The Sea of Dreams Foundation (seaofdreams.org) was founded in 2001 to

bring together four successful programs that serve and support people with and

without disabilities in Hawaii, Alaska, as well as on the mainland. Those programs

currently offered include the Digital Ride Program a mobile technology center

(founded 2000); Ocean of Potentiality science and technology camps and activities

in Hawaii (founded 1996); Dream Catchers science and technology camps and

activities in Alaska (founded1997); and Dr. Radtke’s Oceanographic Research

Projects exploring and understanding global processes (founded 1981). Sea of

Dreams is a non-profit organization overseen by a Board of Directors consisting of

community and business members from all over the United States. Our President/

CEO and visionary is Dr. Richard Radtke. Dr. Radtke’s work in education,

research and activities to increase the number of people with disabilities in Science

and Technology resulted in the 1999 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science,

Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring and the 2000 Easter Seals of Hawaii

Humanitarian Award. These programs involve students, families, scientists and

educators throughout Alaska, Hawaii and other areas of the Pacific.

The mission of the Sea of Dreams Foundation is: " To explore global

alterations, reduce poverty, advocate for people impacted by poverty and people

with disabilities, and create career opportunities through technical assistance and

continued education in a dynamic and effective way". This is accomplished

through the activities of the four core SOD Programs focusing on:

1. Respect – equally for all people, cultures, races, religions, etc.

2. Empowerment – helping people to help themselves

3. Education & Life-Long Learning– especially technology and science

4. Advocacy – for people impacted by poverty and disabilities

5. Mentoring – to provide opportunities to learn as well as teach

6. Research – to continue to advance understanding of local and global processes

7. Social Networking – to foster natural support networks

8. Community Building – to help communities help themselves

Because of our unique understanding and experience in working with people with

disabilities, we have been highly successful at including people of all abilities and/or

disabilities into any and all of our activities. We put inclusion at the forefront of the

planning process resulting in activities and programs that are accessible and supportive

of all people. Our present projects include:

1). The Ocean of Potentiality program (http://www.oceanofpotentiality.org)

with its cyberclub (http://www.oceanofpotentiality.org/Cyberclub/index2.html)

3). The Digital Ride, mobile technology

(http://www.oceanofpotentiality.org/digital/index.html)

Under the direction of Dr. Richard Radtke, the Sea of Dreams Foundations is a new

entity, however, it comprised of programs with more than 30 years of experience and

historywith Federal Grants totaling over 8 million dollars. Over 300 youth age 13 to 25

have participated in mentoring, education, research, and advocacy activities through the

core SOD programs. These programs are described in greater detail below. Our partner’s

activities are also described below and represent decades of experience serving hundreds

of people in Hawaii. Dr. Radtke is an internationally recognized Ocean Scientist. He has

received numerous scientific and humanitarian awards, including the 1999 Presidential

Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. He is

internationally recognize for his active field research projects around the world including

Alaska, Greenland and Hawai’I and as the first disabled scientist to accomplish research in

Antarctica and the Arctic he received an U.S. Presidential Commendation.

opportunities in Hawaii to youth with and without disabilities. This year we will offer three

camps, and it is anticipated that we will offer at least four camping opportunities in 2003.

Planning and coordination is handled by a small core staff of year round employees, and a

large assortment of trained professional volunteer counselors. The youth served are ages

 13 to 25 and 50% to 75% of the youth served at OOP activities have some type of

disability ranging from mild physical and learning disabilities to severe cognitive and

physical challenges, as well as multiple disabilities. Over 300 youth have participated in

these camping programs, and many campers have gone on to college or into the

workforce, but have returned to camp to assist as junior counselors, and mentors for

younger campers. Students are exposed to science and technology in a fun, hands-on,

accessible manner. Successful participation results in increased self-esteem, as well as

opening their mindset to  a wider possibility of career options.

Self Advocacy, Research, and Technology to a segment of the community which has the

most difficulty obtaining theses services. SMART provides:

1) Hands on Science, Math, & Technology;

2) Muliti Sensory Approach; and

3) Sensory Cognitive Instruction

This includes those students who flourish in alternative educational settings and who

thrive when presented with special educational opportunities.

located in Alaska. This program focuses on supporting and promoting inclusion for youth

with disabilities in existing Alaska camps.

research as a scientist and as well as engaging students to accompany him on field

expeditions. In Jan 2001 Dr. Radtke took several students with disabilities by helicopter to

do field work in a remote valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. Students collected and

recorded data. Students have also accompanied him to Greenland and Alaska as well as

ongoing projects in Hawaii. SOD activities have resulted in the creation of websites,

videos, books, and a wide variety of pictures, reports and graphs both on paper as well as

electronically. Most notably is the publication of several articles on the results and findings