In 2004, Dave’s accomplished sister Kathy, President and CEO of Association Development Group, had one her clients being challenged by disability rights advocates. She searched for a program to train them in disability awareness, but found none. She approached her brother and said “You should do Disability Awareness Training, and I can get you started.”
In September of that year Dave did his first training for the New York State Public Transit Association. 700 DAT sessions later, Dave and his business have been in the forefront of disability rights advocacy, assisting countless individuals in need of guidance. DAT, LLC is recognized at the national level as the top program on universal accessibility, ADA compliance, and defining disabilities.
DAT, LLC knew it couldn’t just create a cookie cutter program; professions, agencies, and businesses wanted to hear about disability matters as it related to their line of work or organizational interests. This has led to DAT, LLC being the educational source for police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services, 9-1-1 telecommunicators, emergency managers, fairs and expos, cultural centers, music venues, and sports complexes, among others. DAT, LLC has specialized training in employment of persons with disabilities, universal accessibility, and municipalities (see the timeline of DAT audiences).
Groundbreaking accomplishments:
- Nation’s only comprehensive Police Officer, Probation Officer, School Resource Officer Disability Awareness Training.
- Nation’s only comprehensive Firefighter/EMS DAT
- New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services built DAT, LLC’s Police Officer training into the Basic Course for Police Officers, whereby every recruit receives a full day of training in the law enforcement academy, the only state in the nation to do so
- 9-1-1 Telecommunicator DAT is the only comprehensive program for operators and dispatchers in the nation. Recognized by the National Emergency Numbers Association, where it was the only training in their catalog outside their products.
- Employment DAT contracted with Business Development Centers across New York State
- Nationally recognized Emergency Management training, grant awards with New York (sole-source), Missouri (sole-source), Louisiana, and Nebraska. Contracted with South Dakota, Utah and Northern Mariana Island
- Contracted with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) to create a customized training for the world’s largest FD
Beyond DAT, LLC, Sandy and Dave are active in the community as leaders in programs that provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities. They are known advocates in Western New York working to address the needs of local citizens through active participation on boards and councils.
- C-HOPE Western New York – Founder Sandy Whalen, Board President Dave Whalen
- Central Amherst Little League Challenger Baseball – Sandy and Dave serve as Commissioners
- First Chair of the Town of Amherst (NY) Committee on Disabilities – Served on the committee from 2008-2025
- Spirited Athletes Bold at Heart (SABAH) Skating Program (2002-present) – Dave received 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award
- Malawi, Africa – Sandy and Dave raising funds for children with disabilities and their mothers, providing equipment and support for business start-ups
