HERE WHEN YOU NEED US MOST
Our Team
Hedy Chandler, MPA, RSW
President
The founding President of TABIRS, Hedy has many years of experience in community rehabilitation for adults with acquired brain injuries.
Hedy is a registered Social Worker and has received a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University. She is a graduate of the University Of Toronto Rotman School Of Management Advanced Health Leadership Program and has an Organizational Leadership Certificate from the University of Missouri.
Hedy has been an invited speaker at conferences on a regional, provincial, and international basis. She has sat on many boards and committees, both regional and provincial with several in a leadership capacity.
She has worked collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders, all in an effort to improve the quality of life in Toronto and Ontario for individuals whose lives have been affected by an acquired brain injury.
Since 1986, Hedy has served as the Executive Director of CHIRS. She has shepherded CHIRS from its roots as a transitional group home and the first community-based brain injury rehabilitation program in North America to its position now as an internationally recognized multi-service agency that provides a broad range of support to a clientele with diverse and complex needs.
Hedy is the current Chair of both the Toronto ABI Network and the Executive Director’s Network of Provincial Community ABI Programs.
Local: (416) 696-6031
Toll free: (833) 696-6031
Fax: (416) 240-1149
Email: [email protected]
Life-changing support, transformative rehabilitation.
Nobody should have to suffer because of ABI. Our fee-for-service offerings are designed to help families cope and compensate when life gets tough.
We transform lives.
Help us do more for the community.
living with ABI and their families. Your donations help with undertaking more ABI research,
consistently improving care facilities, and employing even more influential members of staff.
CHIRS has provided me with a greater sense of independence. Before CHIRS, and after my accident, I was living with my mother. Moving into a residence at CHIRS gave me a chance to step back into society. As well, I really love the music program at CHIRS; It gives me a chance to practice the harmonica and to join my friends in singing. I also like to mentor at the club. Doing laundry, serving coffee and washing dishes is a great way to feel productive and give back to CHIRS.
The quality of human beings in this building, from staff to volunteers to students to participants, is so far superior to what is found in the regular world. There is always someone here to lend a hand or provide a positive word when needed. There is always something to do at CHIRS. You will never be bored. Many people who attend have had their life change, going from working full time to having a lot of time on their hands. CHIRS gives us a place to go and meet people and have fun.
CHIRS is a good place to hang out. People are my ‘own type’ in that we all have brain injuries which means that we understand each other. It is good to know that at CHIRS people won’t dismiss me right away if they see that I walk funny or hear me talking in a peculiar fashion. I mentor at the club on Mondays and I do the work as needed. It keeps me busy and helps me feel needed. Plus the coffee is cheap which is a bonus!
My favourite thing about CHIRS is connecting with my peers and helping out. I prepare lunch at the club twice a week, run a Scrabble group on Tuesday and help with karaoke on Thursday. It helps to keep my brain stimulated and allows me to feel like I am doing something worthwhile with my life. I love the challenge of making the club a welcoming and positive place. It feels so good to turn frowns into smiles. If I didn’t have CHIRS I would feel isolated and would have far less to look forward to.
CHIRS has provided me with a greater sense of independence. Before CHIRS, and after my accident, I was living with my mother. Moving into a residence at CHIRS gave me a chance to step back into society. As well, I really love the music program at CHIRS; It gives me a chance to practice the harmonica and to join my friends in singing. I also like to mentor at the club. Doing laundry, serving coffee and washing dishes is a great way to feel productive and give back to CHIRS.
The quality of human beings in this building, from staff to volunteers to students to participants, is so far superior to what is found in the regular world. There is always someone here to lend a hand or provide a positive word when needed. There is always something to do at CHIRS. You will never be bored. Many people who attend have had their life change, going from working full time to having a lot of time on their hands. CHIRS gives us a place to go and meet people and have fun.
CHIRS is a good place to hang out. People are my ‘own type’ in that we all have brain injuries which means that we understand each other. It is good to know that at CHIRS people won’t dismiss me right away if they see that I walk funny or hear me talking in a peculiar fashion. I mentor at the club on Mondays and I do the work as needed. It keeps me busy and helps me feel needed. Plus the coffee is cheap which is a bonus!
My favourite thing about CHIRS is connecting with my peers and helping out. I prepare lunch at the club twice a week, run a Scrabble group on Tuesday and help with karaoke on Thursday. It helps to keep my brain stimulated and allows me to feel like I am doing something worthwhile with my life. I love the challenge of making the club a welcoming and positive place. It feels so good to turn frowns into smiles. If I didn’t have CHIRS I would feel isolated and would have far less to look forward to.
