About Successful Housing Elements and Developmental Disabilities

Development of the SHEDD Tool

Successful Housing Elements and Developmental Disabilities (SHEDD) began as a research project that identified key design elements (e.g., materials, spatial arrangements) of supportive housing for adults labeled with developmental disabilities and behaviours that challenge. This research addressed a knowledge gap by identifying key design elements (e.g., materials, spatial arrangements) of housing that supports well-being, comfort and safety. Through this research, led by Dr. Robert Balogh at Ontario Tech University, we developed the SHEDD Tool (version 1) to guide built environment modifications. The SHEDD tool aims to promote meaningful rituals of dwelling (e.g., eating, sleeping, recreation) and improve the wellbeing and community participation of adults with developmental disabilities. This research was funded by a Developmental Services Branch research grant from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Sharing the SHEDD Tool

Our second project addressed the need to build capacity for innovative person-centred housing design by sharing our SHEDD research and tool to key stakeholders across Ontario and beyond. By connecting with a broader network of key stakeholders, including researchers, housing planners and design practitioners, community agencies, policymakers, self-advocates, and family leaders through a webinar series, we identified areas to improve the SHEDD Tool, created version 2, and made connections to support future research and development. This project was funded by a SSHRC Connection Grant.

Who are we?

Our interdisciplinary team is led by Dr. Yani Hamdani, a researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and at the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at CAMH. She led an evaluation of a specially designed home for behaviours that chllenges for a community agency, which informed the SHEDD research project.

This project brings together a multi-stakeholder group of academic researchers from social sciences, urban planning, health and law, trainees, community agencies that build and operate supportive housing, housing design professionals, and self-advocates and family leaders to exchange research and experiential knowledge about person-centered housing design and developmental disabilities. The built environment is a fundamental part of successful housing for people labeled with a developmental disability.

The SSHRC Project Team

• Jane Casson Intern Architect, SHEDD Project Co-Lead
• Bhavnita Mistry Research Coordinator, University of Toronto, SHEDD Project Coordinator
• Dr. Robert Balogh Associate Professor, Ontario Tech University
• Dr. Yona Lunsky Director, Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities and the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, CAMH
• Dr. Johanna Lake Clinician-Scientist, Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, CAMH
• Dr. Carly McMorris Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
• Dr. Jim Dunn Chair and Professor in Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University
• Dr. Tess Sheldon Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor
• Bonnie Heath Family Advocate
• Marge McCabe Family Advocate
• Michelle Brooks Chair of the Ontario Provincial Network for Developmental Services
• Kristin Dobranowski Ontario Tech University
• Fatima Formuli Research Student, CAMH
• Megan Abou Chacra Research Analyst, CAMH, SHEDD Website Developer
• Armineh Babikian PhD Trainee, CAMH and University of Toronto