Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation

Multi Sensory Environments, Sensory Stimulation

Videos

ISNA 2010 Conference Videos
Bob Scully Hidden Angel Series (as seen on PBS)

About CDHAF

Scully The World Show – The Hidden Angel (Christopher Douglas)

Lucas enjoying a CDHAF Multi Sensory Room

Interview with Co-Founder Sandra Fornes

Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation Multi Sensory Environments

Multi Sensory Environment 360 degree Video

George Canyon Performs at UCP in Birmingham AL

CDHAF Multi Sensory Environment featured on ABC News

CDHAF Multi Sensory Environment featured on WKRG News

As seen on PBS

CDHAF provides room on ABC show Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation

The Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation (CDHAF) was created in honor and recognition of Christopher Douglas Fornes and Joyce Baye. CDHAF enriches the lives, health, and social well-being of people with cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges through the use of our Multi Sensory Environments™ (MSE). Our focus is on the design, development, implementation and education of our Multi Sensory Environments™ with the aim to enable productivity, inclusion, independence, and self-determination. Our approach is based on well-documented studies of neurological cognition and emotional development. We offer advisory and financial support for the establishment of integrated, publicly accessible Multi Sensory facilities and for basic research and … Continue Reading

Jewel C. Wietzel Education Center
San Antonio, TX USA
2006
Hospital Rivier-des-Prairies
Montreal, QB Canada
2006
United Cerabal Palsey – Birmingham
Birmingham, AL USA
2010
St. Peter’s Academy
Benoit’s Cover, Bay of Islands, NL Canada
2010
Lake Asbury Jr. High
Green Cove Springs, FL USA
2006
Allegany ARC
Wellsville, NY
2013
MCFI – Milwaukee Center of Independence
Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
2012
TLC – The Treatment and Learning Center
Rockville, Maryland USA
2012
M.O.R.G.A.N. Project
Melbourne Beach, FL USA
2011
Baycrest Hospital
Toronto ON, Canada
2011
Baycrest Apotex
Toronto ON, Canada
2011
EGF Polk County DAC
East Grand Forks, MI USA
2011
Colisano Children’s Hospital
Syracuse, NY USA
2011
Miami Lakes Therapy Center
Miami Lakes, Florida
2010
Anne Grady Center
Holland, OH USA
2009
A Society for Treatment of Autism
Calgary, AB Canada
2008
Southeastern Elementary School
Rome, GA USA
2008
Portage Collegiate Institute
Portage La Prairie, MB Canada
2009
Centre de Readaptation
Montreal, QB Canada
2009
West Montreal
Centre de Readaptation
Lachine, QB Canada
2007
Children’s Home RTF
Chenango Forks, NY USA
2007
Alternative Day Programs – Centre de Readaptation
Kirkland, QB Canada
2009
Augusta Evans Special School
Mobile, AL USA
2007
Miami Jewish Home and Hospital
Miami, FL USA
2007
Central Wisconsin Center
Madison, WI USA
2009
Miami Jewish Home and Hospital-#2
Miami, FL USA
2009
St. John’s Nursing Center
Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA
2006
Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Austin, TX USA (O’Donnell Family)
2006
Southern Alberta Child and Youth
Health -FLAMES House
Calgary, AB Canada
2009
Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Hondo, TX USA (Craft Family)
2006
Daytime Enrichment Activities
Recreation
Portland, OR USA
2010
Cleveland, Tennessee Jr. High
Cleveland, TN USA
2010
Hondo, Texas Special Education
Hondo, TX USA
2006
Miami Cerebral Palsy Residential Center
Miami, FL USA
2006
Scarborough Village Alternative School
Toronto, Ontario Canada
2010
Anne Grady Center Pediatric
Toledo, OH USA
2010
AHRC – Seiff Educare
Boemia, NY USA
2010

Evolution of the Legacy of a Hidden Angel

The 2021 New Year continues to bring positive changes within the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation (CDHAF).

We are extremely proud of the pioneering role we played many years ago in bringing multi-sensory environments to North America and raising their profile over the last two decades. Today throughout North America, more and more charities are providing funding to organizations wishing to implement these multi-sensory environments for children and adults with special needs. While this decreases our need to fund rooms we are also excited that this will allow us to be more involved in providing guidance and training in the area of MSEs.

Over the years our namesake, Chris has been the driving force behind the numerous initiatives to enrich the lives of individuals with special needs by providing:

• Design and financial support for over 100 MSE rooms
• Intellectual property for the development of a program for premature babies
• Equipment and expertise for the use of MSE with seniors challenged by dementia / alzheimers
• Online training focused on MSE methodology and best use practices
• Donations to support food for special needs children in impoverished areas
• Formation and co-management of an unprecedented program to train first responders in dealing with individuals with special needs
• Developing companion pets through sensory stimulation and life experiences
• Design and construction of the first MSE environment designed for individuals with special needs that incorporates life without limits and nature as the sensory component
• Ongoing support for a playground designed for individuals with special needs
• Provided Multi Sensory Room on Extreme Makeover Home Edition to the Craft Family (Hondo, TX)

The preceding and the following illustrate the multifaceted legacy of an extraordinary young man who, to quote Kubler-Ross – “taught us love is the true meaning of life”.

As we move on from the funding and installing of multi-sensory rooms (as the support from others grows), the foundation will continue to exist as an open knowledge-based organization providing guidance to facilities wishing to implement a multi-sensory environment (MSE) for children and adults with special needs.

The Foundation website will become an informational and training tool to provide research-based methodology and information, including MSE concepts, MSE designs, equipment uses, MSE benefits, and operational training. Organizations looking for funding will be directed to other charitable organizations that support the use of multi-sensory environments in education, recreation, and therapy.

In addition it will provide a free online training program to provide knowledge on best practices and the overall philosophy of MSE based on decades of hands on experience.

The sister organization to CDHAF, Hidden Angel Companion Pets will also be providing information on the benefits of companion pets for children with special needs and best practices in raising a pet to be a natural companion animal. Pets provide therapeutic benefits such as companionship, love, humor, play, exercise, a sense of power and outlets for displacement, projection and nurturance; Talking to animals and the tactile experience of petting animals reduces stress and enhances physical health (including lowering blood pressure and reducing heart rate) and longevity; Animals enhance psychological development, improve social skills, increase independence, and increase self-esteem; Animals can be a source of comfort and contribute to ego strength among children; The human-animal bond supports empathy development, the ability to form and express attachments, and the reaction to grief and loss; and Dogs help increase activity among those with disabilities, prevent childhood obesity, promote recovery after a heart attack, and encourage walking in the elderly.

Looking ahead, those of us committed to Chris foresee many more initiatives reflecting his life and impacting the lives of others.

Videos

Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation

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