Are You Ready to Level Up?

Level Up Gaming is a collective of occupational therapists, special education professionals, and professional gamers who run integrated programs for individuals of all abilities which provide opportunities to develop and explore real-world social skills through goal-directed group gaming experiences.We don't just game, we level up!

The Team

DANIEL KWAN, MSc. (HE/HIM)
Daniel is a Canadian podcaster, game designer, and cultural consultant. He is the recipient of 4 Gold and 4 Silver ENnie Awards for his work in the tabletop gaming industry.As a freelance narrative designer, some of his notable works include Candlekeep Mysteries, the Ultimate Micro-RPG Guide, Avatar Legends, Dark Archive, and the Tian Xia series. As a cultural consultant, he has worked for companies like Dimension 20, Critical Role Productions, and Asmodee. As an independent game designer, Daniel has released products like Wicked Congregation, Ross Rifles, and the Chronicles of Spring & Autumn series.He has extensive experience in the development and execution of alternative educational programming using tabletop gaming. From 2011-2019, Daniel ran the Royal Ontario Museum's Dungeons & Dragons program and consulted in the development of a program using the Dungeon World system at the Aga Khan Museum between 2015 and 2016.Learn more about Daniel at: danielhkwan.comNAOMI HAZLETT, BSc., MSCOT, OT REG. (Ont.) (SHE/HER)
Naomi is a registered occupational therapist. She is the Managing Editor of Occupational Therapy Now, the national practice magazine of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists; a Clinical OT Instructor and Professor in the occupational therapist assistant & physiotherapist assistant program at Centennial College; and practices occupational therapy in the community with diverse populations.Her areas of interest and passion include autism spectrum disorders, mental health, disability and community engagement, and creating and enhancing occupational therapy roles in various practice settings.Naomi has engaged in roleplaying games for over 20 years, both as a GM and as an enthusiastic player!CHRISTIAN BLAKE, OT REG. (Ont.) (HE/HIM)
Christian is a co-founder of Level Up Gaming, an Occupational Therapist, and inclusion advocate. He has worked clinically as a pediatric Occupational Therapist at Boomerang Health powered by Sick Kids.Christian brings years of experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum and other disabilities. expertise as an Occupational Therapist, skills in creating inclusive programming and his very own bag of dice to the table to create goal-oriented, inclusive and meaningful gaming experiences.KELSEY MCIVER (SHE/HER)
Kelsey is a Special Education teacher with the Peel District School Board. She teaches grades 6, 7 and 8 at a middle school in Mississauga. She works with students on the Autism Spectrum, with developmental delays and with a variety of learning disabilities in mainstream and contained classes. She is also an instructor with the Royal Ontario Museum children’s programs. She loves to travel and has taught in 4 different countries.

Our Programs

CHARISMA CAMPAIGNS
For folks with some experience in tabletop gaming, or who have participated in groups before, check out our Charisma Campaigns!Using tabletop role playing games, where collaborative storytelling is the core activity, we will safely mediate and explore identity, empathy, agency, and reflexivity! From classic fantasy games to science fiction and urban fantasy titles, any genre can be used by our group to level up your social skills!This is an 8 to 10-week facilitated group social experience, run in partnership with the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Center, for individuals on the autism spectrum and with other disabilities. Groups are facilitated by an Occupational Therapist and a Gaming Professional.Stay tuned for more information on upcoming Charisma Campaign programs.GAME MASTER SERVICESAre you interested in hosting a gaming session in your home? Level Up Gaming can bring role playing games (RPGs) to your door!Daniel Kwan, Level Up Gaming's co-founder and Lead Facilitator, is a Toronto-based game designer, former teacher, and professional GM (game master). He has over a decade of experience teaching players of all ages the ins-and-outs of role playing games, and has been playing them for nearly two decades. Daniel provides in-person tabletop gaming experiences for families and schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area.If you'd like to try integrating tabletop role playing games into your classroom or host a workshop/gaming session in your home, get in contact with us!Sessions are generally scheduled for 3 hours and are priced at $30 per participant (with a minimum group cost of $120). Timing is flexible and all materials are provided. No experience necessary!If you are interested in this service, contact Daniel directly through his website.

Contact Us

Interested in participating? Hoping to get involved? Curious about what we do?Send us an email by filling out the form below!