Hi! Aspiring Home Mods
Business Owners
Hey, I’m Dawn, a fellow OT turned Entrepreneur
A Few Things to Know:
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I'm a Philly girl through and through.
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Making a home mods business profitable is not a side hustle, and it’s not quick money.
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This takes strategy, persistence, and a willingness to learn the parts of business that aren’t taught in OT school.
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When I’m not seeing clients or running Aurora Independence, I’m spending time with my family, advocating for our profession, or at the barn wishing I had the money for a horse.
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These are the things that keep me grounded, and they’re also why I guard my time carefully.
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I believe in being generous with what I know, but also realistic.
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My style is candid, strategic, and built for people who are ready to do the work.
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This isn’t about quick wins or side gigs. It’s about building something that lasts, that has a positive impact on the communities we live in, without burning yourself out in the process.
Top Three Questions I Get
Nearly every week, I’m asked to hop on a call or answer "Quick Question" via email or DM. I would love to mentor everyone for free if I could, but it wouldn’t benefit my clients, my business, or my health. So I set up this page to point you in the right direction instead.
I am sharing insights and options for education/mentorship below so you can find the right fit for your stage of business-building.
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#1 The Most Asked Question
How did you get started in home modifications? ​
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​I started this company in 2020 after being laid off in 2019 with a hospital closure, before the pandemic.
The Pandemic made it impossible for me to find a job, so I created my own. I continue to expand that work to make other opportunities for other occupational therapists looking to work in these spaces.​​
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I am a chronic career switcher. This could be seen as a weakness, but I find that as the years go on, this has been one of my greatest strengths.
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The ability to pivot, without hesitation, and fear is one of the best skills one can have when an entrepreneur. We need to find our passion and support that, without burning that passion out. So when my career as an Art Teacher left me feeling dejected and discouraged, I took a leap into Occupational Therapy.​
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#2 The Second Most Asked
Do I need a certification to do this work?
Short answer: Technically, no.
Ethical answer: Probably some training would help.
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As OTs, we have a responsibility to provide clients with accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive guidance, especially when they’re trusting us to make recommendations that affect their safety and independence at home.
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Yes, home safety assessments fall within our scope. But when it comes to construction-related decisions, that’s a different skill set. Just because we can doesn’t mean we should without proper training.
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I'm a strong believer that not everyone should be offering this type of guidance without deeper knowledge.
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We’re here to build trust, be a resource, and raise the standard of our profession. That starts with knowing what we’re doing.​​
#3 Arguably, The Most Important
Do I have to bill Medicare, or can I do cash pay?
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Short answer: Sometimes, yes.
Longer answer: Medicare is a beast.
And figuring out when you’re required to bill, and when you’re not, takes time, strategy, and a solid understanding of the rules. It took me nearly two years to feel confident navigating it.
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And when I am unsure, I pay someone to coach me through my questions, because every case is different.​ There are legitimate ways to structure your services, so being required to bill Medicare may be less, but you need to know when that’s appropriate, how to do it correctly, and what the consequences are if you don’t.
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This isn’t something I can responsibly unpack in a single paragraph. It’s nuanced, and in most cases, deserves a one-on-one conversation.
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