April 2022: Autism Acceptance Month Fundraiser!
April 2022: Autism Acceptance Month Fundraiser!
April is commonly associated with Spring and marks the end of blistering winter transitioning to the scorching Summer. At the same time, it is the month to celebrate awareness and acceptance of our brothers and sisters with Autism.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition of variable severity with lifelong effects that can be recognized from early childhood, chiefly characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior (Oxford Dictionaries). Dreamscape Foundation is an organization focusing on accessibility for people with disability.
We know living with a disability can negatively impact one’s chances of success in education and employment. But we believe that we have the power to do something about it and knowing is not enough. While nothing can equip anyone for an unanticipated disability, we can take an action to offer hope. We can take steps to help the disabled community adjust to today’s world in a way that allows them to move forward. We invite you to join us in our fundraising event for the Autism Acceptance Month with our 4 awesome streamers starting this
Meeting the Dream Team!
First on our list of four streamers is Lennic, influenced by one of his best friends who’s also streaming, Lennic started streaming and found that it worked for him within just a few months. He is described by his community as chill and laid back with a focus on gameplay.
Lord, mostly known as Lordsbathwater on Twitch, began streaming around a year ago mainly for his friends who wanted to watch. Eventually, a couple more people started tuning in and he started making new friends to hang out with. His community would describe him as a dumb doodoo who does stupid stuff and laughs at himself.
Another streamer that will be joining this event is “the imfamous test subject but the rest of the world knows me as imfamousx1x. She initially stepped into streaming through a friend by the name of DarkZero_Omega and has been streaming for 5 years since then.
Our Mission
Dreamscape Foundation understands the challenges of millions and many more people across the globe that is affected by disabilities. The struggle is right in front of us, yet too often our eyes miss it. Our Mission is to actively work to ensure that anyone who lives with this struggle is provided with the tools and resources needed to meet their educational, employment, and independent living goals. We share these sentiments with our 4 streamers. When asked how disabilities impacted their life or the lives of people around them? One of our streamers responded with –
“My grandma! She met with an accident when I was a kid and was disabled for the rest of her life. Seeing a loved one going through such tribulations as a kid and growing up, it was disheartening and impacted me a lot in my teenage years.” – Lord
Join the Fun!
In line with this month’s event, we will be sharing half of the gathered donations to My Autism Connection, Inc. A 501(c)(3) organization located in Southwest Florida that offers services to autistic adults between ages 18 and 50. So we invite you to gather and unite to raise $ 2,500 for Dreamscape Foundation’s Autism Acceptance Month Event. Join us (April 8 to April 15) on Twitch and Tilitfy!
If you have anything to give, please consider how much of an impact you can make for someone’s livelihood. Depending on how much you donate, you will be eligible to win a variety of prizes. From redeemable Steam keys, to Dreamscape branded T-Shirts, Magnets & Drawstring Backpacks. If you are unable to lend anything, just know that Sharing The Dream is all that counts!
« PreviousAutism Tennessee: Offering Support Across the Spectrum of Age and Autism
Autism Tennessee: Offering Support Across the Spectrum of Age and Autism
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 1 in 54 children within the U.S. have Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. This disorder benefits greatly from early intervention, which expands the opportunities for healthy development. However, diagnosis is often the first step in a lifelong struggle that parents and individuals with ASD face when managing ASD’s impact on life and daily activities.
Autism is described as a spectrum, and individuals with ASD can fall anywhere across it. Because the disorder can manifest dramatically differently from one individual to the next, there is no “one size fits all” solution to support individuals with ASD and their families. It requires a customized approach, and services and resources aren’t always easy to find.
Enter Autism Tennessee: a Middle Tennessee-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, education, and advocacy to help families and individuals struggling with ASD.
“We want to meet you where you are in that moment and provide services and referrals that you’ll need for that,” said Autism Tennessee Executive Director Babs Tierno. “And then we’re always here for the next thing as well.”
Autism Tennessee offers empathy, assistance, and community for those navigating the gifts and challenges that come along with this unique diagnosis. The organization serves as a bridge to a wide array of resources, from psychologists and therapists, to daycares, summer camps, and support groups. What’s more, they are a community who often understands firsthand what those who reach to them are going through.
“The person on the other end of the helpline that is employed by Autism Tennessee is either a parent or professional,” Tierno said. “They’ve been in the shoes that you’re in in that moment when you make that phone call. They’ve been as desperate as you are, and so they have that compassionate shoulder aspect that a clinical or call center might not have.”
Their support line offers several ways to contact them, including phone, email, or text messaging. Like Dreamscape Foundation, Autism Tennessee aspires to make life more accessible. Their goal is to maximize the independence of individuals with ASD by helping them reach their maximum capacity. It’s a lifelong effort; one they’re willing to step in and assist no matter the person’s age or extent of their disability.
“[We’ll help] a child as young as six months old who’s not meeting developmental milestones all the way through assisted living,” Tierno assured. “Every step of the way, we assist families and individuals and caregivers.”
Resources Like Autism Tennessee and ReAbility Help Bridge the Gap
Dreamscape Foundation recently collaborated with a parent of an autistic child named Chris Myers to develop an online tool called ReAbility. Currently, this customizable search engine connects individuals based in Tennessee with resources specific to disabilities, including autism. However, the long-term goal is to expand its pool of resources across the entirety of the U.S.
Because its mission is so closely linked to Autism Tennessee’s, we asked Tierno to provide her input on why resources like ReAbility matter.
“Inclusion and finding what you need when you need it,” was her straightforward and honest reply. “Just the immediacy of being able to access what you need.”
Access is the pivotal hurdle that stands between many individuals with disabilities and the road to achieving a fulfilled life. To learn more about Autism Tennessee’s resources and their mission, visit their website. For more information about ReAbility, take a look at the “Help” tab on the tool’s website.
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