Some people’s actions will make a lifetime of difference but will never make the headlines. We want to take 5 minutes of your time to make that happen and give Direct Support Professionals some recognition.
Learning how to make breakfast. Learning how to do something new. Finding the confidence to be a part of a community. Having a challenging day and knowing someone has your back every step of the way.
These moments all seem small, but they ultimately represent independence and belonging.
For these moments, we can thank Direct Support Professionals, or DSPs.
This is DSP Appreciation Week. A time for us as a community to celebrate the people who show up every day to support people with disabilities as they pursue their goals and build lives that are meaningful to them.
What Does a Direct Support Professional Do?
Being a DSP goes beyond helping someone get through their daily routine.
DSPs build relationships. They listen and advocate for the people they support, and help navigate challenges so participants can stay involved in their communities and work toward goals that are important to them.
Most importantly, DSPs recognize that the people they support are not defined by their disabilities.
The role of a DSP is not to decide what someone’s life should look like, but to provide the support that helps that person pursue the life they want. And sometimes, that support can make a lifetime impact.
The Need Behind the Work
Communities across Oregon and the country still need more Direct Support Professionals. When there aren’t enough people to provide support, opportunities can become few and far between. Families may carry more responsibility, and community participation can become more difficult.
This is why the need for DSPs is bigger than filling a position. A community cannot create genuine belonging if some of its members are left without the support necessary to participate.
That is why we call DSPs the heart of the community.
They celebrate progress, including the progress that others might never notice. And they help create the opportunities for people to build lives on their own terms.
DSP Appreciation
For the right person, becoming a DSP is an opportunity to support someone’s goals and see firsthand how seemingly small moments can create life-changing impact.
This DSP Appreciation Week, Garten acknowledges those who make those moments possible every day.
But we’re also asking our community to look around and consider something simple: How can you support?
Because every person deserves the opportunity to belong. And sometimes, making that possible starts with one person choosing to show up.
Garten is not the only nonprofit providing DSP Services in Salem and Marion County. We’d like to acknowledge and encourage everyone to explore the following organizations and thank them for their contribution to a more inclusive community.
Premier Community Supports LLC
Community Access Services (CAS)
Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU) — Oregon State-Operated Group Homes
Catholic Community Services of the Mid-Willamette Valley (CCS)
Integrated Services Network (ISN)
Resource Connections of Oregon (RCO)
Marion County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP)
NorthWest Senior & Disability Services (NWSDS)
