DSE Cookies Policy
Data privacy and security is important to DSE, which includes Down Syndrome Education International, Down Syndrome Education USA and Down Syndrome Education Enterprises CIC ("DSE").
This Cookies Policy explains how we use cookies and web beacons (or "tracking pixels") to improve the functionality and reliability of our websites, services and applications, and applies to all DSE web sites and services (collectively, "DSE Sites"). This policy should be read in conjunction with out Privacy Policy which explains how we use and protect personal information.
What are cookies and web beacons?
Cookies
Cookies are text files used to hold small amounts of data connected to a visitor to a web site. The data is sent to your browser by a web site and stored on your computer or tablet or mobile device. When you visit DSE Sites, we may collect information from you automatically through cookies or similar technology.
Cookies are very useful for storing non-sensitive information. Examples of these might include a preferred language, the time a user first visited and most recently visited, and if a user has consented to the most recent update to a privacy policy. Cookies can also be used to identify requests to our websites from individual users which can help us analyse how well our websites are performing and learn more about what our web site visitors find most helpful and interesting.
Web beacons
Web beacons (also known as "tracking pixels") are typically small transparent images that provide us with statistics, for similar purposes as cookies. They are often used in conjunction with cookies, though they are not stored on your computer in the same way. As a result, if you disable cookies, web beacons may still load, but their functionality will be restricted. Web beacons can also be included in emails to enable us to track if an email has been opened.
How we use cookies and web beacons
We use cookies and web beacons to provide essential functionality and to monitor usage of our sites and services. More specifically, we currently use cookies and web beacons to:
- Identify if you are logged in - On sites that require a user account and password, such as our online training site, we will use a cookie to record if you have recently logged in. If you set your browser to block these cookies, then you will be prompted to log in repeatedly.
- Store the contents of your shopping basket - On our online stores, we use cookies to remember your shopping basket.
- Monitor usage of our sites and services - DSE sites use cookies to identify individual users (browsers) for the purposes of tracking and reporting on viewing usage and patterns.
- Monitor the performance of communications - DSE sites use cookies to track responses to our communications.
- Track email - When we send emails to clients, including subscribers opted into our mailing lists, we may include web beacons to track if the emails are opened. We may also embed identifier in the links included to emails to track if links are clicked/tapped on.
Consent and opting out
If you continue to use our web sites, we will assume that you have consented to our use of cookies and web beacons.
Most browsers offer a way to disable cookies. Please refer to your browser's documentation/help for advice on how to do this. Please note that disabling cookies completely will mostly likely break some functionality on some or all of our web sites.
This policy was last updated on 4 April 2024 (version 20240404A).
