Joel’s Story: Finding Safety, Purpose, and Community Through Reena

Joel Ashton Fogle will tell you exactly who he is — proudly. “I’m Autistic,” he says, “and I also live with bipolar disorder, a mild intellectual disability, arthritis and partial sight loss.” Born at 24 weeks, the youngest baby to survive at his hospital at the time, Joel has never let his story be defined by what’s hard.

What he needed was the right support.

That support came through Reena. After a serious mental health crisis brought Joel to hospital for five months, a social worker connected him and his mother with the Sandy Keshen Reena Residence. Reena supervisors came to visit him before he was even discharged. “Soon after, I was offered a safe place to live with 24-hour staff support,” Joel says. “That was the beginning of my recovery.”

From there, Joel built a life. He transitioned into a semi-independent unit alongside his best friend, where the two look out for each other daily. “We’ve got each other’s backs,” Joel smiles. “I help him with physical tasks, and he helps me stay organized. It’s teamwork.” He completed his ECE diploma, is now studying Autism and Behavioural Sciences and volunteers as a lived experience advisor for people with dual diagnoses. He even performed in Ragtime at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, a dream come true.

The Sandy Keshen Reena Residence is home — and family. “The staff treat us with respect and care,” Joel says. “My supervisor tells me she’s proud of me, just like my mum does. That means everything.”

“I’m proof that with the right support, people like me can thrive. I’m safe, I’m studying, I’m living my best life — because of Reena.”

1,000+

Individuals supported by Reena

1,200+

Hours given by dedicated volunteers

860

Caring Employees

Unlimited

Impact

More Stories That Inspire

Andrew’s Journey: A Brother’s Love, A Life Transformed

When Andrew got a placement at Reena in 2001, it changed his life — and his sister Sarah’s too. Their story is about what’s possible when the right support shows up at the right time.

Melanie’s Story of Connection and Care

When Melanie moved into her Reena residence at 23, her life began to transform. Today at 38, she’s a working artist with a café job, a passion for painting and a life filled with purpose and adventure.

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A Year of Impact

Every day we’re honoured to witness incredible transformations happening right in our community – and we couldn’t be more proud to spotlight these stories for you.

Our Year of Impact celebrates the real people behind our mission. From Paige building skills for independent living, to Matthew pursuing his career dreams, these stories showcase what happens when we believe in potential and provide the right support.

We’re proud of the life-changing moments we help create, of the confidence we help build, and the independence we help achieve. But most of all, we are proud of the incredible individuals we serve who inspire us every single day to keep creating possibilities. Thank you for the positive impact you leave on us.

How you can help make an impact

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Your support helps us to continue making an impact for those we serve and in our community.

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Volunteer

By joining our volunteer team, you will directly contribute to the exceptional experiences and life-changing support we deliver every day.

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Amplify the story of someone you know in our Reena community and share the life-changing impact of our programs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Reena supports over 1,000 individuals with developmental disabilities through a variety of services:

  • Housing: 32 group homes and 60+ supported independent living apartments
  • Community Programs: Flexible day programs tailored to individual interests and schedules
  • Employment Support: Job coaching and career development services
  • Respite Services: Short-term relief and support for families
  • Specialized programs: Services for autism, mental health challenges and other developmental disabilities

For more information about the services we offer, reach out to 905.889.6484 or info@reena.org

Your support directly helps fund transformational housing projects and vital programs, including day programs, respite services and employment support.

Your impact helps:

Housing: Helps address the 12,000+ person waitlist for specialized housing in Ontario

Programs: Funds equipment, activities, and services beyond the scope of government funding

Employment: Supports job coaching and career development services

Individual growth: Enables more journeys to independence and community engagement, helping all individuals to thrive

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us! We are always looking for dedicated and caring individuals to join our team.

For full information on our volunteer recruitment process, visit reena.org/volunteer