Education Advocate | Nonprofit Consultant | Work/Life Integration Advisor
Being a parent defines me.
It was from the moment I gazed into my son’s eyes and remains this way today. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Parenting isn’t for the faint of heart. You rise when your child succeeds and fall hard when difficulties emerge. No other role
in life can be exhilarating one moment and devastating the next.
Your heart soars with every positive step and your soul aches
when your child struggles.
A child with academic and creative giftedness, my son found
school and the social world akin to living in another universe. He didn't understand them and they didn’t understand, appreciate or accept him. Family gatherings, outings, and typical childhood experiences were fraught with difficulties. So when his days became overwhelming and the spark in his eyes showed distress, my world shifted from my career to focusing solely on helping him navigate through the world well into young adulthod. Advocacy for him over many years led to having the privilege of doing the same for many hundreds of other children, teens, and young adults.
If your child is struggling, your life is upended in ways that few can understand. But I do. I’ll stand beside you, adding my voice and expertise as you strive to secure what your child needs to succeed in school for this leads to success in life. As the magnet on our refrigerator said, “We will never give up.” And we will not. Ever.
Credentials:
Bachelor of Arts, Journalism, The Pennsylvania State University
Advanced special education training: legal, autism spectrum disorders, learning differences, social thinking, behavioral interventions, mental health/mental wellness, at-risk and homeless students
Business expertise: nonprofit management, strategic planning, communications, coaching, work/life integration, diversity & inclusion
"On The Road To College" course developer and instructor with specialty in college essays
Student coaching: executive function, self-advocacy, college preparation/success, securing college accommodations and supports
Speaker, presenter, trainer, facilitator, writer, spokesperson, researcher
Certified: Mental Health First Aid; QPR Institute Suicide Prevention; Child Abuse Mandated Reporter; Overview of Family Homelessness, Understanding Family Homelessness, and Understanding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Volunteer: West Chester University Resource Pantry Advisory Board; Pennies From Kevan Foundation/Homeless For The Holidays; Valley Youth House; Covenant House; KidSave; Chester County Single Mothers Conference; CBS-3 Autism Phone Bank Facilitator
Founder & CEO, Education Navigation
Former: Director, Human Resources Development, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP; Managing Director, Work/Family Management, Ltd.; Columnist - "Parents Express;" Pennsylvania Autism Taskforce; Host, WBEB-FM (101.1)
Recognized:
Cure Autism Now
Autism Speaks
WorldatWork Alliance for Work/Life Progress "Rising Star"
Business Philadelphia - "Innovator"
100 People To Watch
Pennsylvania Hospital Hospice Program
Presenter:
Working Mother WorkBeyond Summit & Working Mother Work Life Congress
Education Law Center
Philadelphia School District Special Education Conference
School districts & parent support groups
Human Resources & Employee Assistance conferences
Corporate Clients:
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
West Pharmaceuticals
InterDigital
Credit Suisse
Cigna
Kraft General Foods
Media & Mentions:
Audio opens in new window
Audio opens in new window
As Americans age, fall ill or suffer a disability, the need for caregivers grows - and many workers are struggling to juggle familial responsibilities with their careers. It’s estimated over 65 million people, nearly 30% ...
National Flex Day, celebrated the third Tuesday of every October, is a chance for those of us who are deeply concerned with work flexibility for all to come together, assess the landscape of flexible and remote work...
Debra Isaacs Schafer is Founder and CEO of Education Navigation, LLC, a work/life and human resources consulting firm partnering with companies to support working parents and the education needs...
I can't say enough about all the recent attention regarding parental leave and the companies expanding opportunities for new mothers and fathers to spend critical time with their newborns...
On Work and Life, Stew Friedman spoke with Debra Schafer about what corporations can do to help their employees who need care for disabled dependents especially children with special needs or hidden differences...
When West Pharmaceutical Services, a medical device company headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, surveyed employees at its corporate head office, it found that roughly 8% of the 400 employees at that location were interested in...
Debra Schafer is CEO and founder of Education Navigation, LLC which provides employee benefits and work/life programming for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, and learning differences...
Debra Schafer is the Founder and CEO of Education Navigation, a provider of voluntary benefits and work/life solutions to organizations focusing on parent employees with children from kindergarten through college transition...
Debra Schafer founded Education Navigation in 2010 to help organizations support working parents whose children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder...