DAWN HEIDERSCHEIDT, MOT, OTR/L, ECHM, CDCS

Dawn Heiderscheidt, MOT, OTR/L, ECHM, CDCS, is the owner and CEO of Aurora Independence — a company focused on home safety consulting and home modifications. While working in acute/subacute home-based rehabilitation settings, she consistently saw patients returning to her caseload due to falls and home safety concerns. This is what sparked her desire to serve people and help keep them safe at home. She holds her Executive Certification in Home Modifications, she is a Certified Aging in Place specialist and acts as Program Admin for Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE). Beyond this she partners with local non-profits, Habitat for Humanity and local universities to help guide the next generation of Occupational Therapists in Home Modifications.


Before becoming an OT, she spent years as an educator in Philadelphia, PA. She continues to have a strong desire to educate and empower others through therapy sessions, speaking engagements, and instructing courses. She also partners with several start-ups, offering concierge services to Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Dawn has been a guest lecturer at Temple University and provides fall prevention workshops in her community.


Dawn is passionate about helping people live in their homes successfully and participate in the activities they love. She continues to seek new knowledge and build connections for home safety, home modifications, and aging in place.



Speaker Disclosures:


Financial: Dawn Heiderscheidt has employment relationships with the National Association of Home Builders and Temple University. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.


Non-financial: Dawn Heiderscheidt is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the National Board of Occupational Therapy, and the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association.