Direct Support Professionals

Direct Support Professionals are essential to the success of our service delivery model. Each individual support team is comprised of dedicated, caring, sensitive individuals, many of whom have a relative or loved one diagnosed with autism, mental retardation, or some other behavioral challenge.

Our Professionals have various backgrounds. Seventy-four percent (74%) are college educated (i.e., some college experience) and 50% have prior experience with autism. Seventy-four percent (74%) have over one years experience with us.

Each DSP completes an extensive training curriculum to ensure his or her ability to support the individuals we serve competently, effectively, and safely. Our State of Illinois-approved training curriculum consists of over 100 hours of classroom and on-the-job training in the following areas: Introduction to Developmental Disabilities, Human Rights, Abuse and Neglect, Human Interaction and Communication, Individual Service Plan Development and Implementation, Basic Health and Safety, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, and Driver Safety. All Professionals possess and are required to maintain current CPR and First Aid certifications from the American Red Cross (or an equivalent organization). Professionals that support program participants enrolled in our Community Living Options Program also receive State-approved training from our in-house Registered Nurse in medication administration, allowing them to aid program participants requiring assistance with their medication(s). Professionals also engage in ongoing professional development activities, attending conferences and seminars that increase their knowledge in the field, and enable them to provide the individuals we serve the highest quality of service possible.

Professionals are valued in our organization, and their opinions are solicited and respected. Annually, our Chief Executive Officer meets individually with each DSP for at least an hour (longer, if they prefer) to gain firsthand knowledge of their issues and concerns. Such meetings are conducted not just towards improving the quality of our services, but also to identify obstacles to staff retention. DSP input obtained from such meetings is used to improve both service delivery and management systems.

The 2004 DSP meetings also confirmed that, consistent with external industry studies, Professionals are dissatisfied with current salary and benefit levels. One-hundred percent (100%) desire improved salary and benefits. Seventy-three percent (73%) are dissatisfied with existing salary levels. Fifty-three percent (53%) have no health benefits whatsoever. Our leadership is diligently seeking ways to fund additional salaries and benefits for our Professionals.

Our Professionals know that we value them; fully 82% of those who participated in the meetings (which were not mandatory) indicated that they felt respected by our leadership!