The Response has been AMAZING!

So we launched this to get the word out on May 2nd and today we have over 150 members!
Just from postings on the Yahoo! Groups. I have to say that this response has our team churning
to get the site up and running as soon as possible.

We were also contacted by Your Dinner Secret, an amazing company that ships out
GFCF meals all over the country. They have agreed to give our members a 5% discount
on all orders with a special code. Just type in AFZ in the Coupon code box to receive this
discount. You will find a link to their website in the right-hand column of this blog.
Thank you Your Dinner Secret for being the first company on-board to help our
community here at AutismFreeZone!

Our web-poll has been answered by 120 visitors and I am certain that no one is surprised that the
most pressing issue is paying for interventions. We are looking for some suggestions for our next poll.
Let us know what topic you would like and we will add it to the site this week.

 

Stay tuned...more to come.

Randy

Comments

[LeaEdinburgh]

Whilst your new blog may have good intentions in supporting children with autism and raising awareness on potential environmental factors, I would ask you, at this very early stage of development, to reconsider the name of your organization. Imagine your 5 years old growing as a man and reaching sufficient awareness and understanding to become aware that he is not exactly like other neurotypical people and may then still present with some autistic tendencies or even a full diagnosis of autism at an adult stage; would you want him to read something like AutismFreeZone which is unlikely to make him feel welcome as an individual? As anyone of us, parents, facings the diagnosis and difficulties of our children would not want our children to be others than the ones we have given life to, people with autism also say that they do not want to be someone else, because all they know and are is whow they are. Someone with autism almost certainly would feel some disrespect and hurt by the name you have chosen. Focusing on improving the quality of the life, right and dignity of people with autism comes with a fuller respect still. I hope you can see what I am trying to say.

[Randy]

Hi Lea,

Yes, your point is well taken about the name of our community.
One of the developers involved in the site brought this up a few weeks ago. I agree that if read a certain way the name Autism FreeZone could but translated as you have. There are things about my daughter that make her a joy and a blessing that probably would not exist if she were NT. And as a parent in this situation I would never want to put something out that could be harmful to her or others facing the same challenges.

If enough people had responded, or start to respond to the name as you did I will consider a different one. However, the name is speaking to the fact that this is a "Free Market" or "Free Zone" item exchange community for families facing the challenges of Autism. In no way is it related to seeking an area which is free of autism. Our logo design and site design is going to de-emphasize the word Autism in the graphics, therefore it will read more FreeZone, then anything else.

I really appreciate your honesty and your opinion, everything is valid and we want this to be a feel good , exciting place that is helpful in every way possible.

Best,
Randy

[Dana]

Hi Randy,

Thank you for taking this on. My son is not on the spectrum but due to his extreme prematurity and low birth weight, he shares many of the same gut and neurological issues with those who are. Since going GFCFSF and organic, our grocery bills have more than doubled (and while the whole family is now organic, only Andrew is GFCFSF). That doesn't include nutritional supplements, therapies, prescription medications and our cost for durable medical equipment (which our insurance does not cover).

I implore the ASD community to recognize that the diet and supplements help many, many, many children and the burden is great for all of us. "Together, we CAN make a difference."

Thanks!
Dana C.

[Tricia Kiefer]

I get very frustrated with the monopolizing "autism markets" out there who are taking advantage of families who don't have a whole lot of choices. THANK YOU for this...I will be placing a link on my blog:
www.blessedwithautism.blogspot.com