EmpowerAbility® LLC

EmpowerAbility® LLC specializes in space planning and design that supports inclusive housing and communities. Debra's background as an occupational therapist affords her the unique knowledge of the person-environment fit. EmpowerAbility® LLC designs solutions, to max...imize independence so you can better enjoy your daily life activities.

Consultation services provided to consumers, professionals, businesses and agencies with regard to products as well as built and natural environments. Services offered include:

Consultation to builders, remodelers, architects, designers, city planners, product manufacturers, governmental agencies and other professionals and consumers in the areas of:

-Residential, commercial and community space planning and design
-Product usability design
-Architectural print/plan review
-Design for Livable Communities

Environmental Assessments:

Onsite home to the home, school, work and/or community environments to evaluate and address the usability, accessibility and/or livability needs.


Assistive Technology Consulting:

EmpowerAbility® LLC offers a wide range of assistive technology services for children and adults with disabilities in a variety of settings (home, school, work, community, etc). Clients also include educational and rehabilitation professionals, families and assistive technology vendors/manufacturers. Services offered include:

-Consultation and evaluations
-Professional development training and workshops
-School and district-wide assessments


Training, Presentations and Workshops:

Debra Young has presented at the state and national level. Topics include:

-Accessibility and the ADA
-Accessible Instructional Materials
-Assistive Technology
-Aging in Place
-Environmental Modifications (home, school, work-site, leisure, transportation, etc.)
-Home Safety for Falls Prevention
-Livable Communities
-Role of the Occupational Therapist with Environmental Modifications
-Universal Design
-Universal Design for Learning

EmpowerAbility® LLC; Creating access for life.

Debra Young, M.Ed., OTR/L, SCEM, ATP, CAPS has a Master's in
Education degree with specialization in Assistive Technology (AT)
from Bowling Green State University, a graduate certificate in AT
from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Science degree
in Occupational Therapy from Elizabethtown College.

She has 18 years of clinical experience, working in hospital,
educational and community settings as an OT and AT consultant.
Debra is a Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology
Society of North America (RESNA) certified Assistive Technology
Professional (ATP) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS).

Debra has also earned the Specialty Certification in Environmental Modifications (SCEM) from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This distinction has been accomplished by less than 1% of Occupational Therapists nationally.

Debra is the founder of the Greater Philadelphia Area Aging-In-Place Chapter, a local chapter of the National Aging-In-Place Council (NAIPC). She has served as President for the Delaware State Board of Occupational Therapy and participated as an alternate AOTA representative to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

She has been appointed to the AOTA Board for Advanced Specialty Certification (BASC), serving as the representative for the Specialty Certification in Environmental Modifications (SCEM). Debra is also the Professional Development Coordinator (Education/Research) for the AOTA Home and Community Health Special Interest Section (HCHSIS).

Debra is active in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as:
-NAHB Board of Directors: State Associate Director
-An approved instructor for the Universal Design/Build courses
-An approved instructor for the Certified Aging-in-Place designation (CAPS) courses
-A member of the NAHB 50+ Housing Council Board of Trustees
-A CAPS designee

Locally, Debra is an Associate Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Delaware (HBADE) Board of Directors and President of the HBADE Associate's Council.

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