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The Reena Foundation is a non-profit organization in Toronto, Ontario which seeks to promote dignity, independence, and community inclusion for adults with developmental disabilities. Reena is a non-profit philanthropic corporation and a registered charity. The foundation is centered around Jewish culture and values, however, Reena supports individuals from all denominations. Reena's goal is to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities receive quality care.

While the organization does operate under Jewish values, they do not discriminate against other denominations and support people of all religious faiths. The organization offers programs for senior citizens, adults and children. They also provide outreach programs, volunteer and work opportunities.

Reena works in collaboration with Canada Israel Experience to provide a sponsored trip to Israel for clients with a developmental disability. This trip is offered to individuals of a Jewish faith who meet the individual program requirements as outlined on the Canada Israel Experience website.

The Reena Foundation currently operates 37 group homes across Northern Toronto. Each home has a minimum staff-to-client ratio of 3:1. Reena also offers respite programs for parents whose children live at home, as well as after-school activities and day care programs.

Reena has offered leisure programs to meet the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities for over 28 years. The foundation works to integrate clients into mainstream Canadian society. Reena maintains a variety of core values to ensure that adults with a developmental disability receive quality care as they age.

Reena offers an independent living residence for individuals with developmental disabilities. The residence includes programs designed to help integrate clients into mainstream society. The residence is funded through donations, and individuals are admitted based on an application process.

Every calendar year, Reena publishes an annual report to highlight additions to their programs and services. They also publish their current Board of Directors, and a list to thank those who have donated and sponsored the organization.

The organization offers a variety of work and volunteer opportunities for interested applicants, as well as services that help clients integrate into the workforce. Reena provides a variety of work and volunteer opportunities that can be found on the organization's official website. Interested applicants are required to undergo an application and interview process to be considered for a position with Reena.

The Reena Foundation supports adults and children with a variety of developmental disabilities. Some of the most common developmental disabilities supported at Reena include Autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

History
The Reena Foundation was started in 1973 by a group of Jewish parents in Ontario, Canada. The initial goal of the foundation was to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, down syndrome, cerebral palsy and spina bifida were well cared for. Before the foundation was created, Ontario placed adults with developmental disabilities in institutions such as the Huronia Regional Centre. The Reena Foundation was created as a more ideal alternative for families where clients could learn, volunteer and work, while receiving quality care and an opportunity to visit their families on a consistent basis. Through a combination of personal savings and fundraising, the parents formed the Reena Foundation that continues to operate as a non-profit initiative to support individuals with developmental disabilities. The foundation first operated without any government funding, and was committed to improving the quality of life of adults with developmental disabilities. The organization now receives some government funding and yearly donations from sponsors. The foundation recognized the increasing needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and opened its first home dedicated to seniors in 2000, followed by another home in 2007.

Reena's Vision, Values and Mission
The Reena Foundation has a variety of core values that it has maintained since 1973. The organization's vision is to ensure that "older adults with a developmental disability have the same rights to support and services as all older Ontarians." Their core values include maintaining quality of life through: "quality of choice, quality of access, creative options and individualized planning."

Reena's mission statement: "We will ensure that the general and special needs of persons with a developmental disability who are aging, are identified and addressed effectively to ensure quality of life."

The foundation supports consistent communication and co-operative efforts to provide opportunities for their clients. This includes collaborations with senior support services, families and educational institutions.

Faith & Culture at Reena
The Reena Foundation began as Jewish organization and still employs Jewish values such as Shabbat, Kiddush, attending synagogue, Jewish holidays, Kashrut and Tikun Olam. The organization supports individuals of all denominations. Reena employs a professional advisor who serves as a religious specialist. This professional works to integrate Reena's clients into various religious community functions.

Reena does not require staff to be Jewish, or have any prior knowledge about Judaism. However, staff are required to be open minded and learn about the religion in order to support clients who are looking to develop spiritually. Reena celebrates many of the major Jewish holidays such as the High Holy Days, Chunukah, Purim, Pesach, and Shavuot. Reena works in collaboration with Canada Israel Experience to provide a sponsored trip to Israel to clients who meet the requirements. Canada Israel Experience is an organization that offers a variety of educational trips for Jewish individuals. The Birthright Israel trip is free for individuals that meet the requirements, and other trips such as March of the Living and Masa Israel Journey are offered for a set price.

Programs
The Toby and Henry Battle Developmental Centre was opened in 1999 for day and evening programs. The center continues to support children and adults with a developmental disability. The centre is located in Vaughan, Ontario, and the innovative building includes various activities and facilities for members. The center is a fully accessible building that offers a variety of day and evening programs. These programs include sports, creative arts, health and wellness, computer labs, a greenhouse and a library. The Battle Centre is also the site of Reena’s administrative offices.

Reena offers various day programs based on individual abilities and interests. These programs are offered to over 160 individuals with a developmental disability. The goal of each program is to help transition adults and children into contributing members of society. The day programs available include, but are not limited to: woodworking, creative arts, and cooking. Reena also offers a supported employment program that helps to transition adults with developmental disabilities from school and unemployment into the workforce. Reena also supports employers with diversity recruitment.

Programs for Senior Citizens
Reena offers three senior homes located across the Greater Toronto Area. The senior homes include private apartments, large common spaces, wheelchair accessibility, meal preparation, security systems and staff on site.

Reena also runs a day program for older adults at the Schwartz/Reisman Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The program is designed for adults living with illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Reena is in collaboration with the Ontario Partnership on Aging & Developmental Disabilities (OPADD). The OPPAD works to provide long-term care for older adults with developmental disabilities, which includes providing these individuals with access to suitable community and residential programs, such as the ones at Reena.

Outreach Programs
Reena's Outreach Programs are designed to help individuals develop social skills through recreational programming. The programs run throughout the school year and during school breaks. These programs include:
 * Café Lundi
 * Cooking Club
 * Special Olympics Basketball
 * Special Olympics Bowling
 * Sunday Friends Club
 * Swim Club
 * Life Skills
 * Athletic Club
 * Summer Camp

Reena Community Residence
In 2012, Reena opened a mixed residence in Vaughan, Ontario where adults with developmental disabilities can live alongside senior citizens and individuals with physical and psychiatric challenges. Each resident has a private apartment with a kitchen and other living accommodations, as well as access to on-site support services. Residents who are able to work have part-time jobs, and other residents volunteer within the organization.

The residence includes 60 units, and is surrounded by a garden view. It is located within walking distance of a recreation complex that includes therapeutic swimming pools, child-care centers, art, music and drama programs, a wellness facility and a wellness clinic. The main floor of the residence is open to the general public, and offers daily programs for tenants and other adults with developmental disabilities. They offer activities such as bingo, karaoke, lectures, and movies during the evening. In order for the residence to operate successfully, it requires a lot of support from the community, as well as strong partnerships with the Ontario government and social service agencies.

The tenants who live in the residence consider it an opportunity for freedom and responsibility that they have not had in the past. In an article by Carol Goar of the Toronto Star, tenants were asked to describe their experience living in the Reena Community Residence. One of the first residences was Zachary Cohen who has autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy. He described, “What I like is that you’re free to come in and go out — and you don’t have a roommate. I’m independent in most areas."

Another resident, Daniel Duchinsky, described his part time job at a cinema in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He recalled greatly enjoying the experience, including making new friends and cooking his own meals. The Reena Community Residence has limited space, and the foundation hopes to encourage the development of similar residences throughout Canada.

Reena also provides day-time respite to individuals with developmental disabilities living with their families in the community. Wheelchair accessible respite services are available for children and young adults between the ages of 7 and 17. The goal of these respite programs is to offer families and clients time away from each other in order to help reduce stress within the home.

On September 13, 2017, Reena opened up its newest community residence for individuals with more complex needs. The residence is located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and includes a variety of individualized spaces to better support a variety of special needs. The residence includes features such as built-in furniture, inset lighting, and specialized walls and windows to limit injuries. The Ministry of Community and Social Services provides Reena with an annualized operational funding for this community residence. Reena Foundation's president, Gary Sim, explained that people with developmental disabilities are living longer than ever before. To support older clients, Reena built one of the first senior homes in North America for people with developmental disabilities.

Community Links
Reena is in partnership with many community agencies in Canada. These agencies include: Reena uses its community connections to provide a variety of programming for clients across Ontario.
 * Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care
 * Central Local Health Integrated Network
 * Circle of Care
 * Community Care Access Centre
 * Cummer Lodge
 * Geneva Centre
 * George Brown College
 * Jewish Family & Child
 * Jewish Vocational Service
 * Kehilla Residential Program
 * Kerry's Place Autism Services
 * Health Centre of Maple
 * Montage Support Services
 * Prosserman JCC
 * Region of York
 * Schwartz/Reisman Centre
 * UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
 * York Region District School Board

Fundraising Initiatives
When the organization first launched, there was no government funding provided, and the start-up money came from the founders' personal investments. Since then, the foundation continues to raise money every year to better improve its programs. On October 8, 2013, the foundation held the first annual Exceptional Abilities Series, featuring former United States Presidential Advisor David Axelrod. The event took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, and raised over $250,000 for Reena's outreach programs.

Reena's goal is to have a $9-million endowment to run after-school programs, March break camps, a swim club, an athletic club, and a cooking club. In 2013, the foundation celebrated its 40-year anniversary and launched a $2-million campaign to build a Reena Behavioural Home in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Reena raises funds for areas of their program that do not receive government support. This includes day programs, services, transportation, appliances, capital campaigns, technology and supported independent living.

Reena Foundation helps fund various transportation means which offer individuals with developmental disabilities a chance to visit with family, engage in social activities, attend medical appointments, and get to work everyday. Reena operates 20+ vans per year, and in accordance with safety regulations, these vehicles are replaced as needed.

The foundation runs capital campaigns to maintain the cost of their community residences located across the Greater Toronto Area. This also includes raising money for their Supported Living Programs to ensure that adequate staffing, specialized programming, evening and weekend programs, healthy living and social and emotional support are provided to clients.

Fundraising initiatives through Reena allow the organization to provide up-to-date technology for clients including computers, iPads and tablets that assist individuals with developmental disabilities on a daily basis. Reena's programs that are not government funded offer individuals with developmental disabilities an opportunity to learn social skills, while providing support to individual clients and their family.

Government Funding
In 2014, the Ontario Government invested $810 million to support developmental service programs. This investment occurred over the span of three years. This investment is intended to support adults with developmental disabilities like the clients at Reena. The goal of the investment is to eliminate waiting lists for developmental services, create and fund more residential services, provide additional funding to agencies and workers, and modernize facilities.

Reena's Annual Report
Every calendar year in July, Reena creates an Annual Report to highlight yearly accomplishments, and list individuals and organizations that have made donations. The most recent publication is dated April 1 2016, to March 31, 2017. The publication categorizes donors based on the range of donation made with the highest being $50,000 to $100,000, and the lowest being $1,000 to $4,000.

Donors
Reena has various donors and organizations that support the foundation every year. They provide a list thanking each donor on their website. These donors include the Alex Eisen Sustaining Fund, Endowment Funds, Capital Campaigns and a Monthly Donor Club.

Previous and current event sponsors include Great Gulf Homes Charitable Foundation, Amanda Jaclyn Berger Memorial Fund of the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto, Ganz Family Foundation, Segal Wealth Management, CIBC Children’s Foundation, and Centre Street Deli.

In addition to thanking specific donors, Reena also has a page in the publication dedicated to listing its sponsors. These sponsors include a variety of organizations, businesses and individual donors.

Board of Directors
Reena's current Board of Directors can be found in their yearly Annual Report. The Board of Directors for the year dated April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 includes:
 * President - Gary Sim
 * Chair - Jeff Shankman
 * Vice Chair - Daniel Ger
 * Vice Chair & Treasurer - Steven Justein
 * Secretary - Ellis Orlan
 * Directors - Jesse Abrams, Carly Bardikoff, Tobie Bekhor, Bob Berger, Madeleine Bodestein, Adam Dwek, Sue-Ann Levy, Lili Litwin, Mona Sherkin, Lorne Weiss, and Tom Ungar

Careers at Reena
Reena not only supports adults and children with developmental disabilities, but as a growing organization, they offer an array of volunteer and employment opportunities for teenagers and adults. Reena hires individuals who can offer the best support for their clients. The organization offers a base salary, as well as opportunities for promotion. The organization seeks to hire individuals with a positive attitude, patience, compassion and problem solving abilities. Reena does not discriminate against minority groups or workers with disabilities, and strives to be an inclusive environment. An application, interview, and background check is required to work or volunteer for the foundation.

Volunteer Opportunities
Reena has a variety of volunteer opportunities and events available for interested applicants to assist with throughout the year. Part-time volunteer opportunities include: Sunday Friends Club, Special Olympics Bowling, Reena Choir and one-to-one volunteering.

Developmental Disabilities Supported at Reena
The Reena Foundation supports adults and children with a variety of developmental disabilities, but some of the most common include Autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Autism spectrum disorder (ADS) is a neurological disorder and includes repetitive behaviors, and deficits in social skills and communication. Autism is a disorder that usually begins in infancy to the first three years of life. Autism is a heterogeneous condition and no two individuals with autism are exactly the same. However, there are some behaviours that are consistent across the spectrum. Many of these behaviours include: difficulty with verbal communication, difficulty maintaining eye contact, use of peripheral vision, specific hand or finger movements, and a delay in intellectual abilities. Reena has trained staff and collaborates with Kerry’s Place Autism Services to support clients with Autism spectrum disorder. Down syndrome is a type of intellectual impairment associated with an abnormality in chromosome 21. Down syndrome affects both physical and cognitive development, although affected individuals vary significantly due to severity of specific impairments. Individuals with Down syndrome have weaknesses in areas related to intellect, expressive language, syntactic processing, and verbal working memory. Most children with Down syndrome develop the communication skills they need, although it can often take longer for them to do so compared to other children. A few of the common physical signs of Down syndrome include: poor muscle tone, a short neck, a small head, excess skin, and a flattened face. Physical development in children with Down syndrome is often slower than other children. As a result of poor muscle tone, a child with Down syndrome may not learn to turn over, sit, stand, and walk as quickly as other children. However, children with Down syndrome can learn to participate in physical activities like other children but may need to do so at a modified pace. Reena offers a variety of programs and one-to-one care for adults and children with Down syndrome. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders causing limitation in activity that is typically a result of issues in brain development during infancy. Cerebral palsy often includes difficulty with perception, cognition, communication, and behaviour. Cerebral palsy is a heterogeneous condition and the severity of impairments may vary greatly between individuals with the disorder. Limitations in activity are seen as a consequence of the disorder. People with Cerebral palsy may develop a variety of musculoskeletal problems, such as muscle contractures, hip displacement and spinal deformity. Many of these problems develop throughout life and are related to physical growth, ageing and other factors. Reena's facilities are accessible to individuals with cerebral palsy, and the organization offers programs to support these clients such as one-to-one support, modified programming, and accessible buildings. Spina bifida is a birth defect which occurs within the first few weeks of pregnancy. The spinal column does not develop properly, resulting in irreversible damage to the nervous system. The spinal opening is surgically repaired directly after birth, however, the nerve damage is permanent. There is no single known cause of spina bifida, and researchers continue to study the effects of heredity, nutrition, and environmental factors, which may cause physical damage of the fetus. People with spina bifida typically receive surgery and therapy to minimize any further neurological damage. Treatment for spina bifida can include medication, use of assistive technology, and physiotherapy. Many people with spina bifida require support for mobility such as braces, crutches, or wheelchairs. There is no cure for the disorder, but ongoing therapy and medical care can help individuals with spina bifida to accomplish daily tasks with greater success. Reena offers a variety of programs to support individuals with spina bifida as well as accessible rooms, services and buildings. Dementia is a broad term used to describe a decline in memory and other cognitive abilities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Vascular dementia is also very common, and occurs after a patient experiences a stroke. Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells that interferes with communication and connections between the brain cells. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, an individual's cognitive abilities are significantly impaired. Thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies can also be causes of dementia. Some of the common symptoms of dementia include difficulty with memory, communication, language, attention span, and visual perception. Dementia is progressive, which means that symptoms are moderate at first and gradually become more severe. Reena works with researchers to provide a screening process for patients that are suspected to have dementia. Reena offers various programs to support older adults with dementia and adapts programs on a case-by-case basis. Alzheimer's disease produces an impairment of memory. It is a result of damage to the brain that is suspected to start ten years prior to any symptoms appearing. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease first appear when a patient is in their mid-60s. Signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s begin between a person’s 30s and mid-60s. Difficulty with memory is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease and includes difficulty in areas such as vision and reasoning or judgement. As the disease progresses, memory and cognitive difficulties become greater. Other symptoms of the disease include increased anxiety or aggression, hallucinations and paranoia. Physical symptoms such as weight loss, seizures and loss of bowel control may also occur in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease can occur in terms of mild, moderate and severe. Patients with severe Alzheimer's disease eventually die due to aspiration pneumonia. There is no direct cure for the disease, but there are medications available that can help those living with Alzheimer's disease. Reena offers a variety of programs to support clients with Alzheimer's disease such as its senior day programs.