The 2010 Dreamcatcher Program is certainly in full swing after a week of client experience days, and it’s safe to say that this week was one that will stay in the hearts and minds of all involved for a long time.
The aim of the Dreamcatcher 2010 Competition client experience days was for sponsors, mentors and students to experience some of the challenges that this year’s Dream recipients, Imran, Karen and Sladjana, face in their most favourite activities.
For Imran, working out at the gym is only possible when he has someone with him to help him move between and use the equipment. His dream is to be able to complete his workout independently, and on Monday 21st June, Imran met with the groups of people that are going to make his dream a reality. The student teams were allocated their sponsors and mentors, and then quickly set to work on designing prototypes, while asking Imran questions about what would and wouldn’t work for him.
On Wednesday 23rd June, the WA Disabled Water Ski Club representative, Karen, explained the difficulties she and other people living with a disability face when waterskiing. The sit-ski that Karen uses at the moment is problematic because of its weight and lack of ‘user-friendliness’. Even though the afternoon saw some dipping temperatures and rainy periods, no one was deterred from giving the sit-ski a try to determine how to create a new and improved model. Once again the ‘competition’ seemed very apparent as the engineering students met with their sponsors and mentors, and huddled in groups to secretly discuss their plans (and avoid the rain!).
To round off the week, a large group of eager individuals met with 12 year old Sladjana, who dreams of painting and drawing independently. She was able to mouth-paint paint for the group with the aid of her Art teacher before answering questions regarding issues with her current set up – a small easel resting on a stand, that uses a heavy box to balance itself. Whilst this was very useful for each team, undoubtedly the part that Sladjana enjoyed the most was watching on as students, mentors and sponsors gave the electric wheelchair and mouth-painting a try. All accounts proved that this is no easy task!
As the week of client experience days came to an end, all were inspired to get started on making dreams come true for the three Dreamcatcher program recipients of 2010.
For this year’s lucky Dreamcatcher Dream recipients, now comes an eager wait until later this year when the final products are revealed, tested and selected. For the students, mentors and sponsors however, let the games begin!
