Being a Direct Support Professional/Staff is considered one of the most fulfilling and rewarding roles a professional working with Individuals with Disabilities would do. Although the role of a Direct Support professional is not limited to only working with people with disabilities. Direct Support Professionals work across different age groups and areas of needs of people they support. Some work in the geriatric setting, some in youth development and some with children. Nonetheless, it is considered a fulfilling profession because, oftentimes, one gets to visibly see different stages and levels of progressive transitioning take place with people supported.
You see a person who struggles with a particular skill and over time, with dedication, love, patience and well spelled out goals mixed with professionalism(which invariably are the tenets of the profession), you witness the person make that big leap into acquiring or master that skill(s) as a result of the support provided by the Direct Support Professional. This could be either with a personalized one-to-one support or in a skills-acquisition program or facility.
Oftentimes, progress made by persons with disabilities who have Direct Support Professionals working with them towards achieving set goals such as life skills, self-help skills, independent skills, job sustainability amongst many others can never be brushed off or ignored. This is so because the Direct Support Professional is one who loves, sees abilities, possibilities and believes the best of people supported.
When it comes to building skills or learning how to cope with major transitional phases of life of Individuals with disabilities, the role of a Direct Support Professional/Staff cannot be overemphasized.
Who is a Direct Support Staff?
A Direct Support Staff is one who works directly with persons with disabilities implementing evidence-based strategies in order to aid the acquisition or development of skills. This person follows a set of goals that have been agreed upon by the individual supported and all the professionals involved in order to ensure that the goals are met and/or exceeded.
- The Direct Support Staff is a person of passion, who believes there is ability and strength in everyone.
- The Direct Support Staff is a motivator and one who is dedicated to seeing positive impact made.
- The Direct Support Staff is one who has mastered or mastering the art of Emotional Intelligence- working with individuals with or without disabilities requires personal development, improving executive functioning, multi-tasking skills, and time management.
- The Direct Support Staff is an ardent believer in strengths and not weaknesses. In order to achieve results and long term milestones, the DSP is able to spot strengths and can build on it. Providing adequate support comes from the premise of strength identification.
- The Direct Support Staff is empathetic- Empathy means you can put yourself in another person’s shoes and relate to what they are passing through without being judgmental. In conversations, the DSP vast in knowledge and can identify with the struggles of the persons supported(Including their families). The DSP is someone approachable, kind and patient.
- Finally, The Direct Support Staff is one who upholds ethical standards with a mix of professionalism.
Ethical issues are bound to crop up when working with vulnerable people, however, the DSP is one who understands and appreciates boundaries.
To conclude, working as a Direct Support Professional or Staff is a Prideful Profession and it’s heroic cape should be worn with confidence at all times!
Written by,
Damilola Banwo-Oyalaja.
