Privacy Policy
Effective Date: February 15, 2026
Polly's Place ("we," "our," or "us") is operated by Kevin Stewart. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the "Service"). We are committed to protecting your privacy, especially given the sensitive nature of health-related discussions on our platform.
1. Information We Collect
Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your username, email address, password (stored in hashed form), display name, and the role you select (patient, caregiver, family member, or medical professional).
Profile Information: You may optionally provide additional information such as a profile photo or biography.
Content You Create: Posts, replies, bookmarks, likes, and any other content you submit through the Service. When you choose to post anonymously, your identity is hidden from other users but retained by us for moderation purposes.
Verification Data: If you register as a medical professional, we collect your National Provider Identifier (NPI) number and related credential information from the public NPPES registry for verification purposes.
Device Information: We collect device type, operating system, and push notification tokens to deliver notifications to your device.
Usage Data: We collect information about how you interact with the Service, including pages viewed, features used, and timestamps.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
- Create and manage your account
- Send push notifications you have opted into (replies, likes, new articles, moderation updates)
- Verify medical professional credentials
- Moderate content and enforce our Community Guidelines
- Respond to your inquiries and support requests
- Protect against fraudulent, unauthorized, or illegal activity
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share information only in the following circumstances:
- Public Content: Posts and replies you create (unless posted anonymously) are visible to other users of the Service
- Service Providers: We use Expo Push Notification services to deliver notifications. Push tokens are shared with Expo (operated by Expo, Inc.) solely for notification delivery
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or governmental regulation
- Safety: We may share information when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect the safety of our users or the public
4. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:
- Passwords are hashed using bcrypt and never stored in plain text
- All data transmissions are encrypted via SSL/TLS (HTTPS)
- Authentication uses JSON Web Tokens (JWT) with expiration
- Database access is restricted and credentials are secured
However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
5. Your Rights and Choices
You have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Update your account information at any time through the app
- Delete your account by contacting us at the email below
- Control push notification preferences within the app settings
- Block other users to prevent mutual content visibility
- Post anonymously to participate without revealing your identity to other users
6. Data Retention
We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. If you request account deletion, we will remove your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or necessary for legitimate business purposes (such as resolving disputes or enforcing our agreements).
7. Children's Privacy
The Service is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete that information promptly.
8. Third-Party Services
The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy within the app and updating the "Effective Date" above. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, contact us at:
Kevin Stewart
Email: kgstew96@gmail.com
Terms of Service
Effective Date: February 15, 2026
Welcome to Polly's Place. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Polly's Place mobile application and website (the "Service"), operated by Kevin Stewart ("we," "our," or "us"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
1. Eligibility
You must be at least 13 years of age to use the Service. By using the Service, you represent that you are at least 13 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. If you are under 18, you represent that you have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use the Service.
2. Account Registration
To access certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:
- Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
- Maintain the security of your password and account
- Promptly update your information if it changes
- Accept responsibility for all activity under your account
- Not create more than one account or create accounts on behalf of others without authorization
3. User Content
You retain ownership of content you create ("User Content"). By posting User Content, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to display, distribute, and use your content in connection with operating the Service.
You are responsible for your User Content. You agree not to post content that:
- Violates our Community Guidelines
- Infringes on intellectual property rights
- Contains malware or harmful code
- Is unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, or fraudulent
- Constitutes medical advice (see our Health Disclaimer)
4. Professional Verification
Users who register as medical professionals may undergo a verification process. Verification indicates that we have confirmed the user holds a valid National Provider Identifier (NPI) or equivalent credential. It does not constitute an endorsement of any medical advice or opinions shared by verified professionals.
5. Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to:
- Use the Service for any illegal purpose
- Impersonate any person or entity
- Harass, bully, intimidate, or threaten other users
- Post spam, advertisements, or unauthorized commercial solicitations
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or other users' accounts
- Use automated means (bots, scrapers) to access the Service without our written consent
- Circumvent or disable any security features
- Collect personal information about other users without their consent
6. Content Moderation
We reserve the right to review, edit, or remove any User Content at our sole discretion. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or our Community Guidelines. Users may report content or other users using the in-app reporting feature.
7. Blocking
Users may block other users at any time. When blocked, neither party can view the other's content or interact with each other through the Service.
8. Intellectual Property
The Service and its original content (excluding User Content), features, and functionality are owned by Kevin Stewart and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
9. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
10. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, KEVIN STEWART SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES RESULTING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.
11. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Kevin Stewart from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Service, your User Content, or your violation of these Terms.
12. Termination
We may terminate or suspend your account at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive.
13. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.
14. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through the app. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance.
15. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Contact us at kgstew96@gmail.com.
Community Guidelines
Effective Date: February 15, 2026
Polly's Place exists to provide a safe, supportive space for people affected by Parkinson's disease — patients, caregivers, family members, and healthcare professionals. These guidelines help keep our community welcoming and helpful for everyone.
1. Be Kind and Respectful
- Treat all members with dignity, regardless of their role, background, or opinions
- Disagree respectfully — challenge ideas, not people
- Remember that everyone is at a different stage of their journey with Parkinson's
- Be patient with members who may have difficulty typing or communicating due to their condition
2. No Medical Advice
- Do not present personal opinions as medical facts
- Do not tell others to start, stop, or change medications
- Sharing your personal experience is welcome; prescribing actions for others is not
- Even verified medical professionals should encourage others to consult their own doctors
- Always preface personal health experiences with language like "In my experience..." or "What worked for me..."
3. Protect Privacy
- Do not share other people's personal or medical information without their consent
- Respect the anonymity of users who choose to post anonymously
- Do not share content from Polly's Place on other platforms without the author's permission
- Do not attempt to identify anonymous users
4. No Harassment or Hate
- Zero tolerance for harassment, bullying, threats, or intimidation
- No hate speech based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other characteristic
- No doxxing (sharing someone's private information)
- No stalking or repeated unwanted contact
5. No Spam or Self-Promotion
- Do not post advertisements, affiliate links, or commercial solicitations
- Do not promote products, supplements, or treatments for commercial gain
- Sharing helpful resources is fine; selling to our community is not
- Do not create multiple accounts to manipulate the platform
6. No Misinformation
- Do not spread unverified claims about cures, treatments, or causes of Parkinson's disease
- Cite sources when sharing research or medical information
- If you're unsure about something, say so — it's okay to not have all the answers
7. Content Appropriateness
- Keep content relevant to the community's purpose
- No sexually explicit, violent, or graphic content
- Use content warnings when discussing sensitive topics like end-of-life planning, depression, or caregiver burnout
- Off-topic conversations are welcome in the Off Topic category
8. Reporting and Enforcement
If you see content that violates these guidelines, please use the Report button on any post or reply. Our moderation team reviews all reports.
Violations may result in:
- Content removal — the offending post or reply is hidden
- Warning — a notification about the violation
- Temporary suspension — a temporary ban from the Service
- Permanent ban — removal from the community
The severity of enforcement depends on the nature and frequency of violations.
9. Blocking
If another user makes you uncomfortable, you can block them at any time from their post or profile. Blocking prevents both parties from seeing each other's content or interacting.
10. A Note on Mental Health
End User License Agreement
Effective Date: February 15, 2026
This End User License Agreement ("EULA") is a legal agreement between you ("User") and Kevin Stewart ("Licensor") for the use of the Polly's Place mobile application ("Application").
1. License Grant
The Licensor grants you a revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license to download, install, and use the Application on mobile devices that you own or control, strictly in accordance with this EULA and the Application's Terms of Service.
2. Restrictions
You agree not to:
- Copy, modify, or distribute the Application or any portion of it
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Application
- Make the Application available over a network where it could be used by multiple devices at the same time
- Rent, lease, lend, sell, or sublicense the Application
- Use the Application for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws
3. Intellectual Property
The Application and all rights therein are owned by the Licensor. This EULA does not transfer any ownership rights. The Application is protected by copyright laws and international treaty provisions.
4. User Content
You retain ownership of content you submit through the Application. By submitting content, you grant the Licensor a license to use, display, and distribute your content as described in the Terms of Service.
5. Third-Party Services
The Application may use third-party services including but not limited to:
- Expo Push Notification Services (for delivering notifications)
- Apple Push Notification Service (APNs) on iOS devices
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) on Android devices
- The NPPES NPI Registry (for professional verification)
Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies.
6. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE APPLICATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE LICENSOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
7. Limitation of Liability
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE APPLICATION, REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE OF ACTION OR THE THEORY OF LIABILITY.
8. Health Information Disclaimer
The Application facilitates peer-to-peer discussions about Parkinson's disease. The Application does NOT provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. See our Health Disclaimer for full details.
9. Termination
This EULA is effective until terminated. Your rights under this EULA will terminate automatically if you fail to comply with any of its terms. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the Application and delete all copies.
10. Apple-Specific Terms
If you downloaded the Application from the Apple App Store:
- This EULA is between you and Kevin Stewart, not Apple Inc. ("Apple")
- Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the Application
- In the event of any failure of the Application to conform to any applicable warranty, you may notify Apple, and Apple will refund the purchase price (if any) for the Application. Apple has no other warranty obligation with respect to the Application
- Apple is not responsible for addressing any claims relating to the Application or your use of it
- Apple is a third-party beneficiary of this EULA and may enforce it against you
11. Governing Law
This EULA shall be governed by the laws of the State of Alabama, United States.
12. Contact
For questions about this EULA, contact: kgstew96@gmail.com
Health Information Disclaimer
Effective Date: February 15, 2026
1. Not Medical Advice
The information shared on Polly's Place — including posts, replies, articles, and resources — is provided for informational and peer support purposes only. This content:
- Is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
- Should NOT be used to make decisions about your health or the health of others
- Does NOT create a doctor-patient or therapist-patient relationship
- May not be accurate, complete, or current
2. Consult Your Healthcare Provider
Always seek the advice of your physician, neurologist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding Parkinson's disease or any other medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on Polly's Place.
3. Verified Professional Designation
Some users on Polly's Place carry a "Verified Professional" badge, indicating that we have confirmed they hold a valid healthcare credential (such as an NPI number). This verification:
- Confirms the user's professional credentials only
- Does NOT mean their posts constitute professional medical advice
- Does NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between the professional and any user
- Does NOT represent an endorsement by Polly's Place of any specific medical opinion
Verified professionals participating in the community are sharing general information and personal opinions, not providing clinical care.
4. Emergency Situations
5. Medications and Treatments
Users may discuss their experiences with medications, treatments, therapies, exercises, and supplements. You should understand that:
- Individual experiences vary significantly — what works for one person may not work for another
- Parkinson's disease affects each person differently
- Medication interactions can be dangerous — never change your medication regimen without consulting your doctor
- Alternative and complementary treatments discussed by users have not necessarily been verified for safety or efficacy
6. Mental Health
Parkinson's disease can significantly affect mental health, including causing depression, anxiety, and cognitive changes. Polly's Place provides a supportive community, but we are not a substitute for mental health professionals.
If you or someone you know is in crisis:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (US)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (US)
- International Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a crisis center
7. Research and Articles
Articles published on Polly's Place are intended to be educational and informational. While we strive for accuracy and may have content reviewed by verified professionals, articles may:
- Contain outdated information as medical science evolves
- Present simplified explanations of complex medical topics
- Not account for your specific medical history or circumstances
Always verify information with your healthcare team before making any health-related decisions.
8. No Liability
Kevin Stewart, the operator of Polly's Place, and any contributors to the platform shall not be held liable for any health outcomes, injuries, or damages resulting from information shared on the Service. Your use of any information on this platform is solely at your own risk.
9. Parkinson's Disease Resources
For reliable, professional information about Parkinson's disease, we recommend:
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation: michaeljfox.org
- Parkinson's Foundation: parkinson.org
- American Parkinson Disease Association: apdaparkinson.org
- Davis Phinney Foundation: davisphinneyfoundation.org
10. Contact
If you have concerns about health information on Polly's Place, please contact us at kgstew96@gmail.com.