The ‘Heart’ Of DSPs Recognized This Week
September 15, 2020 at 2:18 a.m.
The ‘Heart’ Of DSPs Recognized This Week
By David [email protected]
Gov. Eric Holcomb proclaimed this week – Sept. 13-19 – as Direct Support Professionals Week, noting that more than 26,000 men and women work as DSPs in the state.
“The term direct support professional, or DSP, has become a nationally recognized job title and the goal behind doing that was trying to elevate the responsibilities of the position to draw greater awareness to it, from society, from our elected officials, in an effort to really get everyone to understand the valuable contribution that a DSP makes in the life of individuals every single day,” Hall said.
Cardinal Services has about 250 DSPs in Kosciusko, Marshall, Fulton and Cass counties. Most DSPs work with multiple individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, depending on the setting where they work.
Hall said there is a nationwide shortage of DSPs “and we are right there with that challenge.”
He said in his experience, most people start out as a DSP because “they see people with disabilities as people in need, people that they can help, and that’s true. That’s why they’re working here to start with. That’s the original reason that I think people choose to work in this field. What people find out, in time, is what they’re getting from the job, and they’re getting as much and they’re learning as much as they are in giving from it. And then that becomes that ongoing reward for the tasks that they’re undertaking. It’s the surprises of the job, it’s the fun parts of the job that I think really go unnoticed.”
Most of the DSP’s shifts are 40 hours a week, but many of Cardinal’s employees work more than that because there is a need. There also are some part-time positions, and Hall said Cardinal is experimenting with “under 10 hours a week” positions to try to get some more flexibility that might be more appealing to people.
The tasks of a DSP varies based upon the skill level of the individual, but there are some common factors. Hall said DSPs take individuals out into the community where they want to go, whether that’s shopping, to church or to a play at the Wagon Wheel Theatre.
“It’s helping people to go to the same places where you and I want to go to and experience that,” Hall said.
DSPs also help the individuals manage their money, choose their clothing if they need assistance with that or create healthy eating habits.
Hall said DSPs can be a teacher, counselor, cook, nurse, chauffeur and a bit of an accountant. “You think about all the different things that it takes for you and me to take care of our home and the things that we do every day. That’s what a DSP is doing for individuals. So it really is a pretty extensive list,” he said.
A new DSP has to complete about 80 hours of training, most state-mandated. After that, there’s on-the-job training, and then ongoing annual training.
“Our employees are not certified, but some of the skill sets that they have to have is similar to a CNA,” Hall said. A DSP can be right out of high school to a person in their 70s.
Cardinal Community Relations Director Michelle Boxell said, “I always tell college students, ‘It’s a great college job’ because you can sort of pick your hours. If you’re in class during the week, but you have two nights a week where you can put in four hours and then you can work some time on the weekend, it’s flexible enough you can slide into those positions.”
Hall said his first job with Cardinal was as a DSP, working in a group home while going to school. The DSP position was part time, it worked for him and “it was great.”
He said the DSPs “have been the unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. Doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals have rightfully received lots of support and recognition. The DSPs probably have not gotten the recognition that they deserve. Most of our DSPs come into work every single day, and unless you’ve had to wear one of these masks for hours on end and taking care of people, helping with people and everything, people don’t know how hard it is. ... The DSPs have kept the individuals that we support safe, healthy throughout this entire time.”
Some of Cardinal’s DSPs moved into individuals’ homes during the early stages of the pandemic for one to two weeks at a time. They couldn’t leave, but it was out of concern for some of the higher-risk individuals, Hall said.
“It was just amazing at the ways that they stepped up. And they just continue to do that,” he said. “They’re passionate about the individuals. After a while, you always hear, ‘They’re a part of my family.’ So, what do you do for family? About anything you can. That’s the heart of a DSP.”
Boxell said, “They’ll all say how much they’ve learned from the people they serve. They don’t feel it’s been a one-way thing at all. It hasn’t been, and they recognize that.”
Hall said Cardinal has 415 “great” employees. “The DSP is kind of the heart of the organization. Cardinal was started by families that had a child with a disability and wanted their son or daughter to stay in the community. And we’re here 60-plus years later, still doing that, still fulfilling that original mission. We couldn’t do it without the DSP.”
Katie Avery became a DSP four years ago.
“I have a brother with autism so I’ve always been kind of used to the feel of working with special needs. And Alex Miller in HR is actually good friends with my boyfriend so he kind of reached out and said, ‘Hey, I think you’d be great at this.’ So ever since, I’ve still been here,” she said.
Avery didn’t start the job with any expectations because she grew up with a brother with autism.
“Growing up with him, nothing is ever the same so you can’t really expect anything until you actually step into the job and start learning what the job is about. You can’t really come into it thinking it’s an easy job when it’s really not,” she said.
She said while learning to work with some of the individuals’ behaviors can be challenging, “as you work on those behaviors, you also build the relationship and the respect with people, which is very rewarding.”
Avery loves her position in day services because it’s routine but it’s never the same.
“If you’re in a bad mood and come in here, you’re not in a bad mood anymore. They instantly just cheer you up in any way possible,” she said.
She said being a DSP is the best job at Cardinal Services because they get to go to the zoo, hockey games and so much other fun. The pandemic has put limits on that for now, but Avery said they’re working on some things, like going to the zoo this weekend.
“I think if you are good at accepting challenges, accepting change and just accepting people for who they are and how they act, I think this is an awesome place for them to be. If you enjoy being yourself and being silly and being active, it’s a good place to be,” Avery said of working as a DSP at Cardinal, adding that the co-workers are awesome, too.
To celebrate DSP week, Hall said Cardinal is doing something special every day, which started Sunday with doughnuts delivered to every site.
For more information about Cardinal and DSPs, visit the website at cardinalservices.org. Click on the “Do Good Work” link on the front page to get to the portal.
Gov. Eric Holcomb proclaimed this week – Sept. 13-19 – as Direct Support Professionals Week, noting that more than 26,000 men and women work as DSPs in the state.
“The term direct support professional, or DSP, has become a nationally recognized job title and the goal behind doing that was trying to elevate the responsibilities of the position to draw greater awareness to it, from society, from our elected officials, in an effort to really get everyone to understand the valuable contribution that a DSP makes in the life of individuals every single day,” Hall said.
Cardinal Services has about 250 DSPs in Kosciusko, Marshall, Fulton and Cass counties. Most DSPs work with multiple individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, depending on the setting where they work.
Hall said there is a nationwide shortage of DSPs “and we are right there with that challenge.”
He said in his experience, most people start out as a DSP because “they see people with disabilities as people in need, people that they can help, and that’s true. That’s why they’re working here to start with. That’s the original reason that I think people choose to work in this field. What people find out, in time, is what they’re getting from the job, and they’re getting as much and they’re learning as much as they are in giving from it. And then that becomes that ongoing reward for the tasks that they’re undertaking. It’s the surprises of the job, it’s the fun parts of the job that I think really go unnoticed.”
Most of the DSP’s shifts are 40 hours a week, but many of Cardinal’s employees work more than that because there is a need. There also are some part-time positions, and Hall said Cardinal is experimenting with “under 10 hours a week” positions to try to get some more flexibility that might be more appealing to people.
The tasks of a DSP varies based upon the skill level of the individual, but there are some common factors. Hall said DSPs take individuals out into the community where they want to go, whether that’s shopping, to church or to a play at the Wagon Wheel Theatre.
“It’s helping people to go to the same places where you and I want to go to and experience that,” Hall said.
DSPs also help the individuals manage their money, choose their clothing if they need assistance with that or create healthy eating habits.
Hall said DSPs can be a teacher, counselor, cook, nurse, chauffeur and a bit of an accountant. “You think about all the different things that it takes for you and me to take care of our home and the things that we do every day. That’s what a DSP is doing for individuals. So it really is a pretty extensive list,” he said.
A new DSP has to complete about 80 hours of training, most state-mandated. After that, there’s on-the-job training, and then ongoing annual training.
“Our employees are not certified, but some of the skill sets that they have to have is similar to a CNA,” Hall said. A DSP can be right out of high school to a person in their 70s.
Cardinal Community Relations Director Michelle Boxell said, “I always tell college students, ‘It’s a great college job’ because you can sort of pick your hours. If you’re in class during the week, but you have two nights a week where you can put in four hours and then you can work some time on the weekend, it’s flexible enough you can slide into those positions.”
Hall said his first job with Cardinal was as a DSP, working in a group home while going to school. The DSP position was part time, it worked for him and “it was great.”
He said the DSPs “have been the unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic. Doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals have rightfully received lots of support and recognition. The DSPs probably have not gotten the recognition that they deserve. Most of our DSPs come into work every single day, and unless you’ve had to wear one of these masks for hours on end and taking care of people, helping with people and everything, people don’t know how hard it is. ... The DSPs have kept the individuals that we support safe, healthy throughout this entire time.”
Some of Cardinal’s DSPs moved into individuals’ homes during the early stages of the pandemic for one to two weeks at a time. They couldn’t leave, but it was out of concern for some of the higher-risk individuals, Hall said.
“It was just amazing at the ways that they stepped up. And they just continue to do that,” he said. “They’re passionate about the individuals. After a while, you always hear, ‘They’re a part of my family.’ So, what do you do for family? About anything you can. That’s the heart of a DSP.”
Boxell said, “They’ll all say how much they’ve learned from the people they serve. They don’t feel it’s been a one-way thing at all. It hasn’t been, and they recognize that.”
Hall said Cardinal has 415 “great” employees. “The DSP is kind of the heart of the organization. Cardinal was started by families that had a child with a disability and wanted their son or daughter to stay in the community. And we’re here 60-plus years later, still doing that, still fulfilling that original mission. We couldn’t do it without the DSP.”
Katie Avery became a DSP four years ago.
“I have a brother with autism so I’ve always been kind of used to the feel of working with special needs. And Alex Miller in HR is actually good friends with my boyfriend so he kind of reached out and said, ‘Hey, I think you’d be great at this.’ So ever since, I’ve still been here,” she said.
Avery didn’t start the job with any expectations because she grew up with a brother with autism.
“Growing up with him, nothing is ever the same so you can’t really expect anything until you actually step into the job and start learning what the job is about. You can’t really come into it thinking it’s an easy job when it’s really not,” she said.
She said while learning to work with some of the individuals’ behaviors can be challenging, “as you work on those behaviors, you also build the relationship and the respect with people, which is very rewarding.”
Avery loves her position in day services because it’s routine but it’s never the same.
“If you’re in a bad mood and come in here, you’re not in a bad mood anymore. They instantly just cheer you up in any way possible,” she said.
She said being a DSP is the best job at Cardinal Services because they get to go to the zoo, hockey games and so much other fun. The pandemic has put limits on that for now, but Avery said they’re working on some things, like going to the zoo this weekend.
“I think if you are good at accepting challenges, accepting change and just accepting people for who they are and how they act, I think this is an awesome place for them to be. If you enjoy being yourself and being silly and being active, it’s a good place to be,” Avery said of working as a DSP at Cardinal, adding that the co-workers are awesome, too.
To celebrate DSP week, Hall said Cardinal is doing something special every day, which started Sunday with doughnuts delivered to every site.
For more information about Cardinal and DSPs, visit the website at cardinalservices.org. Click on the “Do Good Work” link on the front page to get to the portal.
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