Meet your instructor…
Debbie Hommel’s interest and dedication to older adults began in high school when she volunteered in a local nursing home. It was through that experience she found immense gratification and a defined purpose in working with older adults. Since that time, Debbie’s focus on understanding the needs of the older generation and creating opportunities to enhance the older person’s quality of life has never wavered.
With specializations in education and memory care, Debbie is a certified Consultant (ACC/MC/EDU) through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals. She is also a certified Recreation Therapist (CTRS) through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
Debbie is a proficient and experienced educator, providing a variety of educational offerings to local, state and national activity and health care organizations. As far west as Idaho, as far north as Maine, as far south as Texas and Florida and all the way up the east coast, Debbie’s programs have been well received.
For many years, Debbie taught the Modular Education Program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP) in a live classroom format in New Jersey. She later expanded access to the course by developing an independent study version, allowing students from across the country to complete the program.
Through her work on the Board of the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP), Debbie has also contributed to the ongoing reengineering and updating of the MEPAP curriculum to ensure it reflects current standards and best practices in the profession.
Most recently, Debbie achieved NCCAP Approved Provider status, signifying that all DH Special Services educational programs meet the rigorous standards and criteria established by NCCAP for high-quality professional education.
From the beginning of her career, Debbie has been active in activity associations. Holding positions of President for the Monmouth and Ocean County Activity Professionals as well as the New Jersey Activity Professionals Association, Debbie is a strong advocate for the profession. Debbie remains active on the board of the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals board of directors, currently serving the role of President.
Through the years, Debbie has never lost her passion for advocating for the quality of life needs for older adults. She is also a tireless advocate for the activity profession, promoting high standards and the importance of education. New Jersey holds the distinguished honor of being the state with the most NCCAP certified individuals and some of that can be attributed to the classes available through DH Special Services.
