Ethics

Across everything we build

• Accessibility as a Primary Requirement: Accessibility is the starting point, not a retrofit. Every product, piece of content, and service is developed to a neurodivergent-first design standard from inception.
• Ethical Interaction Design: We strictly prohibit the use of dark patterns, manipulation, or coercion across all engagements—including product design, community interaction, and research consent.
• Active Consent by Default: Our systems are built on an “Opt-In” model. Access or participation requires a conscious, deliberate action by the user; we do not enroll users in services or data sharing by default.
• Representative Decision-Making: Neurodivergent perspectives are integrated into the initial stages of the decision-making process for all initiatives that affect the neurodivergent community.

Technology — UMNTech

• Data Sovereignty: We prioritize local-first storage. We do not utilize passive telemetry, behavioral profiling, or the sale of user data.
• Technical Privacy (Zero-Knowledge): Our architecture is designed so that we are technically incapable of accessing your personal data. Privacy is a structural feature, not a toggle.
• Manual-Push Troubleshooting: Data never flows to us automatically. If you initiate a support session, you must manually “push” anonymized logs to us. You decide what is sent and when the connection closes.
• Integrity of Revenue: We do not utilize ad-supported models. We ensure the product remains the priority, not the monetization of the user.
• Operational Validation: Every technical commitment is a verified promise. Features are tested across multiple use cases before release to ensure they perform as stated. We maintain a rigorous quality assurance process and are committed to prompt remediation should a technical failure occur.

Community — UMNTogether

• Independent Infrastructure: UMNTogether operates on infrastructure managed by UnMasking Neurons. Your data is not subject to third-party “big tech” terms of service and is never used to train external AI models.
• Safety-First Moderation: Our moderation standards prioritize the safety and well-being of community members over enforced conformity.
• Anonymity by Default: We view community members as partners in discovery, not subjects. Research participation is anonymized by default; contributors must explicitly opt-in if they wish to be acknowledged by name in published findings.
• Agency and its Limits: Consent is voluntary and reversible. While we will update our internal records and future digital publications to reflect a change in anonymity or participation, we cannot modify data already distributed in physical formats or third-party archives prior to the request.

Science Institute

• Evidence-Based Rigor: Research claims are supported by a minimum of 4–5 independent, peer-reviewed sources. We acknowledge contradicting evidence and prioritize clarity over appearing to have absolute answers.
• Classification of Evidence: We clearly distinguish between peer-reviewed research and lived experience. Every article is classified so users can identify the nature of the evidence provided.
• Clinical Disclaimer: The Science Institute provides educational and research-based content; it does not provide clinical advice or replace professional assessment and support.
• Commitment to Accuracy: As science evolves, we update our content to reflect the most current understanding, maintaining a transparent record of significant changes.

Consulting & Advisory

• Accessibility as a Strategic Standard: Our primary advisory focus is the implementation of neurodivergent-first accessibility across internal and external digital environments. We move beyond basic compliance to ensure that your platforms are functionally usable, meeting legal standards while eliminating the barriers that exclude talent and customers.
• The Security of Clarity: We recognize that inaccessible communication is a systemic vulnerability. Ambiguity in policies and tools undermines organizational standards and leadership. By ensuring that your processes and digital tools are precise and unambiguous, we resolve accessibility failures while simultaneously hardening your operational security.
• Privileged Confidentiality: Client confidentiality is absolute. Information observed during an engagement is never utilized as research material or public content without explicit written authorization and comprehensive anonymization.
• Neutrality of Recommendation: UMN does not accept referral fees or commissions that would incentivize the recommendation of specific vendors. Our guidance is dictated solely by the client’s needs.

The organization

• Systemic Accountability: We prioritize sustainable, ethical outcomes over immediate convenience. We take responsibility for the long-term impact of our decisions.
• Commitment to Rectification: We are committed to transparency. Should we fall short of these standards, we will acknowledge the issue and implement the necessary corrections.
• Universal Application: These standards apply to UnMasking Neurons LLC and all operating divisions—including UMNTech, UMN Consulting & Advisory, the Science Institute, and UMNTogether.