David O’Keefe

Senior Regional Director

As a brother to someone with I/DD, David grew up witnessing the challenges people face while trying to access adequate resources to thrive. He joined YAI as a Direct Support Professional in 1991 and quickly proved himself capable of supporting people with significant behavioral and clinical challenges. Throughout his career, he became a lead certified SCIP instructor, a CPR instructor, and is a member of YAI’s training committee and clinical consult team. He has held multiple positions, including Senior DSP, Assistant Supervisor, Supervisor, and Director, among others. David is currently the Senior Regional Director for Queens and Long Island, where he has played a key role in developing and opening new programs throughout both regions. He also helped introduce Ukeru to YAI—a trauma-informed technique that supports people while they are displaying challenging behaviors and reduces the need for physical interventions.