Policy for Employees, Volunteers and Board Members

Respecting the privacy of our clients, donors, staff, volunteers and of ConsultAbility itself is a basic value of our organization. Personal and financial information is confidential and should not be disclosed or discussed with anyone,  including their relatives, friends, and business and professional associates, without permission or authorization from Leadership. Care shall also be taken to ensure that unauthorized individuals do not overhear any discussion of confidential information and that documents containing confidential information are not left in the open or inadvertently shared.This policy is not intended to prevent disclosure where disclosure is required by law.

Board members, employees, and volunteers may have access to confidential, privileged, or proprietary information. All are expected to exercise professionalism, judgment, and care to prevent unauthorized disclosure, such as leaving documents or computer screens in plain view. It is the policy of ConsultAbility that such information must remain confidential during and after one’s service. Staff and volunteers, including board members, are expected to return materials containing privileged or confidential information at the time of separation from employment or expiration of service.

Failure to adhere to this policy will result in discipline, up to and including separation of employment or service with ConsultAbility.

Rationale

Confidentiality is the preservation of privileged information. By necessity personal and private information, including disability-related details, will be disclosed in our professional working relationships. Part of what you learn is necessary to provide services to the client; other information is shared within the development of a helping, trusting relationship. Therefore, most information gained about individual clients is confidential in terms of the law, and disclosure could make you legally liable. Disclosure could also damage your relationship with the client and make it difficult to help the person.

Updated October 2025