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<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDirect Support Professional Recognition Week is a national celebration of the dedication, hard work, and passion that DSPs devote to supporting people with disabilities to live the most independent and high-quality life possible. It’s a time for all human services professionals, families, friends, and supported individuals to acknowledge the key role that these front-line, essential employees play in making life better for the people that they support. For 2022, the many festivities of DSP Recognition Week will take place from September 11th – 17th.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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It’s not easy to put into just a few words the incredible role that DSPs play in the human services field. They support individuals who have a wide range of physical, neurological, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Older adults also benefit greatly from the dedication and hard work of DSPs.
Depending on the type of disability the person has, DSPs\u00a0are responsible for supporting them to become steadily more independent and successful in virtually every aspect of community living. Here are just a few examples:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The quality services that DSPs provide are endless. Simply put, we all have our\u00a0dreams of what we see as a fulfilling and satisfying life. Individuals with disabilities are no different. Some DSPs may need to help\u00a0someone they support navigate a wheelchair through the library. Others might be tasked with helping them to\u00a0practice home safety procedures. The\u00a0support DSP teams provide\u00a0is truly the backbone of integrative, community-based, and high-quality disability support services.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: What is a Direct Support Professional<\/a>?\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The road that many people with disabilities (including older adults) must take to improved independence in the least restrictive environment can be long and oftentimes a bit bumpy. Historically, our fellow human beings who had various types of physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities were “warehoused” in large institutions or consigned to work in low wage sheltered workshops. Sadly, they were virtually hidden from society and even their own family members.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n At Advocates of Life Skills and Opportunity (ALSO)<\/a>, our DSPs work tirelessly every day to support people as they overcome any and every barrier they might have to achieving life goals. For example, many\u00a0people we support have more than one disability, which could include\u00a0both intellectual and developmental disabilities. On top of that, it’s not uncommon for the individual to also have anxiety and\/or depression, which makes functioning and thriving in the community even more difficult.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you consider all of the little separate abilities any of us might need to perform the most basic of tasks, it can be quite daunting. Sometimes what the rest of us think are the simplest tasks and behaviors could be extremely difficult for our community members who might have one or more disabilities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The very challenging work of the Direct Support Professional then, includes really getting into the details of the specific barriers to independence that a person might have. Indeed, the can-do attitude of our direct support collaborative team has a major positive impact on achieving independence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The passion and care that this innovative direct support workforce devotes to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities truly comes from a special place in the heart. That’s why, at ALSO, we call it Heart Work<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n So how do we properly honor the amazing DSPs across the nation for the caring work that they do for older adults and individuals with disabilities? In previous years, human services agencies, non-profits, and many other kinds of disability support service providers have celebrated DSP week in so many fun and exciting ways:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This month, ALSO will celebrate DSP Appreciation Week in multiple ways, including:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n We are looking forward to the festivities and can\u2019t wait to celebrate our DSP team members!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n At ALSO, we’re\u00a0putting the spotlight on our amazing DSP workforce and the great work that they do. Here they describe what they give, as well as the personal rewards they receive by working with individuals who have developmental or intellectual disabilities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Sara<\/strong>: “My hopes moving forward are that she [person supported] finds an outlet for her passion\u2026through volunteering, through employment, through socialization where she really feels connected with her community and she gets to share her gifts.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Lori<\/strong>: “Heartwork\u00a0has changed my life, it lifts me up, and fills my days with purpose. I never thought I\u2019d make a career out of bringing joy to someone\u2019s life.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As we all know, the joy and job satisfaction that our DSPs receive doesn’t minimize the difficulty of this very challenging work. The restrictions and lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic made the goal of community inclusion much more difficult. Yet, through determination, passion, and kindness, ALSO DSPs were still able to provide high-quality supportive services. \u00a0Thus, every one of our talented DSP colleagues deserves recognition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Since the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)<\/a>\u00a0was initially formed in 1996, the enthusiasm for annual celebrations has reached all 50 states. What’s particularly heartwarming is that DSPs are finally being appreciated for the incredible work that they do. Let’s take a look at what organizations across the US have been doing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Ohio<\/strong><\/a>: The Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities hosted a drive-through lunch for busy DSPs. Any DSP was able to receive a meal in the community, in addition to special offers from local businesses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHow Do They Do It?<\/h3>\r\n
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<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHow Do We Celebrate Our Direct Support Professionals?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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ALSO Direct Support Professional Spotlight<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Darrin<\/strong>: “People who receive supported living are drivers of their own supports. We are not their boss, but instead we partner with them to deliver the supports they are seeking. We do anything we can to allow them to live the life they want for themselves.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alsoweb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Temp-1000x1000-1-640x640-1.png\")
Jackie<\/strong>: “Our tasks center around assistance with meeting goals set by the person being supported. This includes all kinds of daily life tasks. It also includes assistance with inclusion into the community, and balancing health and safety.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHow is DSP Recognition Week Celebrated Nationally?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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