Celebrate National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week
September 10th - 16th, 2017
The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals is proud to
support ANCOR's
National Advocacy Campaign,
state provider associations and service provider agencies from across the country in recognizing the scores of dedicated, hard working and highly skilled direct support professionals on National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, beginning September 10, 2017.
This is a great opportunity for organizations and communities to honor the direct support workforce and the tremendous difference they make each day in the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities. Here are some ways to Celebrate DSP Recognition Week:
What's a Great Way to Recognize Your DSPs?
Join Us in Omaha!
In case you haven't heard, the NADSP's
Annual Conference: "The Third One"
now coincides with National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. This year on September 9th & 10th, we'll be in Omaha, Nebraska pulling out all the stops to offer you the VERY BEST conference for DSPs, those who care about them and those who employ them. Once again, we have great keynote speakers, a bunch of amazing breakout sessions, an interactive format and a few surprises along the way.
Who's speaking at this conference?
- Dave Hingsburger
- Desiree Louks-Baer
- Val Bradley
- Dr. Rick Rader
- Dr. Amy Hewitt (Introducing the 2017 JFK Jr. Award Inductees)
- Lynne Seagle
- Chumie Twerski
- Gabrielle Sedor
- Maren Gibson
- Antha Flood
- Drew Smith and Kelly Friedlander
- Judge Daniel Butler
If all that isn't enough, at midnight on Saturday, we'll be having a celebration to ring in the week with dancing and karaoke, a professional DJ, photo booths, a champagne toast and balloon drop as we thank all the DSPs in attendance. There is still time to learn more about our conference and you can register
here
.
Other Ways?
Join the NADSP Family
-
Promote the direct support profession by joining the NADSP as a Member Organization. You can join
When your organization joins, all of your direct support professionals also become members and receive all of our information. Click here to learn about our
- Our members are invited to join our twice monthly webinars; "Let's Talk with Dave Hingsburger" where each month we collaborate with Dave and his Canadian colleagues on deep conversations that are derived from the monthly International Journal for Direct Support Professionals and our "Learning Annex" webinars where we hear from some of the best minds in the country on select topics that are critical for DSP development, like Managing Grief & Loss, The Power of Attitude, Working with Families and so much more. FREE FOR NADSP MEMBERS!
- Take advantage of our new website's "Members Only" section where you can download and hear all of our archived webinars.
- During September we will be offering special discounts to help your direct support professionals achieve the first level of a national certification in direct support by becoming a
1-10 DSP-R Applications $45 per DSP
11 - 25 DSP-R Applications $40 per DSP
26 - 50 DSP-R Applications $35 per DSP
More than 50 DSP-R Applications $30 per DSP
* Our standard DSP-R Application Fee is $50 per DSP
- Take advantage of membership discounts on our highly acclaimed trainings and train-the-trainer curricula; Informed Decision Making, Creating a Culture of Competence, The Code of Ethics Encounter, Building Career Ladders for Direct Support Professionals and our brand new intensive train-the-trainer curriculum, "Developing Frontline Supervisors: From Management to Leadership.
- Have you ever heard of the E-Badge Academy? We didn't think so, but we'll be sharing a lot of information on this exciting new DSP development at the conference, so come and learn about some exciting new products and services that will change the way Frontline Supervisors and DSPs do their work - and we're not kidding!
Some Practical Ways?
Recognize Direct Support Professionals at Home
- Hold a staff appreciation lunch, barbeque or ice cream social.
- Have executive and management staff work side-by-side a DSP for a day. Learn what they do and ask them questions about their work.
- Recognize "Excellence in Direct Support Practice" and give examples and formal recognition of a direct support professional who helped someone achieve something meaningful.
- Give a small, but meaningful and personalized gift.
- Provide a heartfelt and simple "thank you" for the comittment that direct support professionals make on a regular basis.
- Bring in dinner, lunch or breakfast for those who are working in your programs.
- Drive-by and Drop Ins: Surprise the morning shift with a bag of bagels and a box of coffee, or some special refreshments and some festivities.
- Create and distribute a DSP Week flyer/press release to raise awareness of the important contributions that direct support professionals have in the lives of people with disabilities.
- Invite elected officials to your organization's homes and let DSPs tell their stories to them.
- Write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper that describes the complex and skilled work that your direct support professionals do EVERY DAY.
- Find ways that your organization's culture can show that you trust direct support professionals - invite them to join committees, seek their input on strategic planning, use their expertise.
- Seek out a local radio talk shows or news segments to showcase the skills of direct support professionals and the impact they have on positive outcomes for people with disabilities.
- Help the people with disabilities who receive services to express their thanks by sponsoring celebrations, buying gift baskets and writing cards of appreciation.
- Make sure that the families of those you support know that it's Direct Support Professional Recognition Week and ask them to get involved.
- Don't wait for September - Start planning now!
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