Meet Dustin Horne | Founder – Team Easton Foundation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dustin Horne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dustin, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
When Easton was first diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 18 months, we honestly had no idea what this diagnosis entailed. Even after extensive research and consults with varying physicians and specialists, there just did not seem to be any quick or easy answers to what he was dealing with. And as Easton grew older, the amount of challenges we faced continued to grow and grow to the point where we felt helpless at times. However, over these past 18 years we have quickly learned that there is innate truth in the quote, “if you wish to go fast – go alone, if you wish to go far – go together.” We have been so very blessed to have a special group of individuals who have played a critical role in helping Easton live the most fulfilling life he possibly can. We could not be where we are at today without his team that helped get him here and it is our mission at the Team Easton Foundation to make sure every single child and family affected by autism spectrum disorder has a team in their corner. To know that we will stand up for the voiceless and provide all of the knowledge, experiences and resources possible to give each child the life that they truly deserve. On each of the iPads we have been able to donate, we put an engraving that states “Never Give Up”. This is what we have to remind ourselves each and every day.

Since we established the Team Easton Foundation in April 2022, we have been able to utilize the generous donations of so many members to give so many struggling children a voice by providing AAC devices to families who cannot afford them. Additionally, we are able to adapt to each individual’s specific needs which has led to the distribution of resources such as service dogs, padded mats, sensory toys and so much more. Because we are newer and still growing, we have often faced the inability to fulfill requests due to a lack of capital from donations. As we move forward, we will continue to expand and grow to our best ability in order to fulfill each of these requests. It is our mission to never let a single child ever be without a voice.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We firmly believe in being a community ally. I love the connotation behind the word “ally”. An ally is there for you when you need them the most. And they are there for you whenever they are called. You pick up the phone and an ally will never miss it. As an autism ally, we at the Team Easton Foundation will always be there for this special community. So much of what are members are going through, we have experienced ourselves over the course of Easton’s life. Because of this, we know just how important it is to have someone there for you when your world is seemingly falling apart. All those tear-filled nights and lonely days. We’ve been there. And we know just how hard it can be. Because of this we will always answer the call and never let a single individual go without the love and help that they deserve.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are big sports fans. Being born and raised in Arizona, we are strongly loyal to all of our local sports teams, If we aren’t able to attend a sporting event in person, we always are supporting our sports team on tv.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate our shoutout to all of the members of Team Easton. This includes his family who have literally dedicated their free time to ensure Easton and others affected by Autism to have the most meaningful life possible. This includes his mother, siblings, teachers, aides and those who never gave up on Easton and who believed he could be happy and functional in this world.

Website: www.teameastonfoundation.org

Instagram: @TeamEastonFoundation

Twitter: @TeamEaston2022

Facebook: Team Easton Foundation