A young girl with curly brown hair is in shallow water at the beach, smiling and playing while wearing a red swimsuit with green trim.

Ability Advocates of Oregon

Compassionate, In-Home Person-Centered Support from for individuals with disabilities.

Owned by a Registered Nurse (LeaAnn) + two prior Direct Support Professionals (Emily + Megan)

Ability Advocates of Oregon is a certified Medicaid agency with the State of Oregon Department of Human Services. We specialize in providing personalized, community-based caregiving services for individuals (children and adults) with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Oregon communities.

At Ability Advocates, we’re a small, family-owned agency run by a mother and daughters team. We believe that being a close knit agency allows us to provide personalized, attentive care. We’re not a large, faceless organization, we’re right here, present, local to the community, and dedicated to each person we serve. Our mission is to ensure every individual and family we support feels heard, valued, and never alone.

Our main office is located in Central Oregon. We serve ALL of Oregon!

Founded by direct support professionals and a Registered Nurse

We value close partnerships with families and guardians. By working together, we ensure that care plans reflect the person’s voice and that loved ones remain connected and informed.

Every member of our caregiving team is:

  • Fully background-checked

  • Trained in CPR, First Aid, abuse prevention, and person-centered practices

  • Supported with ongoing supervision and education

We strictly follow all Oregon state and Medicaid guidelines, and we maintain the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and accountability.

At Ability Advocates of Oregon LLC, we don’t just provide care; we advocate, we support, and we build lasting connections. Whether you're a family member looking for trusted support or a case manager seeking a reliable agency, we’re here to help.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can support someone in your life.

Our Team

LeaAnn Gehrke

LeaAnn is a Registered Nurse and co-owner of Ability Advocates. She is passionate about providing compassionate, person-centered care and is dedicated to helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live meaningful, independent lives.

Co-Owner

Emily Elizabeth

Emily is the co-owner of Ability Advocates and oversees the agency's daily operations. After working as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) for six years, she developed a deep passion for supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is dedicated to building meaningful relationships, supporting clients and staff. 

Co-Owner
Co-Owner

Megan DeSapio

Megan is a co-owner of Ability Advocates and serves as a Supervisor and Onboarding Manager. With prior experience as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), Megan brings a strong understanding of person-centered care and is passionate about supporting clients, families, and staff while helping build a compassionate and dedicated team.

  • I am really happy working with Ability Advocates 🤩

    — Ability Advocates Client

  • I wanted to reach out and just rave on (Ability Advocates DSP) performance and work with (Ability Advocates Client). I know she is very new to being a DSP but the confidence and comfort I have with her being with (Ability Advocates Client) is not something I have ever felt outside of my mom, and even that she has exceeded. Decreasing electronics was a big desire for me to see and she is a rockstar about really spending that one on one time and keeping him busy. Already I have seen slight improvements with his attention and daily living skills from not having has his tablet at all time and I know it will just continue. Huge huge thank you, she deserves all the praise from everyone.

    — Ability Advocates Client

  • You guys have won the lottery with (Ability Advocates DSP) he is amazing. I really appreciate you and your family as well with such generous, loving hearts willing to hope and love other people too. You guys are a great pair. I'm glad you guys have good employees.

    — Ability Advocates Client

  • I love how understanding they are of personal situations and willing to accommodate as needed. Communication is great here as well! I highly recommend working for this amazing company and group of DSP workers! It is a blessing to work here and be apart of a great team.

    - Marcus (Ability Advocates Employee)

  • Abilities Advocates excels at collaborating with employees to create schedules that meet their diverse needs. They maintain kind, positive, and professional communication that offers guidance while inspiring staff to perform their best. I enjoy working with Abilities Advocates for the unique and vibrant opportunities to connect with and care for individuals and families with developmental disabilities within my community. Their clear vision and experience allow them to facilitate matches that build effective relationships between workers and clients.

    - Eddie (Ability Advocates Employee)

  • You're on top of things! l appreciate your help and dedication to my baby ❤️ I have been raving about Ability Advocates! You all are AWESOME!! I have so many great things to say about y'all 🤩

    — Ability Advocates Client

1865 NW Hemlock Ave. Suite 2.

Redmond OR, 97756

Directions:
Located upstairs! Stair access is located by the parking lot.