Who Are We?
The Cleaner Indoor Air Campaign was launched by the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) in 2006.
IDA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that reaches around the world to people touched by chronic illness, pain, injury and disabilities.
Founder and President, Wayne Connell, is joined by several business and medical professionals on the Executive and Advisory Boards of IDA who desire to spread IDA’s message of hope and understanding.
Read More About IDA on the Invisible Disabilities Association Website!
Why are We Here?
There are millions of Americans who report allergic, immunologic, asthmatic and neurological reactions to perfumes, colognes, chemicals and synthetic fragrances. For these groups of people, just leaving their homes can mean risking the possibility of an exposure to chemicals in our environment.
The CIA Campaign strives to educate medical facilities, businesses and churches on how to create a less threatening environment for this growing number of people. True, we may not be able to protect them from every possible harm, nor can we guarantee that our actions will provide a fool-proof environment when out in public. However, if we all do our part, we can make a huge difference by making our facilities a more favorable haven.
Our desire is to help these public establishments become a less threatening environment for those who report mild to severe reactions to chemicals and chemical/synthetic fragrances. Please join with us to bring down some of the barriers that keep this community away from our medical offices, businesses and churches! The CIA Campaign makes it easy with signs, flyers and pamphlets!
Our Inspiration:
Carole, Sherri Connell and Wayne Connell
The Cleaner Indoor Air Campaign was inspired by the needs of Sherri Connell and her mother, Carole. They both suffer from very severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Just leaving their homes puts them in danger of an exposure to various chemicals. For Sherri and Carole, going to a gathering, grocery store, church, restaurant or medical facility almost guarantees they will have a serious neurological reaction to chemicals in fragrances, soaps, shampoos, deodorants, laundry detergents, cleaning products, paints, new carpet, etc. that can last for days or even weeks at a time.
Therefore, they must live their lives avoiding these places in order to lower their risk of attack, causing them to feel isolated and barricaded from the world. In 2004 they were having such horrible reactions when attending a church service, that by 2005 they could no longer go at all. To make matters worse, they were having reactions nearly every time they went to a doctor’s office for their necessary appointments. That is when they knew it was time to bring down the barriers by educating the people around them towards a change!
Because Sherri and Carole are both dealing with other debilitating illnesses as well, they are unable to spread the word beyond their own circle of doctors, friends and family. Therefore, the Invisible Disabilities Association decided to sponsor and run this campaign to help others like Sherri and Carole inform their own loved ones, favorite businesses, medical facilities and religious organizations about this growing problem.
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