STEAMworks Ability Lab
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Richelle Maki and I live in Central NY. Over the past 15 years I have lived as an advocate for people who face barriers to FULL INCLUSION in society. I have worked in many capacities fostering inclusion from from Job training , an adaptive ski school coordinator and providing recreation for people living with autism.
Far to often I have seen the creativity and ingenuity of the people that I work with squashed. For various reasons they have not been given the opportunity to participate in creative endevors. These are activities that they could potently excel at if they are given the chance to do so in an environment that supports their needs. Because of this, I want to create the STEAMworks Ability Lab.
STEAMworkswill be a multi -faceted endevor located in Utica, NY that will combine recreation with STEAM Lab activities, Community Driven Adaptive Design and MakerSpace philosophy. STEAMworks will be FULLY INCLUSIVE and will focus on working with people who have a disability such as autism, cerebral palsy,PTSD and other disabilities. ALL individuals will be able to participate in recreation and projects on a daily basis ranging from building simple robots, basic coding, jewelry making, homemade instruments and small scale engineering. Classes offered will be driven by the people who are participating.
The Adaptive Design component will exist to help families create the adaptive devices that they need to help foster FULL INCLUSION for their children with special needs. I will be working with the Adaptive Desisgn Associates in New York City (www.adaptivedesign.org) to learn their business model of cardboard engineering to provide low cost adaptive solutions to children who need assistive technology. Adaptive Devices can range from a foot rest to personal care items or wheel chair trays.
Finally, with the understanding that geography can make travel to Utica difficult for some families, STEAMworks will work with your community to offer a mobile component where we will bring recreation, STEAM projects or adaptive design activity to the people who live in your community.
I am seeking $30,000 to get this venture up and running. These funds will help to cover the cost of building space and renovations,and insurance. It will also Pay for training and purchase materials to create steam projects, computers and iPads, 3D printers, a laser cutter, a CNC machine, small tools and consumables. STEAMworks will be initially staffed with volunteers with the hope of creating several paid position as time goes by.
Far to often I have seen the creativity and ingenuity of the people that I work with squashed. For various reasons they have not been given the opportunity to participate in creative endevors. These are activities that they could potently excel at if they are given the chance to do so in an environment that supports their needs. Because of this, I want to create the STEAMworks Ability Lab.
STEAMworkswill be a multi -faceted endevor located in Utica, NY that will combine recreation with STEAM Lab activities, Community Driven Adaptive Design and MakerSpace philosophy. STEAMworks will be FULLY INCLUSIVE and will focus on working with people who have a disability such as autism, cerebral palsy,PTSD and other disabilities. ALL individuals will be able to participate in recreation and projects on a daily basis ranging from building simple robots, basic coding, jewelry making, homemade instruments and small scale engineering. Classes offered will be driven by the people who are participating.
The Adaptive Design component will exist to help families create the adaptive devices that they need to help foster FULL INCLUSION for their children with special needs. I will be working with the Adaptive Desisgn Associates in New York City (www.adaptivedesign.org) to learn their business model of cardboard engineering to provide low cost adaptive solutions to children who need assistive technology. Adaptive Devices can range from a foot rest to personal care items or wheel chair trays.
Finally, with the understanding that geography can make travel to Utica difficult for some families, STEAMworks will work with your community to offer a mobile component where we will bring recreation, STEAM projects or adaptive design activity to the people who live in your community.
I am seeking $30,000 to get this venture up and running. These funds will help to cover the cost of building space and renovations,and insurance. It will also Pay for training and purchase materials to create steam projects, computers and iPads, 3D printers, a laser cutter, a CNC machine, small tools and consumables. STEAMworks will be initially staffed with volunteers with the hope of creating several paid position as time goes by.
Organizer
Richelle Maki
Organizer
Utica, NY
