Rhoda’s Experiences With The NADSP E-Badge Academy

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) recently asked Rhoda about her experiences with the NADSP E-Badge Academy. The questions covered how she carries out her work as a direct support professional (DSP), the skillsets she demonstrates on a daily basis, the impact that the E-Badge Academy has had on her professional recognition, and how she gets credit for competency.

Describe the story you shared in carrying out that competency:

The story I chose involved helping a woman make her end-of-life plan and years later, being there at the end with her making sure her wishes were fulfilled.  She’d been present when one of her housemates had entered home hospice. There was music and companionship, and it was a peaceful passing. The woman I wrote about later came to us and stated that was how she would like to experience her passing as well.  The loss had brought up some emotions in her around her own mortality. We used The Five Wishes, a living will that deals with “personal, spiritual, and emotional wishes,” to help her detail the things important to her. She made decisions about who she wanted making medical decisions, who she wanted around her and the music she wanted played.  She did not want it to be a sad event. She wanted singing! Instead of just telling her we would make sure things happened how she wanted, we found a way to put a concrete plan in place that she designed. She then had peace of mind in her later years, and as she transitioned into end of life, her wishes would be respected. She trusted us because she had been witness to the peaceful transition of her friend years before.  In the end, extenuating circumstances made it impossible for us to keep her comfortable at home and she went into a hospice. Still, the people she had requested surrounded her. We sang around her bed as she had wanted us to even when she could no longer join in. The work we did with her made it possible for her to make choices for herself before the end of her life. In doing so, she was able to have a part in writing the ending to her own story.    

Why is this competency so important to DSPs?

The competency of Supporting Wellbeing is an important skill in the DSP’s toolbox.  Working with people to ensure that their emotional, spiritual, and social needs are met is equally as important as supporting their physical wellbeing. It encourages a holistic view of what a healthy life is. By taking time to understand the values of the people we support we can assist them in creating a healthy and self-guided life.

How have you used this competency in your work?

In my work, I try to listen to the people I support and learn about the things that are important to them. I have worked with some of the people I support over the course of decades. In that time, I realized that things that are important at one stage of their life might not be as important at another stage of their life. It is important to stay tuned in and be flexible to meet their needs where they are at that moment in time.

How can other DSPs replicate your practices?

First and foremost, take time to get to know the people you support. Taking the time to get to know someone builds trust and creates mutual respect. Learn how they communicate. Find out their likes and dislikes. Figure out what is important to them, what they are passionate about.  If they can’t tell you, provide experiences, opportunities for them to find what gives them joy and a sense of self.  Work with the people you support so they can create a life with purpose.

How does the NADSP E-Badge Academy benefit your agency?

The NADSP E-Badge Academy benefits my agency by creating a more skilled and self-aware workforce. As part of preparation for the E-Badge Academy, we receive comprehensive training on a wide range of topics related to the field. It pushes the learner by making them examine the practical work they have done with the people they support from a more enlightened perspective using the NADSP Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is a good rulebook for DSPs to follow in a field where we must often make snap decisions and judgement calls.

How does NADSP E-Badge Academy benefit the people you support?

The NADSP E-Badge Academy benefits the people I support by providing them a more skilled and knowledgeable support team. Better training for support staff also often creates better retention.  Stronger relationships can be formed when staff remain with the people they support over time.

What does the future hold for your involvement in the NADSP E-Badge Academy?

I plan on continuing my certification journey through the NADSP E-Badge Academy. I still have more badges and certifications to achieve. I look forward to seeing the program through and honing my skills in the process.

How has NADSP E-Badge Academy affected your professional image?

I have come to realize that although DSPs are sometimes seen as low in the hierarchy of how a company is structured, to the people we support we are the most important people in their everyday life. Our actions and words can change the course of their lives.  That is a great responsibility. The NADSP career ladders program lifts its participants up and respects the importance of that role. Being a part of this program, I do feel a stronger professional identity in my work.

I feel that going through this program has improved my skills. I have trained in subjects that I was elsewise fairly uneducated on and otherwise would not have pursued.  I have a better understanding of the field in general because of it.  I have also learned that what is known about this field is ever evolving, and taking advantage of programs like this one keeps me up to date on the most current ideologies and practices.

How does the NADSP E-Badge Academy give you credit for competency?

The NADSP awards badges for demonstrating proficiency in varied skills.  To earn these badges, you must submit testimonials of work you have done in the field for approval through the Academy.  It also awards badges based on accumulated online learning through accredited sources. These badges build toward various levels of certification through the NADSP.

Well Wishes from Penn-Mar Human Services

“Rhoda has an incredible perspective when it comes to providing person-centered supports. She is thoughtful in her approach, always putting the needs and desires of the person supported first. Her ability to create lasting, meaningful relationships with those she works with shows how successful she is in promoting independence, informed choice, and inclusivity through active supports. We couldn’t be prouder to have Rhoda on our team helping those we support at Penn-Mar to live courageously!”

– Kelly Baker, Career Ladders Program Coordinator

NADSP E-Badge Academy Earners Of The Month