The Central Florida Dreamplex is a center for therapy, fitness, recreation, and sports designed specifically for individuals with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.

Their members, patients, and visitors represent a diverse list of disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputees, visual impairments, and other learning and intellectual disabilities.

Their mission is to provide opportunity and inclusion of all persons regardless of ability for sport, recreation, therapy, and employment.

The Dreamplex added SAM to their program back in 2014. For the past 8+ years they have used SAM to help their members train a wide range of skills. SAM’s portability allows them to easily move the system to different areas within the facility to support that department's programs. SAM's wide range of adjustable bungee assistance opens the system up to members from young children to older adults.

Check out some of the Dreamplex’s amazing members and patients:

“The Central Florida Dreamplex uses SAM as a Physical Therapy tool. Our kids love to jump and this gives them a safe place to do that. Some children have difficulty jumping (low muscle tone, etc) and this is a great tool to initiate that gross motor skill. Endurance and overall strengthening is another area where SAM helps. It’s a very unique piece of equipment that all of our kids/teens love to use and they forget they are in therapy!“

Amy Gomes

Physical Therapy Lead - Central Florida Dreamplex

President - Central Florida Pediatric Therapy Foundation Board

Some, not all, athletes experience some level of fear as they work through spotting levels.  From springs on a trampoline, to a tumble track, to a rod floor, then finally to a spring floor.  Some coaches hand spot some don't.  Moving from a tramp to a floor is a big deal.  Athletes can fear falling, fear injury, the floor surface responds back a a very different rate than the tramp.  All these factors make it tough to have the same level of confidence.  Or when an athlete has to step away from the hand on the back.  Many coaches have gone through this.  Athletes even say...." just lightly hold my shirt".  We considered all these factors when designing SAM.  This research and athlete interviews drove numerous rounds of testing and evaluation.  We used this to design the force our bungees use to lift the athlete and the number of bungees on the system.  You can start with a full spot on SAM. Meaning use enough bungees to fully lift the athlete off the ground.  Work body positions, arm positions, timing, move slowly through the skill to help air awareness.  Then reduce the spot by removing one bungee per side or use the adjustment crank on the side.  Now the athlete has a little bit of weight in their toes.  Let them work the skill and train all the positions and timing.  Then remove another bungee.  Now again, the athlete has even more weight in their toes.  Continuing this allows very small manageable changes in level.  It's significantly smaller than a tumble track to a spring floor.  This helps manage fear.  It helps the athlete learn they must jump harder, be more explosive, must pull harder, etc... all along they are not crashing to their knees.  Crashing and the fear associated takes over and pulls focus from the harder jump, the powerful pull.  With SAM, your not crashing to your knees and you keep that focus on the aspects that matter.