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The NADSP BlogSamantha: A DSP With Dedication And Determination
Submitted By: Melissa Foote, Inspire* Name abbreviations have been used to protect the identity of the people described in this story. Samantha Moreno is a Direct Support Professional working for Inspire, a human service organization operating in Goshen, Newburgh and...
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 offering residential options, vocational training, supported employment, individual support services, transportation, and...
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 for more than 20 years, currently serving as a DSP for the Boundless family of companies. Boundless is based out of Ohio and has nearly forty...
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 Chet Tschetter. “As the NADSP continues to grow and advance our mission, it is important that we add leaders to our board who possess different areas of...
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 people, heard shouting. Darlene was in an office in the middle of the complex. Darlene recognized the voice. It was Jeremy. Over the last...
Two NADSP Credentialing Models: A Comparison by Dan Hermreck
Written by Director of Certification and Accreditation Dan Hermreck How do you know if a direct support professional (DSP) is competent? How can you tell if they provide high-quality support? One of NADSP’s roles is to provide a path to national certification for DSPs...
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. It is an under-appreciated aspect of the role that direct support professionals play. However, it is vital for the well-being of all people...
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 are always many tasks that need to be completed in our personal lives. There are always many chores to do. While we might all...
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 the people they support. This is a good thing! However, it is the aim of this article to expand the perspective of a direct support professional’s...
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 usually has. She is taking more time in the bathroom than usual. Joan is waking up in the middle of the night more often than she ever has in the past. All...