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    New Year, New Charity Stream with FearTheSticks

    Date Posted: January 1, 2020
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    New Year, New Charity Stream with FearTheSticks

    With the New Year upon us, it’s important to reflect back on another year gone. The goals you’ve accomplished, the changes you’ve made and much more. But more important is looking forward to new opportunities and starting off the year right! In order to do just that, the Dreamscape Foundation is teaming up with FearTheSticks (AKA Jacob), for another charity stream event! Ready for another chance to make a difference for someone in need, FearTheSticks kicks off 2020 on Saturday January 4th with a 12+ hour charity stream event!

    From Saving Lives to Improving Lives

    Jacob, former US Navy, now out of the sub and onto Twitch as a fulltime streamer, has lived a life devoted to others. Having risked his life to serve and protect his country and fellow Americans, he still has a strong drive to help those he can. That is why FearTheSticks has teamed up with the Dreamscape Foundation to help raise funds to provide needed accessible technology to a young visually impaired man. Getting ready for his first ever charity stream, FearTheSticks is grateful for the opportunity and is excited to see how it unfolds. Sticking to his basics, he will primarily be playing League of Legends with his favorite character Fiddlesticks. All are welcome to tune in and even join in on some of the rounds! Now this isn’t just any old stream. FearTheSticks is pulling out all the stops. To help make the event special for his community, Jacob will have a few surprises in store for his community.

    Let’s Get the Details

    From prizes and raffles, to a possible surprise League of Legends themed attire, Jacob is pulling out all the stops to step things up a notch! Beginning at 9am this Saturday January 4th, Jacob will be getting the party started! Going straight through to 9pm, gives you plenty of time to check things out and win some prizes! With a fully packed prize tier, FearTheSticks is happy to be offering the following giveaways and raffles to his community:

    (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 $10 League of Legends Riot Points 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 League of Legends Riot Points Card
      • 1 Mystery Funko Pop
      • 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 League of Legends Riot Points Card
      • 1 Mystery Funko Pop
      • 1 League of Legends Realms of Runeterra Book
      • 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
    With all this in store and more, trust me, you will not want to miss this event! After years of service in the Navy and spending up to 107 days underwater in a submarine, you know this guy can find a way to have a good time anywhere! FearTheSticks is looking forward to seeing you all there and cannot wait to get people together to rally behind a great cause to get a young man the tools he needs to regain his independence! So let’s show some support to this incredible Veteran and tune in on Saturday January 4th at 9am, to see what he’s all about. To keep up with Jacob and all his future streams, be sure to give him a follow on Twitch and Twitter!  
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    Wearable Technology Gives Hope for Disabled

    Date Posted: October 10, 2019
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    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.  
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    Dreamscape Works With Louisiana Elementary School To Create A Sensory Room

    Date Posted: June 7, 2019
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    Dreamscape Works With Louisiana Elementary School To Create A Sensory Room

    For many, the first years of school can be a frightening time. Not knowing other students or leaving your parents for hours on end can be hard for any child, especially when living with a disability. The caring and dedicated faculty at Whispering Forest Elementary in Slidell, Louisiana, are well aware of this fact and on a mission to help make school a fun and happy experience for every student. But with over 560 students both abled and disabled, how can they expect to handle every situation when all their needs are different? Even students with the same disability react different. Some, when frightened or upset, can be soothed by calm music. Others may react better to playing with soft, sensory friendly objects or toys. Students with a visual impairment may have a sensitivity to light and need a dimly lit area. Well, what if there was a private classroom that could accommodate all of these needs and more?

    A Classroom Not Meant for Learning

    Whispering Forest is in the process of designing and implementing a complete sensory room. This room will be unlike any other accommodation they have to offer. Fit for any need, a sensory room is a therapeutic space with a variety of equipment that provides students with special needs a personalized sensory input; to help them calm and focus themselves so they can be better prepared for learning and interacting with others.  “Its very hard to explain what the room is and how it works and how it benefits people, without seeing it and experiencing it”, stressed Whispering Forest teacher Peyton Capretto. At first glance it is common the room will be mistaken as a play area. I mean, what kids wouldn’t love diving into a crash pad or jumping on a waterbed? But for children with sensory, mental, and behavioral disabilities, these activities are equally as therapeutic as they are enjoyable. Many children with autism, sensory processing disorder, and other disabilities can experience a sensory overload. A sensory overload is an episode where the five senses take in more than the brain can process. These episodes can happen at anytime, even something as simple as multiple conversations or bright flashing lights can cause an episode. For young children this can be an extremely frightening experience. That is why a safe, conducive environment can play a major role in working through it and preparing for future incidents. Now this room wouldn’t just aid in calming and helping students suffering from sensory overloads. These rooms are also a great way to help children with special needs put themselves in the proper mindset for learning. Students in the Pre-K to 3rd grade levels don’t always focus and pay attention in the classroom. When you can get the students in the right mindset, they will keep focus and increase the effectiveness of each lesson. Sometimes kids just need to blow off steam and get out some energy/anxiety. When children enjoy the learning process, they are more likely to succeed. More so, they are less likely to act up. Bored students become disruptive students, even when they don’t mean to be. This says nothing about the true character of that student, but kids will be kids. It is important to remember and embrace that fact. Allowing small freedoms in a controlled environment where they can throw objects or run and dive into pillows can be all a wild child needs sometimes.

    The Sensory Room Décor

    Where many sensory rooms have similar objects and equipment, each is unique in its own way. The design at Whispering Forest was strategically planned to have a sensory input for every child’s needs. So what will their room consist of, you might ask? We start with the needs of the students and what would help them best calm themselves and prepare for learning. These needs can range across multiple senses from visual, to sound, and lastly physical. For the visual aids, Whispering Forest plans to implement multiple acrylic mirrors, 2 interactive bubble tubes, and a number of effects projectors. All of which hold a therapeutic purpose. Sound can have a major impact on people with special needs or sensory disabilities. In the sensory room, calming and peaceful sounds/music are all around. Through multiple stereos, sound systems, and speakers, children can listen to sounds of nature, or light calming music depending on what they react to. But that’s not all. In addition, a vibroacoustic platform will be installed which not only plays music but will vibrate in accordance with the beat. Lastly, for physical accommodations. There will be a waterbed surrounded by crash pads and floor mats for the students to lay on and jump into. All these accommodations sound like great fun and excitement, but their true nature is shown when they are seen in action. The impact they can have on an upset child is unlike any other option a school can offer.

    Dreamscape’s First Efforts of Support

    Recently, on Saturday June 1st, the Dreamscape Foundation teamed up with Twitch Streamer: PaintWithJade, to host a 12 hour charity stream event. But for Jade that wasn’t enough. She decided to continue on and dedicated her following 2 streams towards the campaign as well. As we are still wrapping up the final details and preparing for the raffle prize drawing, we anticipate that through Jade’s efforts, $800-$900 will be contributed towards the school’s fundraising goal of just over $11,400. While we still have a ways to go, this truly was an incredible first step towards helping hundreds of children get the most out of their education. Our next event is still to be determined, but rest assured, there is still more to come! Lastly, all of us at the Dreamscape Foundation and Whispering Forest would like to thank Jade for her efforts and support! For more information on Whispering Forest’s campaign and how to get involved, please feel free to give us a call: (239) 325-1881 or send us an email: info@dreamscapefoundation.org.  
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    Live Accessible Changes Lives for the Blind

    Date Posted: May 10, 2019
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    Live Accessible Changes Lives for the Blind

    Whether you were born with a visual impairment or developed one throughout your life, it can be extremely difficult to find the resources and tools you need. Over the years, accessibility concerns have been growing and a lot is being done to help the blind and visually impaired community. But while new accessible internet designs and assistive technology are being developed and implemented, we are still forgetting one thing… Knowledge. Where individuals or families impacted by a visual impairment may now be able to use assistive tech or access the internet, how do they know what tools and options are best for them? Or how they can research and learn about these new developments? That is where Live Accessible hopes to fill in the gaps.

    Who is Live Accessible?

    Live Accessible is a platform created to provide visually impaired people with resources and information they need to learn about the many programs, communities, technologies and more that are available to them. Additionally, they have a very active Youtube Channel, loaded with helpful tips and advice for the blind community. It was founded by Carrie Morales, a young woman who has lived her entire life with a visual impairment. Carrie was born with Aniridia, an eye disorder where the iris (colored part of the eye) is either partially or completely missing. This condition causes a loss of visual acuity and sensitivity to light. In addition, as Carrie got older, she developed Cataracts (age 6) as well as Glaucoma (age 15). Inside every eye, there is a natural lens that captures light to help us see. Cataracts cause this lens to become clouded and diminishes the ability of the eye to pick up light. Glaucoma is caused from a build up of pressure in the eye most commonly from excess fluid. The increased pressure in the eye damages the optic nerve, diminishing the connection between your eye and brain.

    Carrie knows that life with a visual impairment/s can be difficult but it’s not just the disability that makes things hard. Growing up, one of the toughest difficulties she faced was the reaction from society. One of the effects of her visual impairments causes her eyes to move constantly. She does not always have a way to control it because her eyes are simply trying to focus on something they cannot. For her it was the reactions she would get from people in her every day life and the stereotypes that came with them. But she did not let this discourage her! With the help of her Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and different organizations providing her and her parents with resources, she was able to figure out what was out there to help her. Without these, she never would have known about the assistive technology or programs that could help her and her family. Additionally, through these resources she found the visually impaired community. Just being with and talking to people who understood what she was going through helped her to finally not feel alone.

    Using Personal Experiences to Help Others

    Despite these conditions and difficulties, Carrie has remained positive and now wants to use her own personal experiences to help others struggling with conditions/difficulties of their own. But she is not alone here! Her husband Pablo, who in his mid-twenties went completely blind, also brings his own unique experiences and perspective to Live Accessible. Pablo went from having perfect vision to being completely blind within a matter of hours due to a medical mistake. Additionally, they have a son, Pablo Joseph, who also has a visual disability. Together, they want to help those facing their own difficulties find the resources they need to fully equip themselves with the knowledge necessary to live a fully accessible life. Whether it be tech related, parenting advice for a child with visual impairments or parents with visual impairments, and much more! With a combination of constant resources and information provided on their site, along with the walk throughs, tips and tricks for the blind on their Youtube Channel; Live Accessible, wants to give people the knowledge they need to live a life without limits.

    At Live Accessible, they are clean and clear with their goals and purpose. “We don’t claim to know everything but, we have a lot of experiences and want you to take advantage of them.” Dedicated only to helping people educate themselves and not feel as if they are alone!

    To learn more about Live Accessible and see all they have to provide, you can check out their site or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube!  
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