A laptop computer containing data files for Youth Transition Program (YTP) participants was stolen from a University of Oregon employee near the end of October, and some of those files contained the names and social security numbers of YTP participants. The theft appeared to be random and the computer was password protected. There is no indication that the thief has been able to access any of the computer’s files.
The YTP is a collaborative transition program that serves more than 1,200 youths with disabilities statewide in Oregon. The program provides career planning and employment services to individuals ages 17 to 21 who have a variety of disabilities including learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, emotional disabilities and mental retardation. The program is run by the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS). However, the university provides evaluation services for OVRS to help the agency determine which programs are most effective.
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The university has already made several changes that will help to insure that this situation does not occur again. This includes no longer collecting the social security numbers of YTP participants, storing YTP data on an encrypted web-based system, and requiring employees involved with YTP to delete records stored on individual laptop computers.
Source – University of Oregon