Dupree once struggled with tasks like cooking, cleaning, and daily living skills. He felt DSPs gave up on him, but things started to get better when Miss Gail came into the picture. She taught Dupree that freedom has responsibility and she believed that he could achieve his dreams.

A quiet revolution began over a decade ago in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where the spirit of innovation transforms lives at Black Hills Works  (BHW). At the heart of this change is the Technology and Innovation team led by their dynamic director, Tammy Murner. The team's mission is to transform the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) Murner notes. through the strategic use of technology. “It all started with a single vision to support peoples’ self-determination and independence through the use of technology and has grown into a comprehensive program,” explains Murner. “We began small, but our commitment to innovation led us to partnerships and grants that allow us to expand our reach.”

If you have ideas for topics you would like us to talk about contact Chet at: [email protected].

DSP Anthony Grindstaff, Larry Williams, and Susan Arwood share how enabling technology has changed Larry’s life for the better and how a visit from the Tennessee Governor’s wife, Maria Lee, provided Larry with new enabling technology for his back door. Larry receives support, and Anthony and Susan work for Core Services of Northeast Tennessee.

Thanks to his technology, he now has much more freedom to do the things he wants when he wants to do them.

Core Services Productions. (2024). Remote Support Specialist   [video].

Core Services Productions. (2021). Chris the Remote Support Specialist using Nucleus   [video].

Tech First SHIFT. (2024). Accreditation. 

Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. (2024). Enabling Technology. 

If you have ideas for topics you would like us to talk about contact Chet at: [email protected].

As DSP we are accustomed to speaking up for the wants and needs of the people we support. Nic shares his story of speaking up for himself and all DSPs on a national stage.

Nicholas Smith has been a Direct Support Professional for over 25 years. He has worked at SPIN, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the past 17 years. He was a contributor in the 2023 issue of Frontline Initiative, DSPs use the NADSP Code of Ethics to Support People.

You can find the issue here:

https://ici.umn.edu/products/-aj88oT2QS6F633fE0LpLQ

If you have ideas for topics you would like us to talk about contact Chet at: [email protected].

Nic is a master of looking past the barrier and seeing the possibilities. As a seasoned DSP he has developed the skills of really listening to what the people he supports are saying, and working with his team to make dreams and wishes come true.

Nicholas Smith has been at Direct Support Professional for over 25 years. He has worked the past 17 years at SPIN, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nick contributed to Frontline Initiative's issue on DSPs using the NADSP Code of Ethics to Support People.

You can find the issue here:

https://ici.umn.edu/products/-aj88oT2QS6F633fE0LpLQ

If you have ideas for topics you would like us to talk about contact Chet at: [email protected].

Our guest is Amy Hewitt, Ph.D., director of the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota.

Amy explains that as direct support professionals, you have to fight for what you need and for the recognition and respect that you deserve – and she knows! Amy has been a direct support professional, is a family member of someone who has support, and has been in the field for years.

Megan Russell has supported Jay as a direct support professional (DSP) for the past 10 years. In this episode, Megan talks about her experience at the NADSP Advocacy Symposium where she learned the skills to advocate for herself and the people she supports to her legislators. She explains the importance of personal storytelling and shares that it's not as intimidating as she thought.

Read Megan Russell's story: Share link to FI story when it's public

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Frontline Initiative [update link]

Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)

Michelle Murphy left the corporate world 19 years ago and became a direct support professional (DSP) when her sister strongly suggested she come to work with her at her workshop job. Michelle is now a DSP Certified-1 at Arc Mid-Hudson in Kingston, New York.

In this episode of A Closer Look, Michelle talks about her article in Frontline Initiative and how she uses the NADSP Code of Ethics Tenet 5: Justice, Fairness, and Equity to improve the quality of life for the people she supports. She dives deeper into how she gets to know them as people and how that and the COE help her navigate sensitive topics that might affect their quality of life.

Read Michelle Murphy's story: Ethical Practice is About Learning Side-By-Side with the Person Supported

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Frontline Initiative

NADSP Code of Ethics

Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)

Two-time Frontline Initiative author Zoe Korengold, who is on the support response team (SRT) at Lionsgate Academy, reflects on how they handle situations with students who are experiencing big emotions that are challenging in a way that is supportive and safe for everyone. Zoe shares their perspective as an autistic person, who didn’t have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in school to support them, and how starting with students' strengths can make a huge difference in how students with disabilities view themselves.

Read Zoe Korengold's story: Supporting Students' Psychological Health and Wellness

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Frontline Initiative

Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)

Frontline Initiative author LeAnn Bieber talks about how using tools such as a Health Care Person-Centered Profile and a one-page description can make a positive difference in how a medical appointment can go for everyone.

Read LeAnn's story: The Key to Successful Health Care Appointments through One-page Descriptions

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Frontline Initiative

Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)