Autism Families Have Exhausted All Options
Donation protected
Sleep disorders are quite common in children with autism, affecting up to 80%. Getting sleep for these children is made even more difficult by the fact that up to 90% of them have a sensory processing disorder, meaning their surroundings can cause them deep distress. Add coronavirus to that equation, and you have a recipe for profound stress on both parents and their little ones. These children need a place that is safe and calming, an environment that they control.
My name is George Bailey. The video you just watched was of me and my son Joseph. I love my children. They are unique and incredible individuals. Of my five children, two of them have been diagnosed with autism and one of those two faces tremendous challenges, including getting good sleep.
That’s why our startup, zPods, is developing the very best place for these kids to sleep. Our beds allow children to alter lighting, temperature, and sound. Children with autism find our color-adjustable LED lighting particularly soothing.
We would like to raise $125,000. This money will be used to fund the purchase, shipment, placement, and assembly of 50 beds for 50 children. We will use all excess funds to pay for additional beds for other families in need.
We sold our first bed to the mother of a beautiful young woman named Natalie, who was sleeping in her closet strung with Christmas lights for just the right feel. Natalie has autism and other disorders and was sleeping only about four hours a night, hurting her health and her mother’s. Natalie was falling asleep in class and taking occasional trips to the hospital to be treated for sleep deprivation.
From her first night in our bed, Natalie’s sleep quality jumped dramatically and she now sleeps an average of over ten hours a night. Natalie stopped falling asleep in school and going to the hospital. Her mother started getting more sleep, too. As a family, their quality of life has improved.
We were all shocked with this change because we didn’t expect anything so significant. We had even told Natalie’s mother that we didn’t know what would happen. We were not making any medical claims, and we continue to tell parents we work with that our solution may not be a silver bullet. We don’t know for sure but really think that environmental control of the sleep space could be a game changer for these precious souls and their families.
There are a host of parents out there who are willing to try our solution, but are not sure they can afford it. Just listen to the words of a few of those parents.
From one parent: "My son has autism, mitochondrial disease, and dysautonomia. All lead to sensory issues and challenges with the brain. He is always exhausted but cannot fall or stay asleep without artificial assistance. He hasn’t slept a full night since he was born."
From another: "My son… has autism, behavioral disorder, and epilepsy. He does not sleep, especially not in his bed. He struggles with day-to-day life and communicating with others to express his needs. Our home requires locks and security systems so he does not wander off. He has had many seizures that have almost ended his life."
From a third parent: "I have... autistic twin boys. One of my sons is nonverbal and is more severely autistic. He experiences a lot of sleep issues and is currently sleeping on our couch, going to bed around 3:00 a.m. My other son is very verbal and has a lot of anxiety and prefers small spaces. He would love this bed!"
And there are many, many, many more stories like these.
zPods would like to make that trial run possible, but we—and these parents—need your help. Please donate to our fund so that we can set these parents’ children up with a bed that will be their very own comforting and secure space.
We’re asking these parents to journal their experiences so that we can learn more about how to improve this technology that could lighten the burdens of so many children with autism and their moms and dads. We also hope that with the information we learn we’ll be able to use our technology to help other children with disorders that, like autism, have a high association with sleep deficiencies.
Every bit you give makes a difference.
-George Bailey, President of zPods
My name is George Bailey. The video you just watched was of me and my son Joseph. I love my children. They are unique and incredible individuals. Of my five children, two of them have been diagnosed with autism and one of those two faces tremendous challenges, including getting good sleep.
That’s why our startup, zPods, is developing the very best place for these kids to sleep. Our beds allow children to alter lighting, temperature, and sound. Children with autism find our color-adjustable LED lighting particularly soothing.
We would like to raise $125,000. This money will be used to fund the purchase, shipment, placement, and assembly of 50 beds for 50 children. We will use all excess funds to pay for additional beds for other families in need.
We sold our first bed to the mother of a beautiful young woman named Natalie, who was sleeping in her closet strung with Christmas lights for just the right feel. Natalie has autism and other disorders and was sleeping only about four hours a night, hurting her health and her mother’s. Natalie was falling asleep in class and taking occasional trips to the hospital to be treated for sleep deprivation.
From her first night in our bed, Natalie’s sleep quality jumped dramatically and she now sleeps an average of over ten hours a night. Natalie stopped falling asleep in school and going to the hospital. Her mother started getting more sleep, too. As a family, their quality of life has improved.
We were all shocked with this change because we didn’t expect anything so significant. We had even told Natalie’s mother that we didn’t know what would happen. We were not making any medical claims, and we continue to tell parents we work with that our solution may not be a silver bullet. We don’t know for sure but really think that environmental control of the sleep space could be a game changer for these precious souls and their families.
There are a host of parents out there who are willing to try our solution, but are not sure they can afford it. Just listen to the words of a few of those parents.
From one parent: "My son has autism, mitochondrial disease, and dysautonomia. All lead to sensory issues and challenges with the brain. He is always exhausted but cannot fall or stay asleep without artificial assistance. He hasn’t slept a full night since he was born."
From another: "My son… has autism, behavioral disorder, and epilepsy. He does not sleep, especially not in his bed. He struggles with day-to-day life and communicating with others to express his needs. Our home requires locks and security systems so he does not wander off. He has had many seizures that have almost ended his life."
From a third parent: "I have... autistic twin boys. One of my sons is nonverbal and is more severely autistic. He experiences a lot of sleep issues and is currently sleeping on our couch, going to bed around 3:00 a.m. My other son is very verbal and has a lot of anxiety and prefers small spaces. He would love this bed!"
And there are many, many, many more stories like these.
zPods would like to make that trial run possible, but we—and these parents—need your help. Please donate to our fund so that we can set these parents’ children up with a bed that will be their very own comforting and secure space.
We’re asking these parents to journal their experiences so that we can learn more about how to improve this technology that could lighten the burdens of so many children with autism and their moms and dads. We also hope that with the information we learn we’ll be able to use our technology to help other children with disorders that, like autism, have a high association with sleep deficiencies.
Every bit you give makes a difference.
-George Bailey, President of zPods
Fundraising team: zPods (2)
Evan Levy
Organiser
Saint Charles, MO
Jeff Wade
Beneficiary
George Bailey
Team member
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