Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to SpeakAnyWay! Your privacy is critically important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) application and website.

2. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information in connection with the services we provide, including:

• Personal Information: Information that can be used to identify you, such as your name, email address, and other contact details.
• Usage Data: Information about how you use our AAC application and website, including word clicks, navigation patterns, and interactions. This helps us improve our software and user experience.
• Cookies: Small files stored on your device that help us understand your preferences and enhance your experience.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• To provide and maintain our AAC services.
• To personalize your experience and tailor content to your communication needs.
• To analyze usage patterns and improve our application and website, making SpeakAnyWay more effective for all users.
• To communicate with you and provide customer support.

4. Cookies and Analytics

We use a small number of cookies and one analytics provider to understand how our AAC application and website are used so we can improve them. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use third-party advertising trackers.

Analytics provider. We use PostHog for product analytics (for example, which features are used and where people run into errors). We previously used Google Analytics; it has been removed. No analytics cookies are set until you accept them using the cookie banner described below.

Consent banner. On your first visit we show a cookie banner with equally prominent "Accept" and "Decline" choices, and we remember your choice. Until you accept, analytics runs in a cookieless mode that collects only anonymous, aggregate statistics and sets no analytics cookies. If you decline, analytics stays cookieless and anonymous.

Global Privacy Control (GPC). If your browser or an extension sends a Global Privacy Control signal, we treat it as an automatic opt-out and do not show the banner.

Children's communicator sessions. When a communicator (child) profile is the active session, we run no third-party analytics for that session at all — no events are sent and no analytics cookies are set. See Section 5.

The cookies and stored values we use are:

• PostHog analytics cookie (set only after you accept) — distinguishes returning visitors so usage statistics are accurate.
• Cookie-consent preference (stored in your browser's local storage) — remembers whether you accepted or declined so we don't ask again.

You can also instruct your browser to refuse cookies. Declining analytics cookies does not prevent you from using the service.

5. Children's Privacy

SpeakAnyWay is often used by and for children, including children under 13. We design our analytics to avoid collecting persistent identifiers from children: whenever a communicator (child) profile is the active session, third-party analytics is fully disabled for that session — no events are transmitted and no cookies or device identifiers are set. We do not knowingly use children's personal information for advertising or share it with third parties except as needed to operate the service or comply with the law. If you believe a child has provided us personal information without appropriate consent, contact us at hello@speakanyway.com and we will delete it.

6. Data Retention

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy or as required by law. Account information is retained while your account is active and deleted on request or within a reasonable period after the account is closed. Anonymous and aggregate analytics, which cannot be used to identify you, may be retained longer. To request deletion of your information, contact us at hello@speakanyway.com.

7. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with third parties except as necessary to provide our AAC services, comply with legal obligations, or protect our rights. One place where communicator details are sent to an outside provider at your request is described below.

AI-assisted writing suggestions

Some text fields in SpeakAnyWay offer optional writing suggestions. These only run when you ask for them by tapping "Give me ideas" — they never run on their own, and they are never generated in the background.

When you tap it, we send a small amount of context about that communicator to our AI provider, OpenAI, so the suggestions are relevant: their name, age range, AAC level, gestalt language stage, and interests.

We never send emergency or medical information to OpenAI. Allergies, medical conditions, medications, other health conditions, emergency notes, and emergency contacts are excluded from these requests entirely.

You can turn writing suggestions off for your whole account at any time in Settings. Turning them off stops these requests completely.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no internet-based service can be 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data. We continuously strive to implement and update our security practices to keep your information safe.

9. Your Rights

You have the right to access, update, or delete your personal information. To exercise these rights, please contact us at hello@speakanyway.com.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us by email at hello@speakanyway.com.