Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) aren't simply caregivers. They bundle a host of skills and techniques together to assist people in achieving their goals for independent and community living. For some, they employ advanced communications skills to develop or learn the non-verbal language with which a person communicates. For others, they are trained with skilled nursing techniques to provide critical care a person needs which would otherwise require admittance to a nursing facility. For even others, they engage in patient psychology to assist a person overcome their internal barriers to create the best life they are looking for.
Many use all these skills and more!
A Champion for Independence
Regardless of the skills required in a support plan, one thing all DSPs have in common is being champions of the people they support and their goals for independence, whatever they may be. Each of the 2018 ARRM Cares winners exemplifies this quality, and Sarah Kern of Dungarvin Minnesota has it in spades. Sarah found her passion when she made a career change to our field, like so many DSPs not simply stopping at accomplishing a task but being a fierce and tireless advocate for the people she works with.
Creating a New Voice Through Education, Innovation
An important part of being a strong advocate is ensuring people can have their voices heard, and often those whose voice may be getting lost. DSPs like ARRM Cares nominee Jennie Davis from Opportunity Partners learn complex and unique forms of communication of people they support to understand their needs and wants. In Jennie's case, not only does she support people in learning healthier ways to communicate, when she has the opportunity she also educates the broader public to foster not only stronger understanding, but respect. Doing such work to build up a network of community supports is a critical step for many people to reach their goals for independence.
Stay tuned
ARRM will be sharing other stories of ARRM Cares Winners and nominees over the next several weeks to showcase why the work of direct care staff is so important and why it deserves both celebration and advocacy for higher wages and supports for the people who do this job. Stay tuned!
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