Why Barefoot?

A common question I get asked is "Why Barefoot?" Well the answer I suppose started 2013. I came across a former barefoot runner named Angie Hotz (Barefoot Angie Bee) who used to live in Iowa and has an autistic son named Jupiter. I tried walking barefoot after talking to her about it, and from then on I was hooked. I even took part in the TOMS Shoes One Day Without Shoes event. I discovered I enjoyed the sensations against my bare feet such as the mud between my toes, the grass tickling my soles, the textures against my skin and the contrasting temperatures between warm and cool.

When doing my research, I found out that a lot of people who are autistic don't like their feet being constricted. Some autistic kids have even took there shoes and socks off outside of home. After finding that out, I decided to create this challenge to have people understand the sensory aspect of autism. The feet are also the more sensitive parts of the body so it made a lot of sense.

After 2017, I'm surprised that my challenge has gone on so long. People are still curious about my challenge and they sound intrigued by what I do. With April fast approaching, I'll be surprised to see how many people shed the shoes, free their feet and show support for autism awareness.