Hi, my name is Keirthanaa (Keira) and my mother is currently planning with LIGHTS.

I would like to find a home: By Fall 2024

Location: Anywhere in Toronto

Type of Housing: Rental apartment or house with 3 or 4 bedrooms (2-3 roommates and a live in support worker(s))

A little bit about me:

• I am 21 years old and I finished High School in June 2023.
• I enjoy community activities with my peers and support staff.
• I enjoy walks in the community, swimming, dancing and singing (pop music).
• I also enjoy exercising like Yoga and stretching etc.
• I enjoy visiting malls and enjoying my favorite meal from McDonalds.
• I love ice cream and candies as a treat for motivation.
• I have been diagnosed with Autism and require support to ensure I have a great day.
• I like to see and talk to other people from a safe distance away.
• I enjoy greeting people and asking questions.
• It would best to not engage if I’m speaking negatively and I would appreciate if I was redirected to another topic. If that doesn’t work please allow for some space and time and I will usually stop. If I use unkind negative words, it means I am feeling worried and uncomfortable – please don’t take it personally.
• I appreciate positive attention and praise when I’m not engaging in negative talk. I may engage in attention seeking behaviour and speech, it is best to ignore and redirect when this may occur.

Sensory Needs: I need to feel safe and grounded in new environments and around new people. It is important that my sensory needs are met. You can help me with this by giving me small soft toys that are weighted as well as my weighted pillow.
When I’m sitting in a chair, I would appreciate having my belt and my weighted pillows which allows me to feel grounded and safe.
I like to tuck my arms and hands inside so I can feel a comfortable amount of pressure against my body.
It is important that I have a lot of space around me, I don’t like when people, objects, or furniture are too close to me. It makes me feel anxious and I may not feel like I am grounded.

My Ideal Roommate: I am looking for roommates who are funny, who can motivate me, talk with me and enjoy things that make me laugh. I like dogs so it’s important that my roommates are ok with animals. I would appreciate my roommates to use their indoor voices while inside.

Please reach out to LIGHTS Senior Facilitator Tom Gaspar at tom.gaspar@cltoronto.ca if interested or if you have questions.

• This topic was modified 6 months ago by Jason.