Privacy Policy

PlaceAut (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit placeaut.com, subscribe to our newsletter, submit a business listing, or purchase our services.

Please read this policy carefully. If you disagree with its terms, please discontinue use of the site.

1 Information We Collect

a. Information You Provide Directly

• Name and email address (newsletter signup, contact forms, business inquiries)
• Business name, address, phone number, and website (business listing submissions)
• Payment information — processed securely by Stripe; we do not store card data
• Communications you send us via email or contact forms

b. Information Collected Automatically

• IP address and browser type
• Pages visited, time on site, and referring URLs
• Device type and operating system

This data is collected through Google Analytics and standard server logs.

c. Publicly Available Business Information

PlaceAut publishes a directory of businesses that may be relevant to autism and sensory-friendly families. Some listings are created by PlaceAut using publicly available information, including:

• Business name, address, phone number, and website (sourced from Google Maps, public websites, and social media profiles)
• Business hours, photos, and category information available in the public domain

This information is published without prior consent from the business and is used solely to help families locate sensory-friendly venues. Business owners may claim, correct, or request removal of their listing at any time by contacting contact@placeaut.com.

d. Information from Third Parties

• If you click affiliate links to Amazon or other partners, those platforms may collect data per their own privacy policies
• If you subscribe via a third-party form, that provider may share basic submission data with us

2 How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Send our weekly newsletter and promotional emails (with your consent)
• Process business membership payments through Stripe
• Respond to inquiries and customer service requests
• Publish and manage business directory listings
• Improve website performance and user experience
• Analyze website traffic through Google Analytics
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use your data to target advertising.

3 Affiliate Links, Sponsored Content & Compensation Disclosure

Affiliate Programs We Participate In

When you click a link and complete a qualifying purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you:

• Amazon Associates — Commission 1–10% depending on category
• Therapy Shoppe — Commission approximately 8–10%
• Fun and Function — Commission approximately 8–10%
• ShareASale network partners — Various sensory and educational brands; rates vary
• Direct brand partnerships — Always disclosed individually at point of recommendation

Where Affiliate Links Appear

• Business listing pages — “What parents bring to this venue” product sections
• Blog posts and evergreen content articles
• The weekly Thursday newsletter — “PlaceAut recommends” section
• Instagram and TikTok content with “link in bio” calls to action
• Sensory welcome kit product lists provided to certified businesses

Our Editorial Independence Policy

PlaceAut was founded by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). All product recommendations are based on sensory appropriateness and genuine value to autistic children and their families. We follow these rules without exception:

• We never recommend a product solely because it offers a higher commission rate
• We never accept payment from a brand to recommend a product unless explicitly disclosed as a paid partnership
• We never allow affiliate relationships to influence our business certification decisions
• Every recommendation includes a sensory or practical reason explaining why the product may be useful

Paid Sponsorships

Any paid sponsorship will be clearly labeled: “Sponsored by [Brand],” “Paid partnership with [Brand],” or “This content was created in partnership with [Brand].” Paid partnerships do not influence PlaceAut’s certification standards or editorial content outside the labeled material.

4 Third-Party Services We Use

5 Email Communications

If you subscribe to the PlaceAut newsletter, we will send you a weekly email with certified business recommendations, sensory tips, and product suggestions.

You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email. We will process your request within 10 business days.

We do not share your email address with third parties for marketing purposes.

6 Children’s Privacy

PlaceAut is a resource for parents and caregivers. Our website is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us at contact@placeaut.com and we will delete it immediately.

We do not identify, photograph, or describe any child’s disability status, personal background, or personal information without explicit written consent from a parent or guardian.

7 Florida Residents — Your Rights

If you are a Florida resident, you may have the right to:

• Know what personal data we collect about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Opt out of the sale of personal data (we do not sell your data)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@placeaut.com. We will respond within 45 days.

8 Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures including HTTPS encryption, secure payment processing through Stripe, and limited internal access to personal data.

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you provide your information at your own risk.

9 Data Retention

• Email addresses: retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Business listing data (submitted by owner): retained while your listing is active
• Business listing data (publicly sourced): retained until a removal request is received and processed
• Payment records: retained as required by tax and accounting law
• Analytics data: retained per Google Analytics default settings (26 months)

10 Business Owner Rights

If PlaceAut has published a listing for your business using publicly available information, you have the following rights:

• Right to claim — you may claim your listing as the verified owner following our manual verification process
• Right to correct — you may request updates to inaccurate information at any time
• Right to remove — email contact@placeaut.com with subject “Listing Removal Request.” We will process within 10 business days
• Right to respond — you may submit a business response to any parent review displayed on your listing

PlaceAut reserves the right to retain factually accurate listings that serve the public interest even after a removal request, in which case we will notify you in writing.