News And Events

The very latest articles, events, and developments from NADSP
Susan: A Passion for Enhancing Lives

Susan: A Passion for Enhancing Lives

Submitted by: Kelly Fry, Penn-Mar Human ServicesSusan Nelson worked as a Direct Support Professional for Penn-Mar Human Services, an organization ...
Tracy: Supporting A Boundless Life

Tracy: Supporting A Boundless Life

Submitted By: Jodi Bopp, I Am Boundless Tracy Lezark has worked as a Direct Support Professional in supported living programs ...
Join Us In Welcoming Our New Board Members!

Join Us In Welcoming Our New Board Members!

This week we are taking a moment to introduce you to our newest board members Katherine Dunbar, Chester Finn and ...
Got Any Milk? An NADSP Competency Blog

Got Any Milk? An NADSP Competency Blog

It was a typical morning. Darlene, a direct support professional who works in a supported living apartment complex with four ...
Jessica Jackson of The Arc NCR is our E-Badge Earner of the Month!

Jessica Jackson of The Arc NCR is our E-Badge Earner of the Month!

Congratulations to Jessica Jackson, a dedicated Direct Support Professional who works at The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region (The Arc NCR) ...
Two NADSP Credentialing Models: A Comparison by Dan Hermreck

Two NADSP Credentialing Models: A Comparison by Dan Hermreck

How do you know if a direct support professional (DSP) is competent? How can you tell if they provide high-quality ...
Beyond the Paid Relationship; Embracing the NADSP Competency of Building and Maintaining Friendships and Relationships

Beyond the Paid Relationship; Embracing the NADSP Competency of Building and Maintaining Friendships and Relationships

One of the most gratifying parts of a direct support professional’s practice is helping people expand their circles of friends.  ...
Community Living Skills and Supports by Dan Hermreck

Community Living Skills and Supports by Dan Hermreck

Community Living Skills and Supports by Dan Hermreck Doing laundry. Buying groceries. Preparing meals. Washing dishes. Mowing the lawn. There ...
Who Do I Work For?  Organizational Participation

Who Do I Work For? Organizational Participation

As a direct support professional who do I ultimately work for? Many direct support professionals have a fierce loyalty to ...
March E-Badge Earner of the Month: Erin Aukes of Black Hills Works

March E-Badge Earner of the Month: Erin Aukes of Black Hills Works

In January, we launched The NADSP E-Badge Academy as part of our commitment to our mission to elevate the status ...
Assessment and Discovery; “Something is not quite right.”

Assessment and Discovery; “Something is not quite right.”

Something is not quite right.  Joan seems to, “not be herself”.  Joan has less energy in the evenings than she ...
We Won an Award!

We Won an Award!

It has been an exciting week over here at NADSP. We started the week rallying for bFair2DirectCare with hundreds of ...
DSP Competencies: Communication and Empowerment

DSP Competencies: Communication and Empowerment

When I think about the NADSP Competency of Communication, I often think about conversations I used to have with a ...
The NADSP Competency Connection

The NADSP Competency Connection

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) values and respects the great work of the millions of direct support ...
Yes, organizations can now give credit for competency.

Yes, organizations can now give credit for competency.

By now you may have heard about The NADSP E-Badge Academy. In case you haven’t, organizations will have a formal ...
Numerous E-Badges displayed on a dark blue background

It’s demanding work. DSPs deserve credit.

The expectations made of Direct Support Professionals can be overwhelming. There are diverse job responsibilities that require a wide range ...
A Time of Thanks

A Time of Thanks

The Thanksgiving holiday tends to be a time for reflection, connection, and especially appreciation. It’s no different for all of ...
Here's an update on that petition, by the numbers.

Here’s an update on that petition, by the numbers.

It was less than two weeks ago. NADSP launched a brand new campaign, and it definitely did launch. The response ...
Direct Support Professionals Don't Have One. They Work Anonymously.

Direct Support Professionals Don’t Have One. They Work Anonymously.

The code for a Certified Nursing Assistant is 31-1014. The code for a Home Health Aide is 31-1121. The code ...
Establish a Direct Support Professional Standard Occupational Classification

Establish a Direct Support Professional Standard Occupational Classification

The statistics are extremely troubling for Direct Support Professionals. Turnover rates average around 45%. Vacancy rates are at roughly 9% ...