Dreamscape Foundation Engages in Community Outreach
Dreamscape Foundation Engages in Community Outreach
It’s reported that in January 2017, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness estimated that nearly 24% of the 369,081 people experiencing homelessness consisted of individuals with disabilities who, by federal definition, were experiencing chronic homelessness. Sixty-nine percent of those disabled individuals were residing in areas without appropriate shelter (e.g., sidewalks, doorways, parks, encampments, inside cars, buses, abandoned buildings or under bridges) rather than in emergency shelters.
Our community here in Southwest Florida is no exception. Fort Myers, Florida served as an illustration of the statistics stated above. Before Centennial Park was fenced in, it was a haven and a home for many who were homeless who took shelter under the pavilion. Now their options continue to narrow as the city imposes further restrictions that bar the homeless from taking shelter in other areas, such as the local library or Lions Park.
As of June 2021, the city has yet to come up with an appropriate solution to help reduce the homeless population and create appropriate avenues for housing and assistance. However, there are some citizens who are finding ways to help. Among them are PJ Barber and his wife.
It began with an eight-week program called Alpha that offered up a safe space for conversation about life, spirituality and faith over a warm meal. Located at The Warehouse near downtown Fort Myers, word of a free meal entered the community, drawing in the homeless population. As their needs became apparent, Barber and his wife decided to shift gears. After the Alpha program ended, they created a new weekly event called Community Meal, which is held every Tuesday at The Warehouse at 7pm.
“At the Community Meal, we strive to make sure that the most vulnerable in our community have access to basic needs, such as food, clothing, and personal hygiene items, but we make sure to create a lasting relationship with the people we serve,” Barber explained. “We create an open community where all are welcome and we host open discussions where people are encouraged to speak freely and honestly about their lives so we can encourage and support them. This has created some amazing transformations in people’s lives by just creating a feeling of belonging and support from others. The Community Meal isn’t a hand-out. It’s truly a community that lifts people up and encourages change.”
Dreamscape Foundation supports this mission by donating funds to help purchase food and other basic necessities.
How Homelessness Connects to Dreamscape Foundation’s Mission
Dreamscape Foundation often focuses on ways to make the world more accessible for people with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. However, the core of our mission is rooted in helping to improve the lives of individuals whose disabilities limit their ability to live their lives fully, and that includes access fundamental needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, and hygiene items.
Mental disabilities, emotional disabilities, and physical disabilities are prevalent among the homeless population. By providing financial support to this program, we are able to help supply food and essential items for those in attendance. We are bridging the “accessibility gap” on a most basic, human level, and – in doing so – helping to foster hope, community, and support among those in our community who desperately need it.
« PreviousNext »Dreamscape’s Mission Takes Shape at Hannibal YMCA
Dreamscape’s Mission Takes Shape at Hannibal YMCA
In 2018, Hannibal YMCA’s Group Fitness & Aquatics Coordinator reached out to Dreamscape Foundation seeking guidance and assistance on how to make their YMCA facility – and its programs – more accessible. The effort was inspired by one of their wheelchair-bound members, Audrey Pickett, who wanted to be more involved but was facing accessibility challenges at their facility.
Dreamscape Foundation immediately responded, and has since been providing advice on accessibility options and resources, as well as contributing funds to support the programs and equipment that would make accessibility possible.
The collaboration sparked a movement; one driven by Audrey’s determination to make the world more accessible for herself and others. She experienced firsthand how the fitness equipment and programs at the YMCA can improve her life, her personal strength, and her mobility.
Beyond that, she found a sense of community at the YMCA that accepted her, encouraged her, and offered opportunities to be involved with the organization. She wanted other individuals in her community with disabilities to have these same opportunities. Thus, Dreamscape Foundation remained in contact and continued to support her in these efforts.
Below is an update on her story.
From Student to Instructor: Audrey is an Invaluable Asset to the YMCA
In addition to her attending her physical training sessions, Audrey is now an instructor teaching Pound classes at the same YMCA that she helped evolve to accommodate accessibility needs. The class is a high energy cardio, conditioning, and strength training program that utilizes special drumsticks called “Ripstix.” The exercise uses these sticks to combine rhythmic beats with Pilates- and Yoga-inspired movements, and is easily modified to suit participant’s unique level of abilities.
“When I first started taking Pound two years ago, I didn’t ever think I was going to be teaching it,” Audrey confessed. “I didn’t even think I was going to last a class. But then I kept going back.”
When asked about how the last two years have impacted her, she said, “It’s made me a better person, and it’s made me stronger. I realized that I can do more than I thought I could do.”
Audrey has always enjoyed teaching and has desired to do so in some capacity. However, being a Pound instructor at the YMCA is an opportunity she never imagined would be a reality when this all began. She attributes her growth to both her dedicated practice and effort as well as the support of the people around her.
Beyond teaching, Audrey is also an active YMCA volunteer. Recently, she helped assemble food boxes for their USDA-funded food program called Meals On The Go. The program provides one week’s worth of food per box for youth ages 18 years and younger.
“I love this place,” Audrey said. “It’s my second home.”
Audrey continues to serve as a huge driver for accessibility at the YMCA. Her voice has led to several changes, including adapting the handicap restroom to be more accessible.
“Audrey mentioned that the stall was very tight, and she really couldn’t get in there, turn her chair and shut the door,” said Hannibal YMCA CEO Eric Abts. “And we appreciated that perspective. We moved on it pretty quickly, and got it switched over. Now it’s better for everyone.”
Looking forward, Audrey aspires to continue to grow, expanding her capabilities as a Pound instructor and possibly return to school to expand her education.
“I wanted to say we’re extremely thankful to Dreamscape Foundation for making this possible,” Eric said. “You guys have been wonderful. We’ve had this relationship with Dreamscape for well over a year now and it’s just been a blessing.”
« PreviousNext »Shellieface to Host Dreamscape’s next Charity Stream!
Shellieface to Host Dreamscape’s next Charity Stream!
Move over Baby Shark, there is a new family in town! Meet Shellieface, Papaface, Mamaface and Sisterface. This close-knit family is taking the Twitch community by storm and winning over the hearts of followers. Shellieface, legally known as Michelle Saliba, never thought her cute, but silly nickname would make the impact it has today. “Everything in the community now is Teamface. When I play Animal Crossing my island is called Islandface, or whenever we name characters it’s Somethingface and it’s like a huge joke,” she explained. “Even my parents joined Twitch and their handles are Papafacesays and Mamafacesays. It’s like a brand now.”
A Family Affair
With Shellie’s family being so supportive, not to mention involved in her streaming, you might be surprised to learn that she was not the first one to join the platform. “My sister joined Twitch first and has her own little handle, but we joke that she’s my number one hype woman,” Saliba laughed. “She’s the Michelle Obama to my Barack Obama.” The family support doesn’t end there. Michelle’s support also includes her brother-in-law, cousins and even her aunt. “I’m like this is so amazing that the family is getting involved,” she shared. “I love it.”Shining the Light
“Mental health is something that I think has been kind of underrated and under looked at. It’s so sad to see that not many people give it the foundation and the attention that it needs to keep us happy, moving and growing,” Shellieface explained. “I like to promote something where, you know, people can have their own light at the end of the tunnel.” The streamer shares multiple different options with her community, including one she uses herself called TalkSpace. With the added impact of the pandemic, as well as having a background in Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Saliba made discussing the topic of Mental Health Awareness a priority within her community.Making a Difference the Michelle Way
Michelle has always felt a calling to help people, but because she holds onto what other people share she knew being a counselor was never an option. Then, she was introduced to life coaching. “I’m actually looking at applying to programs now to become a life coach,” she shared. “I want to integrate that into my channel, so that I am available to help people in my own safe capacity where it’s not detrimental to myself. I can still assess people and help them get where they need to go in their comfort zone.”Shellie the ASMRtist
Sharing resources and life coaching are not the only ways Shellieface provides comfort to her community. “ASMR, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is essentially a tingling sensation that you can get, it’s just kind of like a reflexive response to a particular sound,” the streamer informed. “How it’s done is you turn the gain up on the microphone, speak in a very soft voice or sometimes not at all, and you just kind of do repetitive, gentle sounds that normally could be considered annoying, but when it’s done correctly is very soothing.” For anyone unfamiliar with ASMR, compare it to playing a white noise machine at night because it helps you sleep.Friday Night Fun!
This Friday, May 7, join Dreamscape Foundation and Shellieface in raising money to provide accessibility for individuals living with disabilities during our charity stream event starting at 8 pm EST. “The most important aspect of [the stream] is the awareness and the knowledge,” Michelle explained. “Knowledge to me is exceptionally powerful because then people can research it more, ask how can I make this better, and it only takes a handful of people to look further into that foundation to help. That’s what promotes the change.” « PreviousNext »Serreph is Dreamscape’s Own Guardian Angel for Charity Stream
Serreph is Dreamscape’s Own Guardian Angel for Charity Stream
To quote the great Dr. Seuss, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” For Brian Martin standing out was not always that simple. “I have the most common legal name in the world, so much so that there are twenty-six people with my first and last name in my city,” Brian Martin explained. Martin may not stand out in his Missouri town, but in the world of streaming he is one of a kind.
Guardian Angel
Martin, better known by his call name Serreph, is not your typical gamer. To truly understand Brian Martin, you need to understand the story behind the name Serreph. “Whenever I got into executive protection there were a couple instances that happened where I put myself in between the person that we were protecting and the gunfire,” he recalled. “They were like, ‘dude you are like a guardian angel, just like a Seraphim.’” The original nickname was shortened and has stuck with Martin throughout the years.Taking One for the Team
Living up to his name, Serreph has no problem taking a bullet for the good of the group. “Whenever I play first-person shooters, I am so bad that I am usually the bait for everyone else. I run out there and put myself out there to get shot while everyone else cleans up the mess behind,” he laughed. For Martin, the whole reason behind gaming is to relax and enjoy yourself. “That is the number one key. It is a game, you are supposed to be having fun,” he explained. “I do rage a lot, but most of the time the rage is for an act. I can’t really let something like that get under my skin. If it truly got under my skin, I would cut it out. Anything that bothers me that bad has got to go.”Multiple Interests
Serreph’s love of video games is just one of his many interests. “I have always been into a variety of things. I would like to start doing some cooking streams. I would also like to do video editing streams, where I teach people how to video edit,” Martin shared. At 46 years old, Serreph wants to share his experiences and knowledge with others. “That is one thing that I always take away from everything. Every day is a learning situation. Everything is a swap,” he stated.Dreamscape’s Mission Hits Home
It comes as no surprise that this jack of all trades has a passion for charities. For Serreph, Dreamscape’s Mission really struck a chord. “I know people that are quadriplegic and paraplegic. I work with people that are partially blind. One of my best friends is an international DJ and he has what is known as Retinitis Pigmentosa, so he is legally blind,” he said. “He can only see shadows in bright light. This man was an inspiration to me for many, many years because he goes out there and DJs by feel,” Martin described.First Time Charity Streamer
Dreamscape is ecstatic to announce that we are partnering with Serreph for his first ever Charity Stream this Thursday, January 21 starting at 1pm EST – and ending around 1am EST! Prepare yourself for some lively first-person shooting games, strategic puzzles and a lot of laughs during this 12-hour event. Join Dreamscape and Serreph in raising money to help those struggling with physical disabilities. « PreviousNext »bud_dreams to Host Dreamscape’s 2nd Holiday Charity Stream
bud_dreams to Host Dreamscape’s 2nd Holiday Charity Stream
For many families, coming together means eliminating video games and electronics. For streamer Larry Green, video games have always been a huge part of bringing his family together. Green has been playing video games his whole life. He shared, “I grew up with my dad having a SEGA, and I talked him into buying an NES.” The two of them enjoyed playing together so much, that Green recalls his dad buying every single Madden game available.
Genetic Gaming Genes
The power and love of video games has continued with Green’s three children. “I can actually play [Fortnite] with my dad, my son, and my brother all at the same time,” he explained. His only daughter has even introduced him to games he wasn’t familiar with. Green said, “My daughter is into mobile games, especially Roblox. She has enlightened me.”Green Keeps it Fresh
Green’s subscribers know that he likes to jump around to different games during his live streams. He explained, “I bebop around. I like variety. You have to have enjoyment out of it. If you are not engaged, your audience knows.” Green’s range is just one of the many reasons Dreamscape Foundation is ecstatic to partner with him for our upcoming charity stream.First Charity Stream
Dreamscape Foundation is raising money for people with disabilities, and for Green this cause really hits home. He has chosen to do his first ever charity stream in honor of his own family members with disabilities. Green shared, “My sister Kimberly, actually throughout her whole high school career until 3 years ago, did the Special Olympics. She has developmental delays.” He explained that she was born premature with a heart that wasn’t fully developed. His first cousin is also disabled due to brain damage from birth. Join the Dreamscape Foundation and twitch steamer Green this Sunday, December 20th, at 1pm EST for our live charity stream! We will be raising money to help better the lives of people struggling with physical disabilities. This holiday season, join us in making the world more accessible to individuals with disabilities.
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Playstation Store Gift Card
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Playstation Store Gift Card
- 1 Mystery FunkoPOP!
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Playstation Store Gift Card
- 1 Mystery FunkoPOP!
- 1 Digital Copy of Call of Duty Cold War (Any Console)
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
Daltos To Host Dreamscape’s First Charity Stream of The Giving Season
Daltos To Host Dreamscape’s First Charity Stream of The Giving Season
Streamers are constantly obsessing over their numbers. To be dubbed a “successful streamer,” you need to acquire and keep a large number of viewers and subscribers, but for Nicholas Buccino there is one situation where the numbers become meaningless.
According to Buccino, better known as Daltos, the most important part of a charity stream is just the simple act of being able to help others. As an official member of the Yogscast for the past 3.5 years, Daltos said, “I am always participating. I love it. It’s the most proud thing I am about the Yogscast.”
Truly Altruistic
Daltos has always had the desire to help others since he was a young child. While on the bus ride home after school, Daltos noticed two kids playing a game. Daltos recalls, “one of them had early onset Parkinson’s and his hands shook uncontrollably. The other kid helped him play, and I thought that was really cool. I was like, ‘can I play with you guys? I want to help out, too.’”
In fact, Daltos credits these same two kids for getting him into video games. I believe I speak for many of us when I say we are happy for their friendship. Daltos not only streams himself playing his favorite strategy games, but he also streams using his natural gift to entertain by keeping his viewers engaged, laughing and smiling.
Away From Keyboard
When Daltos isn’t playing games, entertaining viewers on Just Chatting, or raising money for charities, his fans know he enjoys listening to music and eating good food. His subscribers might just catch him listening to Flogging Molly or find him enjoying his favorite afghan food at Kabab Paradise in New Jersey. Daltos explained, “I made friends with a guy whose uncle owned one of the best Afghani restaurants in New Jersey. Love it. Shout out, Ali!
As a former teacher with his Master’s Degree in Exercise Science, Daltos has a lot to offer and Dreamscape is beyond thrilled to partner with him to host a charity stream to help raise money for people with impairment disabilities. Join us this Saturday, December 19th, at 3 pm EST with the one, the only, Daltos!
Check out these prizes you can win, just by donating using our Tiltify link here!
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Triforce BODEGA Badge
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Triforce BODEGA Badge
- 1 Mystery FunkoPOP!
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Triforce BODEGA Badge
- 1 Mystery FunkoPOP!
- 1 Yogscast Doodle Break XL Mug
- 1 Yogscast Dad Hat
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
BillTheConquerer Takes Over Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
BillTheConquerer Takes Over Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
While Bill (AKA BillTheConquerer) is not new to the gaming world, he is however new to the world of Twitch. Bill has been streaming on Twitch for about 2 months now, and after only 4 days of streaming he was able to hit affiliate status. Which for those of you who are not as familiar with streaming, affiliate is a program within Twitch that helps streamers to get paid for their work. Bill has worked on 4 different startups in the gaming industry helping people make a career out of doing what they love. Using the skills he learned, he is able to help people better market their streams and turn it into a business that can actually turn them a profit they can support themselves off of.
A Long Time Gamer
Bill has been playing video games for years, but he does not consider himself a competitive gamer. He plays mostly for the joy of gaming. Bill says, people do not come to his stream to watch his skills, while he is a good gamer folks often come to socialize with him and ask him various questions about his stream or how to better their own stream. When asked what he enjoys most about streaming Bill says, he really enjoys the social aspect of streaming, and he appreciates the raw honesty of it all. The internet is a place where almost everything is either censored or filtered. It is nice to have a space where people can express emotion and interact with people in real time in a way that is unfiltered and unscripted. This kind of environment really allows you to see who people really are and how they react to situations that may arise.An Effort to Support Dreamscape
This Saturday Bill has graciously offered to partner with us for another charity stream! Bill is looking forward to the charity stream partnership with Dreamscape as it’s a chance to give back to the community that has given him so much. He feels he has been very blessed in his life, and streaming has been such a great opportunity for him, so why not use it to give back! What better way to do so than to raise funds to give a disabled man the tools he needs to regain his independence and freedom. But Bill and the Dreamscape Foundation put their heads together to come up with a way to give back to Bill’s community! All donors will receive a number of thank you prizes and be entered into our raffle drawing for Amazon Gift Cards! Based on a donation tier, the prizes are as follows: (please note all prizes ship US only)
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Aurora World Cat Plush Figures
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Aurora World Cat Plush Figures
- 1 Mystery FunkoPOP!
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Aurora World Cat Plush Figures
- 1 Mystery FunkoPOP!
- 1 Faux Fur Weighted Blanket
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
CamWeppTV’s Charity Stream Gives Thanks by Giving Back
CamWeppTV’s Charity Stream Gives Thanks by Giving Back
CamWeppTV, aka Cameron, first began her twitch journey on a channel called “2girls1twitch” with her friend. After getting to see more of what the twitch community is about, she decided to branch off into her own personal channel now known as CamWeppTV. This new channel was a great outlet for her to express her creativity in a safe and welcoming environment. Through her channel, she has created lifelong friendships within the twitch community that are always there to support her when she needs them.
A judgment free zone!
For Cameron twitch is not just a form of entertainment or a hobby to pass the time, it is a lifeline for her. Her channel has been a platform where she is free to be her authentic self, free of judgment. While many streamers showcase their gaming skills, Cameron uses her channel to feature her many talents, from art, singing/raping, comedy, to simply interacting with folks around her. When tuning into her channel, you might see her live streaming a public performance from places like the train station, or possibly witness her creating a canvas masterpiece.Twitch- A platform for giving back
One of the many reason Cameron loves streaming, is the opportunity it provides her to give back to the community. Twitch has been such a big influence in helping her overcome the obstacles in her life, that she feels very fortunate to be able to use her channel to help others in the same way. Using twitch, she has done multiple charity streams to raise money for various causes. One stream she has done that is particularly near and dear to her heart, was for her friend that was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Using her channel, she was able to raise money that went to help paying for her medical bills. If there is one thing Cameron could pass along to other streamers like herself it is that even if you aren’t asked to do a charity stream, if you have the opportunity to do so, reach out and find ways to use your channel for good. There is no better feeling in the world than helping someone in need!Charity Stream Details
Cameron’s charity stream will be on November 24th beginning at 2pm EST in support of aiding Penny Jackson in raising funds to purchase e-sight eyewear technology. Penny had suffered two strokes affecting the optic nerves in each of her eyes. This left her with only peripheral vision in her left eye, weakened vision in the right and high light sensitivity in both. With the help of this corrective e-sight eyewear, Penny will be able to regain not only her vision, but her independence as well. Cameron will be combining this fundraiser with her annual Thanksgiving stream. Some content you can look forward to seeing is cooking, comedy, singing, dancing, live art demos, and more! Like many other charity events we will be giving thank you gifts based on your donation tier, in addition to raffling off a few grand prizes. Prizes will consist of things like amazon gift cards, tee-shirts, headphones, art/creative writing supplies, Tiny Hands, and more! Prizes will vary based on the tier level of donations to the cause. Our goal for this event is to raise $1,000+ for Penny’s new glasses. Any amount you feel comfortable donating is greatly appreciated! Regardless of your ability to donate, we encourage and hope you tune in and enjoy the fun with the rest of this amazing online community on Sunday November 24th at 2PM EST!
To learn more about or stay up to date with Cameron and her Twitch Community, please check out her Twitch Channel, Twitter, or Instagram!
« PreviousNext »
Wearable Technology Gives Hope for Disabled
Wearable Technology Gives Hope for Disabled
With all of today’s advances in emerging technologies, have you ever wondered: How else could we use this for a greater purpose? Luckily, a few folks from Electronics of the Future and Florida International University (FIU) had that exact thought. They decided it was time to make a difference and began working on new advances in both wearable and assistive technology. Together, they have developed a skin sensing vision system for the visually impaired and have completely changed the way we look at medical sensing technology.
The Who and the What
Before we dive into this new evolutionary technology, lets introduce the creators. Dr. Michael Shur with Electronics of the Future has teamed up with Shubhendu Bhardwaj, John Volakis and team with the Florida International University (FIU), to push the technology industry forward and change the lives of many. They are working on two new products, currently in their final stages before launch to the open market. The technology consists of both wearable and assistive technology. Wearable Technology is currently one of the fastest growing areas of the technology industry. Many of us can recognize these types of tech from popular products including Apple Watches, Fit Bits, and more. Whereas, Assistive Technology might not be as well-known to most. It can be defined as any device or software that helps people work around the challenges faced from a disability. These types of technology range from screen readers to hearing aids and help users regain the independence they may have once had.Skin Sensing Vision System
Whether someone is completely blind or visually impaired, completing everyday tasks can be a challenge. Even just walking down the street can be a treacherous feat. That is where Dr. Michael Shur got his inspiration for his new Skin Sensing Vision System technology. One day when picking his son up from school, he noticed a child with a walking cane. The boy was hitting the edge of the curb with the cane and Shur thought to himself, “there’s got to be a better way”. So, he got to work on a mission to find it. The tech consists of a flexible electronic device that has direct input to the human skin. Through the use of a camera and image processing data base, the device can accurately detect an object and compute its distance from it. Through two skin patches, signals will be transmitted from the device to the user, acting as an artificial eye. All new users will first need to complete a training course to familiarize themselves with the system. But after training, users will be able to distinguish what object is in front of them and how far away it is. Whether it be a tree or a bench, the device will signal the object and its distance/direction from them to the user. The best part is the system is built right into everyday clothing, such as a t-shirt. Being unlike anything else available today, this technology has the potential to change the lives of the visually impaired community forever!Wearable Medical Sensing Technology
For many, mobility can be a real issue. For the elderly, disabled, amputee, or infant, it is hard to constantly keep track of various bodily functions. Even through the advancements we have had in medical technology, when movement is a problem having to constantly go back and forth to your devices can be a pain. Fortunately, Bhardwaj, Volakis and team have developed and improved wearable medical sensing and imaging devices. From heartbeat to blood pressure, all a user has to do is link their tech with their phone and they have constant access to their current readings. Taking this one step further, the readings can also be linked to their doctor’s office. Allowing the doctor to keep track and alert the patient should something be out of line. Now you might be thinking, “how big of a device do I need to strap across my body to do this?” Not to worry though, similar to the vision system, this device is also built right into your every day clothing. But it gets better still! The team has also developed wireless charging pads that can go right over furniture. This means, you could be wirelessly charging your t-shirt device while sitting at your kitchen table for lunch. Now it may sound great but whats the catch? How much is this going to run me? Luckily, this type of technology is very inexpensive and would be as much as other wearable tech devices we already have. Items like wristband heartbeat sensors or standard hearing aids. Not to mention what the insurance company will be able to cover. So, with cheap costs and nothing but strong benefits why not keep a look out for the release of these new devices and ask your medical professional if something like this could one day be right for you. In conclusion, these new advances spell hope for the future of the disabled community overall and can help millions live a more accessible and easy life. « PreviousNext »The Truth about Quadriplegics
The Truth about Quadriplegics
Quadriplegia, also known as Tetraplegia, is a type of paralysis that causes partial or full loss of use to the persons body and four limbs. Quadriplegia can be caused by a Spinal Cord Injury, or be a lasting effect of another illness. (Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, etc.) Simply put: Quadriplegics can’t move anything below the neck. A common question that comes up will always be: How does one find happiness through such hardship?
How Disabling is Quadriplegia?
When is comes to which Disability is the most “disabling”, Quadriplegia is high up on the list. In fact, not having control over most of your body is the clearest cut definition of a visible disability. (See our article on Invisible Disabilities) Caregivers are of utmost importance due to the lack of mobility. Interactions like getting out of bed in the morning, eating a meal, even going to the bathroom may give someone the sense of dependence. While it seems like you are living a completely different life, there are some things that are still available to the disabled. Due to the mouth being above the neck, speaking is still an ability Quadriplegics maintain. (varying from from person to person)
The ‘lesser’ diagnosis of Quadriplegia, where the person is only paralyzed below their hips, is known a Paraplegia. This gives people the use of their arms and torso, which luckily allows the person more independence in life. With the use of their upper body, Paraplegics are still able to drive a car, make food, use the bathroom, and overall live a mostly private life. There’s one thing every ‘-plegic’ has in common though.. those dang stairs!
Can Quadriplegics feel pain?
A common misconception people have about Quadriplegics is that they do not feel pain under the neck. While this may be true about the external stimuli, Quadriplegics can still feel the sensations internally in areas that do not respond to external pain. We advise anyone who feels these sensations to speak with their doctor as pain medication will be available for prescription.