The following article is part of an ongoing series about the NADSP Competency Areas. The NADSP Competency Areas offer DSPs the opportunity to address challenges, work on issues identified by the person they support, or assist a person in pursuing a particular goal. Each Competency Area has corresponding skill statements that describe the knowledge and skills DSPs must have to demonstrate competency in each area.

This blog is about the skill statement “The competent DSP facilitates, assists, and/or represents the participant when there are barriers to his or her service needs and lobbies decision-makers when appropriate to overcome barriers to services,” within the NADSP Competency Area: “Advocacy.”

Inside The Competency Area

Advocacy

Advocacy is a word that is commonly used among direct support professionals (DSPs). One can hear direct support professionals discuss how they advocate “for” people they support and work with. This is seemingly a noble and important function for direct support staff, however, we must be aware that there is an important nuance to this actual competency area and skill.

It is all about the word, “for.” Direct support professionals should not advocate “for” people with disabilities. They must advocate “with” them. There is a big difference! When we advocate “for” people it can be easy to exclude them from decisions and developments involving the advocacy concern. When we are advocating “with” people, there is a stronger likelihood that the person for whom the advocacy is occurring will have more influence and control.

Inside The Skill Statement

The competent DSP facilitates, assists, and/or represents the participant when there are barriers to his or her service needs and lobbies decision-makers when appropriate to overcome barriers to services.

Barriers can exist for people with all types of disabilities. Some of these barriers are actual physical barriers, such as inaccessible environments, lack of adaptive equipment, no communication assistive devices or interpretation availability for the deaf and/or blind. The list of physical barriers is vast. There also exist invisible barriers to accommodation, inclusion and accessibility. These include prejudice, bigotry, ignorance and exclusive polices or practices.

Advocacy is the act of how direct support professionals assist people in addressing and overcoming these types of barriers. This is completed through talking, negotiating, planning and working with all stakeholders in situations to ensure that all forms of access and inclusion are enjoyed and experienced by those who would otherwise be excluded or limited in participation or function.

Putting It All Into Practice

One of the most important things that direct support professionals can do to ensure that people they support have access to full community and social participation is knowing the basic laws and rights that are in place. These can be Federal laws like the Americans With Disabilities Act or the Olmstead Decision. In addition, direct support professionals can be aware of local, state and organizational policies that are designed to create fairness and equity for people with disabilities.

It is important for direct support professionals to recognize when there are barriers facing the people they support. In exploring barriers, whether physical or social, it becomes obligatory for direct support professionals to understand the role they have in advocating “with” the people they support and their circle of friends, family and others. Often, a direct support professional will hear directly from that person they are working with about the extent to which a barrier to a full life is affecting them. It is then that the direct support professional must engage in all they can do to address this issue, and assist in mitigating or eliminating any barrier to a great life.

Quick Tips

How can you help embrace this skill statement and implement it? Here are some quick tips!

• • Listen carefully to what people you support “want” and “need” to have full lives.
  • Educate oneself about laws, history and the importance of advocacy.
  • Learn about the self-advocacy movement and people like Ed Roberts, Judith Herman and Jordyn Zimmerman.
  • Read your employer’s policy and procedure manual and ensure that it reflects a spirit of inclusion.
  • Participate in diversity, equity and inclusion trainings as they can be a great place to learn.
  • Focus on the word “with” as you consider any type of advocacy in your work.
  • If you feel that you are “up against” a difficult barrier and need help…get it!!
  • Read the NADSP Code of Ethics
  • Commit to always speaking up and speaking out when you see or feel injustice.

Relevant Resources

• Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
• The Constitution of the United States
• NADSP Code of Ethics
• NADSP Competency Areas