NADSP Web Site

Governors' Proclamations on DSP Recognition
Click on a State to view the proclamation (pdf format).

DSP Recognition Week 2009
(September 14th – 18th)

Suggestions for Celebrating 2009 National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week

The National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week, which was recently designated by the U.S. Senate will be held this September. This provides a unique opportunity to organize events, rally people and generally draw attention to the noble work of more than 3.2 million Direct Support Professionals in the United States.

The NADSP would also like to take this opportunity to share information on pending federal legislation, the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act, H.R. 868 in the U.S. House of Representatives that would provide options to states for increasing wages for Direct Support Professionals. We encourage you to visit http://www.youneedtoknowme.org to learn more.

Many of the activities suggested below may also include contacting your U.S. Representative to request co-sponsorship of this important bill. Click on the following link and use the zip code search tool in the upper left corner of the page to find contact information for your policy maker. http://www.house.gov/

Here are a few suggestions on how to recognize the “backbone” of our work – Direct Support Professionals:

  1. Take advantage of the Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’s special offer and register your direct support professionals for half price in the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). If your state has a State Chapter, that’s a one-year joint membership in two great professional membership organizations for only $10.00. A great opportunity to be part of a growing movement.
  2. Hold a rally at City Hall to celebrate direct support professionals and join public support for H.R. 868. Provide handouts of NADSP materials. (Invite the media).
  3. Consider holding a celebration at your agency for Direct Support Professionals and make an advocacy phone bank part of it. Again, provide handouts of NADSP materials with the telephone number of your members of Congress and talking points. (Invite the media).
  4. Consider holding a recognition party, breakfast or luncheon for Direct Support Professionals that includes people with disabilities and their families, agency administrators, board members and local officials. Allow Direct Support Professionals the opportunity to tell their stories about why they chose this profession, what keeps them going in this work and some of the rewards and challenges of being a Direct Support Professional. (Invite the media).
  5. Invite a local reporter to shadow a Direct Support Professional for a day. Provide information about the Direct Support Professional workforce crisis.
  6. Recognize your Direct Support Professionals with movie tickets, gift certificates, flowers, or other expressions of gratitude and recognition for their hard work. Sometimes, the little things can go a long way.
  7. Schedule your agency's administrators to trade places with a Direct Support Professional for a day.
  8. Invite a politician or major community figure to step into a Direct Support Professional’s shoes for the day. Include a discussion on the DSP workforce crisis.
  9. Get air time at your local public radio station, and/or issue a press release that explains the important work that direct support professionals do every day, the responsibilities that are entrusted in them and the skills that they possess.
  10. Thank them for being the most important part of your organization.