Direct Support Professional Recognition Week September 13 – 19, 2020

RECOGNITION, CELEBRATION, UNDYING GRATITUDE, RESPECT… are just but a few of the words that I think of when it comes to the thousands of Direct Support Professionals that serve and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Anyone who is, has been, or knows a DSP knows that they are essential, and we didn’t need a global pandemic to tell us that. This year has been like no other and, once again, DSPs remain on the front-line supporting people within IDD through a pandemic, raging wildfires, monumental life changes, and in some cases, unspeakable losses and trauma. To all the DSPs, THANK YOU!

WE MUST support the DSP Profession in policy and in practice – livable wages and benefits, meaningful career ladder, sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment, and an elevated awareness of the complexity of the profession. There is no system of supports and services without a DSP workforce. I am very excited to attend the 2020 Virtual Event “FROM PRAISE TO PROMISE” sponsored by National Association of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), and the Research and Training Center on Community Living from the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. This virtual event is an unprecedented opportunity for EVERYONE to learn what we can do to support the DSP profession. THE EVENT IS FREE AND THE SPEAKERS ARE AMAZING! I encourage everyone who can to participate.

To view the schedule, list of speakers and register visit: https://nadsp.org/events/2020-virtual-event-from-praise-to-promise/