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Table of Contents
- Readiness for Housing Videos
- Readiness for Housing Infographic
- Additional Resources from AIDE Canada
- Creative Team Biographies
Readiness for Housing Videos
READINESS for HOUSING: How to Prepare for Your Independence
This video is for adults with developmental disabilities, to help them prepare to move into housing by explaining the CHALLENGES, the FEELINGS, and the BENEFITS involved. It was written by self-advocate Joel Ashton-Fogle in collaboration with Reena and Kidoons, narrated by Joel, and animated by Kidoons. It's video 1 of the 3 "Readiness for Housing" resources.
READINESS for HOUSING: Preparing for Your Family Member's Independence
This video is for the families of adults with developmental disabilities, to help them PREPARE, PROCESS, and SUPPORT their loved one's move into housing. It was written by Kidoons in collaboration with Reena, narrated by educator Stephanie Baptist, and animated by Kidoons. It's video 2 of the 3 "Readiness for Housing" resources.
READINESS for HOUSING: Smooth Moves! Helping New Resident Independence
This video is for staff members in housing for adults with developmental disabilities, to help them COLLABORATE, ENTRUST, and EMPOWER the individual through their move into housing. It was written by Kidoons in collaboration with Reena, narrated by co-author Rick Miller, and animated by Kidoons. It's video 3 of the 3 "Readiness for Housing" resources.
READINESS for HOUSING Infographic
This infographic PDF is an AIDE Canada Resource, developed by Reena in collaboration with Kidoons. It provides tips for parents and caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities, to help them prepare for their loved one's move into housing.
Additional Resources from AIDE Canada
- Housing and Independent living Collection
- Transitioning Out of the Family Home
- ENJOYING MY HOME: Supported Housing Options for Autism and Intellectual Disability in Canada
- Transitioning to Adulthood: Creating your Village
- Transition to Adulthood Services: Continuing to Foster Self-Determination, Choices and Self-Advocacy
Creative Team Biographies
Joel Ashton-Fogle – Subject, Co-author, Voice narrator
Joel is a 30-year-old resident of the Sandy Keshen Reena Residence in Vaughan, Ontario. Born 16 weeks early in London UK, he's Autistic, IDD and has numerous physical and mental health challenges. Joel has been well supported to emphasize his strengths: he graduated on the Dean’s Honours List in Early Childhood Education, and is completing a post graduate program in Autism and Behavioural Sciences. He serves on the Self Advocate Research Advisory Committee at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and works as a Clinical Connector between the CAMH’s clinicians and IDD service-users. Joel also teaches webinars for U of T medical students about supporting clients with IDD. He writes poetry for Art of Autism, blogs, and composes EDM music. Joel's main passion lies in sharing his lived experience to lobby for safe housing for the IDD population, and he's had the honour of speaking on this as a Reena Resident, at the Parliament of Canada.
Stephanie Baptist – Voice narrator
Stephanie Baptist holds a Master's degree in Adult Education from OISE. She has been a high school drama teacher, an empathy educator, and a professional theatre and voice actor. Currently, she works as a sexual health educator in Toronto, and volunteers with Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights. Over the years, Stephanie has worked with various organizations providing health and social services including Abiona Centre (formerly the Massey Centre for Women), Parent Education Network, and Egale Canada Human Rights Trust. She has facilitated arts workshops at Good For Her and music workshops at West Hill United Church, and sings in the band TRAINWRECK. www.stephaniebaptist.com
Craig Francis – Co-author, Co-Illustrator, Character design
Craig Francis is a creative director, writer, illustrator, voice actor, and multidisciplinary creator. He's an experienced guest speaker, and has performed with Just For Laughs, CBC, CTV and Showtime. Craig co-created the theatrical productions Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Game of Clones, Jungle Book, and HANS: My Life In Fairy Tales with Rick Miller; and FRANKENSTEIN: A Living Comic Book with Miller and Paul Van Dyck. He's a producer and dramaturg for Miller's BOOM trilogy in Canada, the USA, France, and Taiwan. Craig lives in Montréal where he has illustrated several books and voiced a number of animated series, including co-voicing Kidoons digital works with Rick Miller.
Kidoons, Inc. – Production
Kidoons produces multimedia works onscreen and onstage across Canada and the US. The Kidoons team brings design and storytelling artistry to help its Not-for-Profit Organizations and governmental partners craft compelling, entertaining narratives about art, science, medicine, and the environment. Our digital shorts are installed in museums in six provinces. They tell stories about Canadian historic sites, artifacts, and curriculum-aligned concepts. Kidoons theatrical productions have toured to 87 cities across Canada and the US, France, and Taiwan, including Off-Broadway three times. www.kidoons.com
Irina Litvinenko – Animation, Video design, Production, Co-illustrator
Irina is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in graphic design, video production, and multimedia storytelling. A longtime collaborator with Rick Miller and Craig Francis, she has contributed onscreen media projections to MacHomer, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Game of Clones. Her recent work includes projection design for BOOM X and BOOM YZ, Jungle Book, FRANKENSTEIN: A Living Comic Book, and HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales, with upcoming projects including MONEY and The Time Machine. She also serves as designer and editor for the Kidoons Network animated series.
Rick Miller – Co-author, Audio design, Voice narrator
Rick Miller is a writer/director/actor/musician/educator who has performed in five languages on five continents, and who Entertainment Weekly called “one of the 100 most creative people alive today”. He is primarily known for his multi-character solo theatre productions, such as The BOOM Trilogy (BOOM, BOOM X, BOOM YZ), MacHomer, Bigger Than Jesus and HARDSELL. Rick has also provided original voices for dozens of animated series and popular video games, including Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, Assassin's Creed: Syndicate, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. Rick and his creative partner provide all the original voices for their animated web series on the Kidoons Network. www.rickmiller.ca
Reena – Production
Reena is a non-profit organization that promotes dignity, individuality, independence, personal growth and community inclusion for people with diverse abilities within a framework of Jewish culture and values. Reena was established in 1973 by parents of children with developmental disabilities as a practical alternative to institutions. Since that time Reena has grown to provide support for 1,000 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Reena offers a variety of services including: residential support, respite programs, counselling, therapy and advocacy. These services are offered in 32 Group Homes and over 60 Supported Independent Living Apartments across the Greater Toronto Area. https://reena.org
