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 researches, develops, and maintains information on community and other resources relevant to the needs of participants,” within the NADSP Competency Area: “Community and Service Networking.”

Inside The Competency Area

Community and Service Networking 

When a direct support professional researches, develops, and maintains information on community and other resources relevant to the needs of people they support, they are meeting the spirit of inclusion, community integration and standards set by the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Final Rule.

This landmark regulatory guidance was established in 2014 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Home and Community Based Services division. The regulations were intended to encourage more community-based services and community integration and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct support professionals are integral in ensuring that the people they support can thrive and experience life in their respective communities.

Inside The Skill Statement

The competent DSP has knowledge of and uses modes of communication that are appropriate to the communication needs of participants.

Knowing one’s neighborhood, community, city and environment can be something we can innocently take for granted. When someone we support has not had the opportunity to learn about the resources and options that exist in their communities related to shopping, learning, leisure, food, transportation and all the things associated with living as a true community member, it is our responsibility as direct support professionals to help them learn to navigate these community resources. Direct support professionals have an obligation to assist people in making informed decisions that are associated with all the benefits and challenges of participating in the communities in which we live.

The Impact On People Supported

Here is an example of how a direct support professional can use the skills of informed decision making as they try to network in a community or support someone in accessing their neighborhood. Oftentimes, people receiving services are looking to exercise and get physically fit. A direct support professional has a wonderful opportunity to help a person in making choices about what activities may be available in one’s community that would be most appealing.

There may be softball teams, bowling leagues, pickleball groups, golf courses, local YMCA facilities, gyms and other avenues, where someone can experience them, get some physical fitness, and also build some relationships and possible friendships. It is a perfect time for a direct support professional to help a person they support discover, assess and decide which type of community physical fitness activity would be preferred.

Putting It All Into Practice

The community is where direct support professionals do most of their work. They assist people with shopping, going to the bank, visiting the library, etc. But direct support is so much more than driving people to preferred activities, events and functions in the community. They are also responsible for teaching and coaching people in “how” to use and enjoy these community resources.

Part of integration and inclusion in our communities is making decisions and choices. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have historically been sheltered from choice-making and kept from making their own decisions. Our system has promoted protection and risk-aversiveness over dignity of risk and allowing for people we support to learn from poor choices or mistakes in decision making.

One thing that direct support professionals can do on a daily basis is assist people in making informed choices. They do this by understanding – and helping the person they support understand – a choice or decision about something. The direct support professional must first gather information relevant to what is being considered or decided upon. Then the hard work is when the direct support professional helps a person consider outcomes or explores options related to the choice or decision. Finally, the person that is supported must choose their path ahead and then evaluate if the decision they made works (worked) for them.

Quick Tips

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

• • Know the neighborhood and learn about things that are of interest to you and to the people you support.
  • Look at local newspapers or online community resources to find out about events and functions locally.
  • Visit or look at local Chamber of Commerce websites or offices to learn about community resources.
  • Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other houses and communities of worship can be great places to engage community functions.
  • Public libraries are gold mines when it comes to ideas, groups and other community-based resources!

Relevant Resources

• HCBS Settings Final Rule (ACL)
• Frontline Initiative: The HCBS Settings Rule
• Frontline Initiative: Social Capital
• United States Public Library Directory
• Adult Sports Options Listing
• Meetup Friendships/Events Platform