INTRODUCTION
TO

USING ABILITY TO CREATE POSITIVE LIVES
TRUST

A BRIEF SUMMARY

The Disability Research, Education, Access and Mobility
(DREAM.) Trust is promoting the concept of full community assimilation/inclusion for people classified as disabled by providing:

• Information services over the Internet giving unprecedented levels of access to self-help knowledge.

• Direct financial support/equipment for those people who wish to increase their own or other's vocational and educational involvement in the general community;

• Direct financial support/equipment for those people who wish to be, or continue to be, productively involved in the community;

• Business loans at a nominal interest rate;

• Funds for researchers undertaking studies in disability, specifically issues of lifestyle and assimilation/inclusion;

• Attendant grants for holidays. These grants are specifically for people with severe disabilities to go on overseas, intrastate or inter state holidays. This grant will be awarded annually and will be used solely for a full time personal care attendant for holidays exceeding 5 nights;

Aplications will be researched and assessed by a select panel of experienced people advising the DREAM. Trust on varying aspects of finance, disability, management and other fields as required by the application received.
* Full financial assistance will occur when fully established with a capital base of two million dollars.

Mission

The D.R.E.A.M. Trust's mission is to unlock the barriers to development of the human spirit, by empowering self-sufficiency in people who are handicapped because of their physical disability. Thus turning disability into an ability to create a positive life.

People classified as disabled are often placed in the situation, either by circumstance or by choice that stifles the growth of their human potential. They are generally not valued in our society.

Social structures have been in place to provide opportunities for physical and personal care, however these have often created the opposite to their intended goals of potential development because they generally don't empower individuals to self sufficiency.

Our society must recognize that people handicapped by disability have the ability to develop their potential. Society stands to gain from the disabling condition, for in fact the disabling condition triggers reactions that spur people to rise above their perceived limitations.

People classified as disabled must rise to the challenge and be ready for empowerment. Positive reaction to disability opens the door to inspiration, creativity, courage, love, fearlessness and self-sufficiency.

BEHIND THE D.R.E.A.M.

BACKGROUND

The concept of the DREAM Trust has been under development since the early 1990's. It was established in 1997 after its founder, Jacob Baldwin, completed the Ability Trek around Australia. The Trust is bound by a Registered Trust Deed and has independent Trustees. The Trust is a registered charity, number DGR418563.

THE PHILOSOPHY

The Basic Belief
All human beings are born with equal potential. Due to human interaction with the environment, either directly or indirectly, some potential are developed more than others, depending on the combination of genetic make up and environmental stimulus factors.

Possibility
The possibility of developing latent potential, or enhancing existing abilities is limitless, providing that the human spirit is open to such development. Developing human potential requires a state of openness to exist. This openness cannot be measured, as each person's spirit is individual and cannot be judged by labels created by humans.

The Human Spirit
The human spirit develops from nurturing words like "kindness", "care", "consideration", "patience", "awareness" and "understanding". These are all inspirational triggers that strengthen the human spirit.

The human spirit is one of universal love. All positive expressions lead to the human spirit. It is the imbalance caused by negative input that stifles the human spirit. Denial of natural, positive support or input creates disabilities that hamper the natural growth of the human spirit's potential to be complete.

The Situation
People classified as disabled are often placed in the situation, either by circumstance or by choice that stifles the growth of human potential, indeed the human spirit as a result of fear that has either been created by misunderstanding or misplaced values. People classified as disabled are often handicapped in the development of their human potential by being subjected to situations, experiences and understandings that hinder realisation of realising beneficial opportunities for potential development.

Ignored Spirits
Human spirits that have been ignored can either force or create their own destinies or die a living death. The latter in disability terms can be seen as genocide in the development of human potential. No one, no matter what physical, mental or emotional level that they are, should be denied the benefit of developing their potential. The potential can be made up of numerous abilities so that if one views the structure of potential, it will be divided into abilities that have been stimulated by environmental factors and character responses.

Value
Since the value of people classified as disabled is of questionable value in our society by a greater part of the population, the stifling of opportunities for potential development in the disability sector has been greatly hindered by the lack of recognition that everyone has the right to develop their positive potential.

Social structures have been in place providing some opportunities for physical and personal care potential, however these have often created the opposite to their intended goals of potential development. The reasons for this are many. One of the basic reasons for these phenomena is that a natural dependency has been turned into an overt dependency created by fear and loss of power. The word ‘power’ in this case can be attached to money, status and control. In the large social framework there are equal social balances that create these attributes into the positive direction of progressive. However, on a one to one basis or in a group dynamic that is imbalance, the results can be stifling - an unhealthy environment for potential development.

People handicapped by disability have the ability to develop their potential. Our society must recognize this. Society stands to gain from the development from the disabling condition, for in fact the disabling condition triggers reactions that spur people to rise above their perceived limitations.

Action Reaction
This reaction can be perceived as a challenge, and adventure or indeed a mission. The reaction to disability can be positive and those who have reacted in this way have benefited beyond their wildest imagination. Those who have feared the reaction of disability have developed false senses of value, proportions and awareness of their inability. The term disability can be seen as a negative judgment of the development of human potential. Not adhering to this concept can lead to the door that opens and frees inspiration, creativity, courage, fearlessness and love.

Limitless Beginnings
In conclusion, the philosophy of The D.R.E.A.M. Trust can be seen as one of change and exploration of possibilities, culminating in empowering by the development of self sufficiency in people who are handicapped, by, through or because of their disability.
The human potential is limitless, therefore, The D.R.E.A.M. Trust must find ways to unlock the barriers, doors to development of the human spirit.

By Jacob F. L. Baldwin 1990

Funding of the D.R.E.A.M. Trust

The development of self sufficiency and empowerment for people classified as disabled are the core objectives of the D.R.E.A.M. Trust. The funding strategy of the D.R.E.A.M. Trust uses the same philosophy and is very much focused on developing sustainable income streams. This is vital and is a new paradigm in the operation of a Charitable Trust. Many Trusts are totally dependent on grants for their existence. The Trust recognizes that it will require time to develop income streams and will need funds to assist in development of these income streams. Examples are:

• Conducting major fund raising events on an annual basis is one of the ways of creating a long-term income stream that requires capital to get it underway.

• Building of the Internet portal/search engine for the disabled will require development expenditure and have the potential to generate multiple income streams and employment once underway.

• Establishment of the worlds first Aclhistadom*, an interactive achieve of history and technologies showplace, and academy, celebrating the value and achievements of people classified as disabled at all levels of society. This will become a social business and be self supporting, and be the basis for funding the future Trust philanthropical projects. 

The funding methods of the D.R.E.A.M. Trust are:

• Trust Donations and Grants by corporations, community funds, ethical investment funds, government bodies and individuals

• Sponsorship of D.R.E.A.M. Trust events such as the “Red Dust Run©” and “The Australian Blues Harp Blowout© Competition” by commercial organizations seeking direct marketing benefits from participating and advertising in events.

• Merchandising of Red Dust Run products by the D.R.E.A.M. Trust

• Investment in a Limited company to be established by the D.R.E.A.M. Trust that engages in the development of commercially driven business ventures that service the disability market and open up business opportunities for people classified as disabled.

Financial management of the Trust funds will be carried out with the assistance of external accountants. The Trustees will ensure that the executive and management team of the Trust has significant business experience to operate business ventures.

The Market

In Australia, there are 2 million people with classified disabilities. The value of transactions from businesses providing specific products and services for people classified as disabled is a huge A$15 billion dollars (ACROD report 1985 ). This excludes expenditure of those people for normal living.

Based on these numbers, the global market of 500 million people classified as disabled contributes a truly massive amount to world economies.

Treatment of these people ranges from very good, to adequate, to poor, depending on social economic, religious, political and wealth of the state/country.

Some countries have yet to realize the value that people with classified disabilities possess. Every country that has provided assistance to integrate/include their population classified as disabled, has developed a strong sense of egalitarianism that has seen the country develop sound caring and social consciousness.
 
DREAM. Trust’s events are hoping to bring respect, enlightenment, hope and ‘real’ understanding for all people classified with disabilities here and abroad.

All projects / events are seen as adding to a natural follow on from the enormously successful 2000 Paralympics. The projects and events concentration held by the Trust will not be in feats of athletic endurance but on creative, daring, educational and inspirational results.

The gap in community and business awareness about the abilities and potential of the disabled market presents a window of opportunity for the D.R.E.A.M Trust and any participants.

How to sponsor/donate to the D.R.E.A.M

Contact our office for a sponsorship or donation application form by phone on +61 2 66244 055, email adcnet@netbay.com.au, Post: 30  Taylor Ave Goonellabah  2480 NSW, Australia.