Last updated: June 10, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how The Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America (doing business as debra of America) uses cookies and similar technologies on https://www.debra.org. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which describes more broadly how we collect and use information.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your computer or mobile device when you visit. They help the site function, remember your preferences, and help us understand how the site is used. Cookies set by us are called “first-party” cookies; cookies set by other companies whose services we use are called “third-party” cookies.
How we use cookies
We use cookies for three purposes: to make the website work (for example, remembering a form you started or your newsletter subscription status), to understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it (analytics), and to measure whether visits that come from our Google search ads lead to actions like donations (conversion measurement). We do not use cookies for ad targeting, remarketing, or to build advertising profiles of our visitors, and we do not sell or share cookie data for advertising purposes.
Analytics cookies
We use two analytics services. Google Analytics helps us understand which pages visitors use and how they navigate the site. Microsoft Clarity provides heatmaps and anonymized session replays — visual recordings of how visitors scroll, click, and move through pages — which we use to evaluate and improve the website’s design. Clarity is configured to mask the contents of forms, so information you type (such as your name, email address, or payment details) is not visible in recordings.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique visitors | 2 years (some browsers cap at ≈ 13 months) |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics | Maintains session state for our Analytics property | 2 years (some browsers cap at ≈ 13 months) |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes visitors over a 24-hour period | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Limits the rate of data requests | 1 minute |
| _gcl_au | Stores information about the ad click that brought you to the site, so we can measure whether our Google search ads lead to actions like donations. Not used for ad targeting. | 3 months | |
| _clck | Microsoft Clarity | Persists a Clarity user ID so behavior across visits can be connected | 1 year |
| _clsk | Microsoft Clarity | Connects page views within a single session recording | 1 day |
| MUID | Microsoft | Microsoft identifier used for analytics on Microsoft services (set on Microsoft domains) | 13 months |
For more about how these providers handle data, see the Google Privacy & Terms page (https://policies.google.com/privacy) and the Microsoft Privacy Statement (https://privacy.microsoft.com/privacystatement).
Functional cookies
Some features of the site set cookies to work properly — for example, remembering whether you have subscribed to our email newsletter, retaining details you have entered in a contact form, or maintaining your session if you log in to an account. These cookies do not track you across other websites.
Cookies from embedded content
Some pages include content hosted by other companies, which may set their own cookies when that content loads:
- Vimeo — we embed videos hosted on Vimeo (for example, on our homepage). Vimeo may set cookies such as “vuid” to support video playback and its own analytics. See Vimeo’s Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy at vimeo.com/privacy.
- Google — some pages load embedded Google services (such as spam protection on forms), which may set Google cookies including “NID” (preferences and security, 6 months) and short-lived security cookies such as “__Secure-STRP”. These support the embedded service’s functioning and security; see Google’s Privacy Policy at policies.google.com/privacy.
- Bonterra — our donation forms are provided by Bonterra, which may set cookies necessary to process donations securely. See Bonterra’s privacy policy at bonterratech.com/legal/privacy-policy.
How to control cookies
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings — most browsers let you block third-party cookies, block all cookies, or delete cookies already stored. Browser “Help” menus explain how. Note that blocking all cookies may affect some site features, such as forms and embedded videos.
- To opt out of Google Analytics across all websites, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
- Most browsers also offer tracking-protection features (such as Global Privacy Control or Enhanced Tracking Protection) that limit analytics and third-party cookies automatically.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example when we add or remove services that use cookies. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised.
Questions
If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, contact us at staff@debra.org