Direct support professionals (DSPs) do some of the most important work in our communities. Every day, they help people live full lives in their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and relationships. They assist with daily routines, celebrate achievements, support through challenges, and often become a trusted and steady presence in someone’s life.

Because their role is so close and so personal, one of the most powerful tools they use is something we do not always think about: language. The words we choose, the tone we use, and the assumptions behind our language all shape how people experience support. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), language can either reinforce dignity and independence—or unintentionally diminish them.

Our March Let’s Talk webinar focuses on the importance of language. Joining John Raffaele this month is Courtney Kelly Chapman, Vice President of Training and Special Projects with The Council on Quality and Leadership. Courtney will discuss her article, The Power of Words: Why Language Matters in Supporting People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

 This live webinar is a companion to the most recent International Journal for Direct Support Professionals issue. ASL interpretation and closed captions will be available during the webinar. To review previous issues of The International Journal for Direct Support Professionals, click here.

“We cannot build a strong disability service system on poverty wages for Direct Support Professionals.”

Pennsylvania House Bill 1939 represents the kind of forward-thinking policy needed to strengthen both the Direct Support Professional workforce and the services that people with intellectual disabilities and autism depend upon. NADSP proudly supports this legislation and highlights it as a model for other states as they work to build stronger, more sustainable disability service systems, recognizing the need for DSPs to be paid a living wage that keeps pace with inflation.

Understanding House Bill 1939

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) believes Pennsylvania House Bill 1939 represents an important opportunity to strengthen both the Direct Support Professional workforce and the services that people with intellectual disabilities and autism rely upon every day. Direct Support Professionals are the foundation of the disability support system. DSPs help people with intellectual disabilities and autism live meaningful lives in their homes and communities.

Every day, DSPs support people to:

• Live in their own homes
• Maintain their health and personal well-being
• Participate in community life
• Build relationships and employment opportunities
• Develop independence and self-determination

Despite the importance of this work, the funding system that supports disability services has not kept pace with inflation or the real cost of providing services.

The Workforce Challenge

According to the National Core Indicators State of the Workforce Survey, the median wage for Direct Support Professionals in Pennsylvania is $17.63 per hour. The estimated living wage for a single adult in Pennsylvania is $22.91 per hour. This means DSP wages are $5.28 per hour below a living wage.

Low wages contribute to:

• Workforce shortages
• High staff turnover
• Increased stress on existing staff
• Disruptions in services for people receiving support

NADSP believes that a stronger disability service system must include a stable, well-supported DSP workforce.

What House Bill 1939 Would Do

House Bill 1939 would establish a market index for intellectual disability and autism services, helping ensure that service funding keeps pace with the cost of delivering supports.

The bill would:

• Provide regular rate adjustments tied to inflation (Consumer Price Index – CPI-U)
• Help providers improve DSP wages and workforce stability
• Support recruitment and retention of qualified DSPs
• Improve transparency and accountability in service funding

These changes would help create a more stable service system for people with disabilities and the professionals who support them.

Why NADSP Supports HB 1939

NADSP believes people with disabilities deserve consistent, high-quality support from trained professionals, and DSPs deserve a system that recognizes and supports their essential work.

When the workforce is unstable:

• DSPs face financial stress and burnout
• Providers struggle to maintain services
• People with disabilities experience disruptions in support

House Bill 1939 helps move Pennsylvania toward a stronger and more sustainable disability service system.

Tell Pennsylvania’s Leaders:

A strong disability service system depends on a strong Direct Support Professional workforce.

NADSP believes House Bill 1939 has the potential to help build a system that better supports:

• People with intellectual disabilities and autism
• Direct Support Professionals
• Families and communities across Pennsylvania

When DSPs are supported, trained, and fairly compensated, people with disabilities receive better services and communities become stronger. House Bill 1939 represents an important step toward building that stronger system.

Olivia’s Experiences With The NADSP E-Badge Academy

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

Describe the story you shared in carrying out that competency:

The story I shared was when I assisted an individual questioning his sexuality by helping him explore his feelings and connecting him to an LGBTQIA+ support group. I worked with him to ensured he had resources, privacy, and a comfortable space to form relationships while respecting his pace and comfort levels.

Why is this competency so important to DSPs?

This competency is so important to DSPs because it’s their job to support individuals when navigating personal and social challenges, while continuing to promote inclusivity, respect, and informed and educated decision making in a comfortable and safe environment.

Have you used this competency in your work?

I used this competency in my work by using prior training to guide someone through their journey of self-discovery, connecting them to a supportive and educational community. I honored their wishes while respecting their privacy.

How can other DSPs replicate your practices?

Other individuals can replicate my approach by creating a safe and open environment for the individuals we support to express their feelings. By actively listening, we can increase the rapport we have with those we support and offer appropriate resources by guiding them towards supportive communities that can serve as educational resources. It’s also important to respect the individual’s pace and privacy, ensuring that any shared information is kept confidential until they are ready for it to be shared. By connecting people to groups where they feel they can form meaningful relationships and support, we can help others feel empowered to explore their identity in a nurturing space

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

This program benefits my agency by ensuring our staff are well-trained in best practices, leading to higher quality support and better outcomes for the individuals we serve. Our specific program in New York helps those who haven’t had the ability to do so, earn free college credit and jumpstart their educational careers.

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

This program benefits people supported by improving the quality of care they receive. It ensures staff are knowledgeable about best practices, and provide a more inclusive and understanding environment.

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

I am currently in DSP 3 and I plan to continue growing my skills through the end of the program. This has helped me deepen my expertise to better serve those I support and create the most current trainings on best practices.

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

The NADSP E-Badge Academy has increased my professional image, providing me with credentials and recognition that affirm my commitment to delivering high-quality, ethical support and training.

I feel more skilled as the Academy has helped refine my competencies in certain areas, reflect on how I could’ve approached situations differently and provided me with a more person-centered thinking approach in my day to day work.

The NADSP E-Badge Academy offers a structured way to earn badges for demonstrated competency. This not only validates the skills I have, but also provides immense self reflection I may not have otherwise engaged in.

Well Wishes from FREE

This award is a well-deserved recognition of the hard work and dedication that Olivia brings to work every day. Olivia is a natural leader and acts as a mentor to her colleague that are beginning their journey with the NADSP. Olivia consistently goes above and beyond in supporting others, and her achievements have a positive impact across our organization. Congratulations to Olivia on this momentous achievement!

-Matthew Collins, Chief Quality and Compliance Officer

NADSP E-Badge Academy Earners Of The Month

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 conducts or arranges for assessments to determine the needs, preferences, and capabilities of the participants using appropriate assessment tools and strategies, reviewing the process for inconsistencies, and making corrections as necessary,” within the NADSP Competency Area: “Assessment.”

Inside The Competency Area

Assessment

Embracing thorough and person-centered assessment practices is essential for direct support professionals (DSPs) because every person receiving services has unique strengths, preferences, communication styles, and support needs. By conducting or contributing to assessments, DSPs help create the person centered supports that fit the individual person and not just a ‘one size fits all’ approach. This is the essence of being a person centered practitioner. Assessments can be formal and written documents as well as informal and intuitive. Either way, DSPs must have a solid relationship with the person supported in order to assess situations.

Inside The Skill Statement

The competent DSP conducts or arranges for assessments to determine the needs, preferences, and capabilities of the participants using appropriate assessment tools and strategies, reviewing the process for inconsistencies, and making corrections as necessary.

DSPs spend more time with people supported than nearly any other professional. They observe daily routines, challenges, and successes. This makes their input vital for accurate, meaningful assessments and ongoing adjustments. When DSPs understand a person’s capabilities and goals, they can provide supports that build independence, promote choice, and enhance participation in community life.

DSPs who embrace assessment practices are better able to notice when supports aren’t working. When assessment practices are used, the DSP can better communicate changes or concerns in plans and goals. Good assessment skills can help prevent small issues from growing into larger problems! Assessments rooted in listening, observing, and understanding reinforce the central mission of DSP work which includes supporting people to live the lives they choose.

The Impact On People Receiving Services

Good assessment by DSPs directly improves the lives of people with disabilities in several meaningful ways:

• It ensures supports match the person’s real needs. DSPs observe daily routines, challenges, preferences, and strengths. When these observations are used in assessment, the person receives supports that are accurate, individualized, and truly useful rather than generic or assumed.
• A DSP that has competence in Assessment skills promotes independence and skill-building. Effective assessments identify what the person can already do as well as where they may need some supports.
• Assessment improves health and safety, as we know that DSPs are often the first to notice changes in behavior, early signs of medical issues, risks in the environment, and emotional or mental health concerns.
• Good assessment makes services more responsive and more human.

Putting It All Into Practice

DSPs naturally observe people throughout the day. Turning those observations into assessment means paying attention to changes in behavior, mood, routines, and skills. It may mean noticing patterns – times when things go well and when challenges occur.

Watching for environmental triggers or supports that make a difference is something a competent DSP will do. It is vital to document observations promptly and accurately. Even small daily notes can reveal big trends over time!

DSPs need to listen to the person they support and honor their individual communication style. Whether someone communicates through words, gestures, devices, or behavior, be sure to ask questions that help you understand that person’s preferences and goals.

You should monitor how the person responds to different tasks, choices, and situations and always seek out the person’s perspective. Never rely on what others may assume about the person you support. DSPs need to remember that every interaction can provide data that helps shape your support.

Staff should always use formal assessment tools consistently, which may include:

• Adaptive behavior assessments
• Preference inventories
• Risk or safety assessments
• Daily living skill checklists
• Communication profiles

Applying tools consistently ensures the team has reliable, comparable information. If you have questions about an assessment tool, seek guidance from a supervisor or team member who may be familiar.

Share information with your team! DSPs play a key role in team‑based assessment by reporting observations during team meetings and frequently communicating updates about progress or concerns. DSPS can offer great insights that others may not see.

Always maintain a person‑centered approach. This can be grounded by focusing on strengths rather than deficits. Do your best to ask what matters most to the person, ensuring the person’s voice guides decisions! See people as partners – not objects of evaluation.

All of this reinforces the mission of DSP work and leads to supporting people to live the lives they choose.

Quick Tips

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

• • Observe daily patterns and note even small changes
  • Ask the person what they want, need, and prefer
  • Document accurately, promptly, and without assumptions
  • Use behavior as communication and look for meaning
  • Share observations with the team regularly
  • Track what supports work, and what doesn’t
  • Reflect on your own actions and their impact
  • Look for strengths before identifying needs
  • Review support plans and align your observations

Relevant Resources

• AAIDD: Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale (DABS)
• NIH Research: Communication Assessment
• Vanderbilt Kennedy Center: Risk Assessment For Adults with IDD in Crisis
• IntellectAbility: Health Risk Screening Tool
• The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing : Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
• NTG: Early Detection and Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD)
• Center for Learning and Leadership: Personal Preference Indicators

Kerri’s Experiences With The NADSP E-Badge Academy

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

Describe the story you shared in carrying out that competency:

I shared a story about how you can communicate with someone who doesn’t use speech to communicate. You don’t always need a voice to be heard.

Why is this competency so important to DSPs?

Many DSPs will work with individuals who don’t always use their voice to communicate. It is so important to know and understand the individuals that you work with.

Have you used this competency in your work?

 use this competency to communicate with people at the agency that I support. It’s important for people to be understood.

How can other DSPs replicate your practices?

Other DSPs can replicate my practices through training. The most important thing to remember is that you need to know the individuals you work with. Understand their care plans. Really get to know them. Listen to them. If they don’t verbalize, assess their body language – that will always tell a story. Watch facial grimacing to detect pain. Watch for smiles to indicate joy. I can’t express enough the importance of knowing the individual you work with. If you are new to a person, try to check in with seasoned team members. Read their protective oversight plans and understand their important medical details.

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

NADSP E-Badge Academy benefits our agency as a way to encourage more training. Education is one of the best ways to help our staff serve our individuals.

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

Better training= Better staff. Better staff= Better care.

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

I can see future involvement in the NADSP E-Badge Academy, if they will allow it. I took away a lot of good information from this experience.

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

Although I have always felt a strong connection towards my occupation, NADSP E-Badge Academy has boosted my confidence by selecting me as an earner of the month. I do feel that I took a lot of knowledge away from going through the E-Badge Academy. My program gave me not only a bonus check, but I walked away with some very valuable information that I will utilize for a very long time. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity – Thank you!

Well Wishes from Capital District DDSO

Kerri has always been about promoting the best quality of life and putting the individuals needs first for over 25 years. She always has the individual’s best interest in mind whether it is providing them hands on care, advocacy or finding nursing coverage for upcoming storms to ensure continuity of care. She has held the hands of individuals through the laughter and tears. Kerri is a wonderful, hardworking Senior LPN and an amazing human being. She is a wealth of knowledge, and we are very lucky to have her as a part of the Nursing Department here at Capital District DDSO. We congratulate Kerri in being recognized publicly for what she has always done privately. “

– Erica Beer Iman, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing 1

NADSP E-Badge Academy Earners Of The Month

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 interacts with and educates community members and organizations (e.g., employer, landlord, civic organization) when relevant to participant’s needs or services,” within the NADSP Competency Area: “Advocacy.” It is especially relevant to cover ahead of March, which is Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month.

Inside The Competency Area

Advocacy

Direct support professionals (DSPs) need to be knowledgeable about the diverse challenges facing the people they support (e.g., human rights, legal, administrative, and financial). They should also be able to identify and use effective advocacy strategies to overcome such challenges. This is essentially word-for-word from the NADSP Competencies.

What does this mean for direct support professionals, who frankly, are so busy with the day-to-day responsibilities and tasks of supporting people in their daily lives. Are we asking direct support professionals to be civil rights and human rights activists? Do direct support professionals require extensive legal and advocacy training? Well, let’s explore this a bit deeper.

Inside The Skill Statement

The competent DSP interacts with and educates community members and organizations (e.g., employer, landlord, civic organization) when relevant to participant’s needs or services.

One skill statement within the NADSP Competency Area of Advocacy states, “The competent DSP interacts with and educates community members and organizations (e.g., employer, landlord, civic organization) when relevant to participant’s needs or services.” Here is where a direct support professional shines! The reality is that most DSPs are intimately involved and aware of the people that they support. DSPs are as close to “experts” about the needs and wants of people supported as anyone else. With that, they can be a great companion and partner in advocacy efforts with people in the education of community members, especially about improving the life of the person they support.

DSPs don’t need to be lawyers or activists. Often, they can even just raise the issues that people face, which may be barriers or obstacles. This knowledge and understanding can then create positive outcomes and help improve inclusion of people with disabilities.

The Impact On People Receiving Services

People with disabilities should have others in their lives who are allies and partners, supporting them while knowing their preferences, needs, and desires. Direct support professionals who recognize this aspect of their role can be invaluable in helping the community understand and adapt to the people they support. We often hear that people with disabilities need to adapt and be accommodated. While this may be true in some instances, it is the perspective of disability rights activists that the community should be more open to adapting to people with disabilities – not the other way around.

Direct support professionals should embrace their obligation to help the people they support overcome barriers in society and communities. Then, they will begin to see that the people they support can be part of the fabric of the community, thanks to allyship and advocacy efforts.

Putting It All Into Practice

Direct support professionals bring this competency into daily practice by staying aware and being observant. They must be willing to act when something affects the rights of people they support. In everyday practice, this means listening closely to the person’s preferences, recognizing when their rights may be limited or overlooked, and helping them understand and exercise their options.

It includes simple but powerful actions by supporting someone to speak up in meetings. It may mean helping them review their service plan. It could be ensuring privacy and dignity by documenting concerns clearly and accurately.

Being knowledgeable does not mean knowing every law. It means knowing where to find answers and asking questions. Direct support professionals must use their supervisors and administrators in times of navigating situations where rights may be at risk. Direct support professionals need to advocate when they notice barriers, such as a lack of access to community activities. It may be financial-related confusion about a person’s benefits or not understanding an insurance or Medicaid concern. If a direct support professional notices that decisions are being made without the person’s input, they should work with the team to address the issue.

Advocacy in daily practice is rooted in respect and partnership. By encouraging informed choice, protecting rights, and helping people navigate systems, direct support professionals can ensure that the people they support remain in control of their own lives. This transforms advocacy from an abstract concept into a natural part of quality support.

Quick Tips

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

• • Be a companion and partner in your efforts to advocate with people supported
  • Act when a situation arises that affects people’s rights
  • Consult with supervisors and administrators when facing complex rights-related issues
  • Recognize your responsibility to help people overcome barriers in their communities
  • Advocate when you notice barriers to help people get access and be respected

Relevant Resources

• NADSP: The Time For Advocacy Is Now!
• Frontline Initiative: Self Determination
• Frontline Initiative: Legislative Advocacy
• Administration on Community Living: Federal Advocacy
• National Disability Rights Network
• AAPD American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

Dear NADSP Community,

We are living through extremely challenging days. Events are changing rapidly, and it has become increasingly difficult to determine what is happening and what the real-world impact may be.

As of today, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed an appropriations package that includes funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the broader FY2026 spending bills. However, the full package has not yet been approved by the Senate. Senate action is currently stalled, largely due to disputes over the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, and as a result, the HHS appropriations bill has not become law.

If Congress does not complete action before the current stopgap funding expires at the end of January, a partial federal government shutdown may occur.

Should a shutdown happen, NADSP will closely monitor developments and keep you informed about potential impacts on critical programs, including Medicaid, SNAP, and community-based intellectual and developmental disability services.

We remain committed to providing you with clear, timely updates as this situation continues to evolve.

With appreciation and solidarity,

Joseph M. Macbeth

President & CEO

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals

Dear NADSP Community,

I want to share an important update from Congress and express our sincere appreciation to the bipartisan leaders who recently acted to protect essential federal education programs at a moment when those programs faced serious uncertainty.

According to a January 2026 report in K-12 Dive, congressional appropriators advanced a bipartisan budget framework that rejects proposals to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education or transfer its core responsibilities to other agencies. Instead, the proposal maintains federal oversight, preserves key programs, and would modestly strengthen funding levels rather than impose damaging cuts. Just as importantly, this framework affirms that Congress — not ideology should guide decisions about the future of federal education policy.

This action matters deeply to people with intellectual disabilities and autism and to their families across the country. Federal education programs are central to protecting civil rights, ensuring access to appropriate services, and supporting inclusive opportunities in schools and communities. These programs provide critical safeguards and consistency for students who too often face barriers to opportunity. Keeping these responsibilities intact within the Department of Education reinforces accountability and helps ensure that longstanding legal protections are meaningfully upheld.

We are grateful to the members of Congress who chose cooperation over division and stood up for stability, equity, and the public good at a time when doing so is neither easy nor politically convenient.

Thank you for your continued engagement, awareness, and advocacy on these important issues.

With appreciation and solidarity,

Joseph M. Macbeth

President & CEO

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals

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 assists and supports the participant to develop strategies, make informed choices, follow through on responsibilities, and take risks,” within the NADSP Competency Area: “Participant Empowerment.”

Inside The Competency Area

Participant Empowerment

As we start off the new year, 2026 is the perfect time to cover Participant Empowerment. It means so much to people who have disabilities. Feeling empowered can have a positive impact on mental health, self-esteem, and ultimately, being independent in life. Understanding and embracing the competency of Participant Empowerment is essential because it places the person supported at the center of their own life decisions and growth.

When a DSP assists people to develop strategies, make informed choices, and follow through on responsibilities, they are fostering autonomy, confidence, and self-determination. Supporting people to take appropriate risks is something that DSPs do all the time. Rather than shielding them from all challenges, good DSPs will honor the right for people they support to learn from experiences and build resilience. Competent DSPs balance guidance with respect, helping people weigh options, understand consequences, and pursue their goals. This approach leads to more meaningful outcomes, stronger skills for independence, and lives that are directed by the person, not the system.

Inside The Skill Statement

The competent DSP assists and supports the participant to develop strategies, make informed choices, follow through on responsibilities, and take risks.

At its core, direct support work is about empowering people to live lives that reflect their own values, preferences, and aspirations. By centering people supported in their own informed decision-making, DSPs reinforce the belief that people are capable and knowledgeable regarding their own lives. People deserve to have control over their choices.

Embracing Participant Empowerment also strengthens trust and helps build authentic relationships. When DSPs support informed decision-making, and follow-through, people supported experience respect rather than control. This increases engagement and motivation and allows room for appropriate risk-taking. It is critical in person centered practice. Growth, confidence, and resilience are built through real-world experiences, not through constant protection. DSPs who skillfully balance safety with dignity help people learn from successes and setbacks alike.

Ultimately, this approach aligns with person-centered practices and ethical support. It moves services away from compliance-driven systems toward outcomes that reflect real independence, accountability, and personal growth. This works to ensure that supports enhance people’s lives rather than limit them.

The Impact On People Receiving Services

​Empowering people with disabilities affirms their right to direct their own lives and make meaningful choices. When DSPs practice Participant Empowerment, people gain greater control over daily decisions and long-term goals. DSPs can foster confidence, self-esteem, and a stronger sense of identity. Being supported to make informed choices and take appropriate risks allows people to learn from experience, develop problem-solving skills, and build resilience.

Rather than being protected from challenges, people are trusted to grow through them. Empowerment also leads to more natural and meaningful community participation, as people pursue activities, relationships, and roles that matter to them. These experiences strengthen independence, self-advocacy, and personal responsibility. Most importantly, if DSPs are intentional about their practice and use this competency area, it shifts services away from compliance and dependence, toward enhanced dignity, purpose, and self-determination. It can help ensure that people with disabilities are not just supported, but truly respected as capable decision-makers in their own lives.

Putting It All Into Practice

Participant Empowerment as a competency is practiced daily through actions and interventions that promote choice, voice, and control for people receiving support. DSPs should begin by actively listening and seeking to understand each person’s preferences, goals, and concerns, rather than making assumptions or decisions on their behalf. Offering real choices about routines, activities, relationships, and supports – and honoring those choices whenever possible – reinforces autonomy and self-determination.

DSPs can support empowerment by helping people develop strategies to solve problems, make decisions, and plan next steps. Informed decision making is a highly complex skill. This may include breaking tasks into manageable parts, using visual supports, or talking through options and possible outcomes. Encouraging follow-through on responsibilities, while providing appropriate reminders or supports, helps people build confidence and accountability as the person supported makes independent decisions.

Practicing participant empowerment also means supporting people to take reasonable and informed risks. DSPs should balance safety with dignity, discussing potential consequences and facilitating opportunities for learning and growth, instead of automatically preventing risk. When mistakes happen, DSPs can frame them as chances for growth rather than failures.

Additionally, DSPs can advocate alongside people they support, encouraging them to speak up for themselves in meetings, in the community, or within service systems. By modeling respect, patience, and belief in each person’s abilities, DSPs create environments where people feel valued and capable. Over time, these daily practices lead to increased independence, stronger self-advocacy skills, and lives that are truly directed by the person.

Quick Tips

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

• • Begin by actively listening and seeking to understand each person
  • Help people develop strategies to solve problems, make decisions, and plan next steps
  • Be sure to balance safety with dignity of risk
  • Honor the right for people to learn from experience and help them build resilience
  • Encourage follow-through on responsibilities, while providing appropriate reminders

Relevant Resources

• Frontline Initiative: Choice, Direction, And Control
• Impact: Self-Direction
• ACL: Advocacy And Empowerment
• National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making
• Frontline Initiative: Self-Determination
• Impact: Self-Advocacy
• NADSP: Informed Decision-Making Curriculum
• Impact: Self-Determination & Supported Decision-Making

Direct support professionals (DSPs) in the community provide vital care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) when supporting people with complex eating/swallowing needs.

This month’s Let’s Talk episode will discuss using tools and strategies available when moral and ethical situations arise along the way in supporting people’s mealtime routines.  Join Andria Bianchi, PhD, a Clinical Ethicist and Maya Albin a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and PhD student at McGill University as they discuss their article, “Swallowing Complexities, IDD, and Ethics: A Case Example,” with John Raffaele, NADSP Director of Educational Services.

This webinar is a companion to the most recent International Journal for Direct Support Professionals issue.

ASL interpretation and closed captions will be available during the webinar.
To review previous issues of The International Journal for Direct Support Professionals, click here.