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What does it take to hire your first direct support professional? In this episode of The Support Files, Anna shares what she looks for in a DSP, how she explains the responsibilities of the job, and why finding the right fit matters when someone is supporting your everyday life.

Anna and Ari also talk about what makes self-directed support different: the person receiving support helps choose, train, and guide their staff. Ari shares the college student perspective on working as a DSP, what they’ve learned on the job, and why this work can have a lasting impact on both people.

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Welcome to The Support Files: Independence from Both Sides! In this introductory episode, meet Anna, a self-directed disability advocate with cerebral palsy, and Ari, her Direct Support Professional with experience across multiple disability-support settings.

Anna and Ari share the experiences that led them to create the podcast, explain why perspectives from both sides of the support relationship matter, and discuss what listeners can expect from future episodes. Together, they will examine the DSP staffing crisis, self-directed services, disability policy, community living, and the systemic barriers affecting disabled people and the professionals who support them.

These are the stories behind the staffing crisis. These are the perspectives policymakers need to hear. These are The Support Files.