ABOUT US
With over 30 years of hands-on industry leadership, our innovative Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) program redefines care for vulnerable populations. We champion a true person-centered model where the individual remains the driver of their journey, and our experienced team serves as the supportive passenger.
Our Core Philosophy
Lived Experience
Led by experts with three decades in the field.
Person-Centered Care
You lead the way in your life choices.
Supportive Partnership
We guide the process from the passenger seat.
Vulnerable Advocacy
We protect and empower those who need it most.
How We Work
Your Voice First
You make the choices about your daily services.
Custom Plans
We shape our support around your unique goals.
Trusted Guides
Our long history means safe, expert care.
Mission & Vision
Shani Assisted Living Services is led by a unique blend of executive clinical expertise and deep, hands-on industry experience. Founded and guided by Chintan Patel, a family man and practicing anesthetist at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH), our leadership bridges the gap between advanced medical standards and compassionate, community-based care.
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Mr. Patel's dedication to this field began early in his academic journey while working directly as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). Experiencing firsthand the daily lives of the individuals he served, he developed a lifelong passion for supporting vulnerable populations. This professional drive is personal; having family members who would have directly benefited from Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) services, he recognized the profound need for high-quality, trustworthy care.
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Driven by this mission, he established Shani Assisted Living Services to offer families an empathetic, expert partner to help them navigate the complexities of the DDA system.
Chintan Patel
Founder, Shani Assisted Living Services
Why Choose Our Leadership Team
Clinical Excellence
Rooted in the stringent safety, care, and quality compliance standards of JHH.
Ground-Up Perspective
Led by a former DSP who understands the nuances of direct caregiving and frontline operations.
Deep Empathy
Built on personal family experience with developmental disability advocacy.
Trust Over Transaction:
Dedicated to building lasting, safe, and transparent relationships with families rather than just operating a business.
Our Approach to Service
Medical Oversight & Safety
Infusing top-tier clinical insights into standard residential care plans.
Navigational Support:
Providing compassionate, clear guidance to families during the DDA enrollment and management process.
Person-Centered Accountability
Ensuring that our business decisions always honor the client as the driver and our team as the supportive passenger.
Sharon Shivers
Executive Director, VP Chair and Partner, Shani Management Assisted Living Services
Sharon Shivers brings over 30 years of continuous, hands-on leadership to the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) field. Her career began at the age of 16 as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). Over three decades, she transitioned from frontline advocacy into executive leadership. Today, she serves as Executive Director and Partner at Shani Assisted Living Services. Sharon holds a Master of Science in Human Services from the University of Maryland and Coppin State University collaborative program.
Strategic Leadership Philosophy
Person-Centered Directives
Ensures all care strategies place the individual and family at the center of the decision-making process.
Community Integration
Designs programming that transforms clients from service recipients into active, engaged citizens within their local communities.
Accessible Executive Leadership
Maintains a visible, hands-on presence, remaining directly available to staff, clients, and families.
Frontline Foundations
Leverages her early career experience as a DSP to build realistic, supportive, and effective workplace cultures for care staff.
Core Areas of Impact
A Continuous Legacy
Active in the industry since adolescence, offering a deep historical perspective on DDA system evolution.
Collaborative Support
Partners with families to navigate complex care transitions with absolute transparent communication.
Civic Inclusion
Creates custom community-based pathways to ensure every individual builds meaningful social connections.