text message, along with our replies and related records such as the date and time of contact and your SMS consent status.
Technical Information
Information collected automatically when you visit our website, including IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, pages viewed, the referring website, and the date and time of your visit. This is collected through cookies and similar technologies as described in Section 7.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your inquiries, referrals, and requests for information
- Schedule, confirm, and remind you of appointments
- Provide, coordinate, and manage ABA therapy, assessments, parent training, and social skills programming
- Verify insurance benefits, obtain authorizations, and process billing and payment
- Communicate with you about your care, including by phone, email, and SMS where you have consented
- Evaluate employment applications
- Maintain, secure, and improve our website and services
- Comply with our legal, regulatory, licensing, and accreditation obligations
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use your information for third-party marketing.
3. Sharing of Information
We share personal information only as necessary and only in the following circumstances:
- Service providers. Vendors who perform functions on our behalf, such as website hosting, electronic health record and practice management systems, telephone and SMS providers, billing and clearinghouse services, and email providers. These vendors may access information only to perform services for us and are contractually required to protect it. Where required, they operate under a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement.
- Insurance carriers and payers. For eligibility verification, prior authorization, claims submission, and payment.
- Other providers. Referring physicians, schools, and other treatment providers, where you have authorized the disclosure or where permitted by law for treatment coordination.
- Legal and safety. When required by law, subpoena, or court order; to report suspected abuse or neglect as required of mandated reporters; or to prevent serious harm to any person.
- Business transfers. In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to the protections of this policy and applicable law.
We never sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Phone numbers and SMS opt-in data are never shared with any third party or affiliate for marketing purposes.
4. Data Security
We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information against unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. These include encrypted transmission of data submitted through our website, access controls limiting information to staff with a legitimate need, workforce training on privacy and security, secure storage of paper and electronic records, and vendor agreements requiring comparable protections.
No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please do not send sensitive clinical information through our website contact form; contact us by phone at (734) 441-0546 to discuss confidential matters.
5. Children’s Privacy
Meraki Autism Center provides services to children, but our website is directed to parents, guardians, caregivers, and referring professionals — not to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through our website.
Information about a minor client is provided to us by a parent or legal guardian, or by a referring provider with appropriate authorization, and is handled in accordance with this policy, our Notice of Privacy Practices, and applicable law. A parent or guardian may review, request correction of, or request deletion of information we hold about their child by contacting us using the details in Section 10, subject to our legal and professional obligations to retain clinical records.
6. Your Choices and Rights
You may:
- Request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Request that we correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete
- Request deletion of information, subject to our record retention obligations
- Withdraw consent to receive SMS messages at any time (see Section 9.4)
- Unsubscribe from email communications using the link in any such email, or by contacting us
- Adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies (see Section 7)
Rights with respect to PHI — including the right to request restrictions, request an accounting of disclosures, and receive a copy of your records — are described in our Notice of Privacy Practices. To exercise any right, contact us using the details in Section 10. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to operate correctly, remember your preferences, and understand how visitors use the site. We use strictly necessary cookies required for basic site functionality, and analytics cookies that help us measure traffic and improve content.
Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies through their settings. Disabling cookies may affect how parts of our website function. We do not use cookies to serve targeted advertising, and we do not respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals, as no common standard for them has been adopted.
8. Changes 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 do, we will revise the Effective Date at the top of this page. Material changes will be highlighted on our website. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of our website or services after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
9. SMS Communications Policy
9.1 Consent to Receive SMS
By checking the SMS consent box on our website contact form, or by providing written consent on our intake paperwork, you agree to receive text messages from Meraki Autism Center at the phone number you provide. These messages relate to appointment reminders, follow-ups, scheduling, and account-related notifications. Consent is not a condition of receiving services from us, and you may decline without affecting your care.
9.2 No Third-Party Marketing Use
We do not share, sell, rent, or otherwise disclose phone numbers collected for SMS purposes to third parties or affiliates for their marketing purposes. Phone numbers are used only to communicate with you about your care and account.
9.3 SMS Opt-In
SMS opt-in and phone numbers collected for SMS communication purposes will not be shared with any third party and affiliates for marketing purposes.
9.4 Opt-Out Option
You may opt out at any time by replying “STOP” to any text message you receive from us. You will receive a single confirmation message and no further texts. You may also opt out by calling us at (734) 441-0546 or emailing info@merakiautismcenter.com. Opting out of SMS does not affect communications by phone or email. For help, reply “HELP” to any message or call (734) 441-0546.
9.5 Message Frequency and Charges
Message frequency may vary; you may receive up to 3–5 messages per week. Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and plan, and may differ for domestic and international messages. Meraki Autism Center is not responsible for charges assessed by your carrier.
9.6 Data Privacy and Security
Phone numbers and SMS consent records are stored in our secure systems and are accessible only to authorized staff. Our SMS provider processes messages on our behalf under a contract requiring it to safeguard your information and use it only to deliver our messages. Because SMS is not an encrypted channel, we limit the clinical detail included in text messages. Full SMS terms are available in Section 6 of our Terms & Conditions.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us:
Meraki Autism Center
705 S Main Street, Suite 260
Plymouth, MI 48170
Email: info@merakiautismcenter.com
Phone: (734) 441-0546
Fax: (734) 468-3555
Website: https://merakiautismcenter.com