Facility Spotlight - Foster Village
There are two locations of Foster Village: Dripping Springs and North Austin. They are both a resource for foster families to get clothes, supplies and support.
They currently get quilts and blankets from an internal group, but they did not have anywhere to get weighted blankets. When they could afford it, they would purchase these, but we are able to fill all their weighted blanket needs.
They also were the first to ask for weighted lap pads for studying and calming during down times. We are now providing those to a number of different groups, including schools for ADHD rooms.
Check them out at https://www.fostervillageaustin.org/
Demo - Weighted Blankets with Stephanie
Stephanie explained how her and Anne put together weighted blankets.
Benefits:
There are two types of children who are receiving weighted blankets from The Linus Connection: students with ADHD and those who have experienced trauma, such as abuse, bullying, loss of a parent or sibling.
ADHD:
The blankets help students with ADHD by providing a calming and organizing effect. It helps them focus in school and doing homework. Our bodies have an intrinsic ability to sense and position themselves in space, called proprioception. Proprioception tells us where our bodies are in relation to other objects and in open spaces. It's very important to the brain, as it plays a large role in self- regulation, co-ordination, posture, body awareness, and the ability to focus. ADHD sufferers also have an increased risk of sleep problems. This calming effect helps with that as well.
Trauma and PTSD:
A weighted blanket molds to your body like a comforting hug, helping your nervous systems to relax. The weighted blanket stimulates the process of relaxation naturally, without the need for any drugs or medication. When you apply deep pressure to the body, the body switches from running its sympathetic nervous system to its parasympathetic nervous system. When the SNS takes the lead for too long, you feel anxious, tired, on edge, and irritable. You don’t sleep as well and your digestive system might act up. The parasympathetic system brings a sense of calm and peace to the mind and body. When the parasympathetic nervous system takes over, your heart rate slows, muscles relax, and circulation improves. Your body produces endorphins, which are the “happy” hormones. As deep pressure is applied to the body, the parasympathetic nervous system comes online, calming a child and bringing a sense of well-being.
Linus volunteers make the quilt top and pellet pockets and Stephanie and Anne complete the process of making the blanket based on specific weight specifications. Find more information about weighted blankets on our Blanket Specifications page.
Show and Tell