Direct Support Professionals
The Direct Support Professional
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are people "whose job responsibility is to provide support, training, supervision, and personal assistance to people with disabilities" (Larson & Hewitt, 2005).
Indiana Administrative Code 460 (Article 6 http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/iac_title?iact=460) states that a direct support professional "means a person, or an agent or employee of a provider entity, who provides hands-on services to an individual while providing any of the following services:
(1) Adult day services.
(2) Adult foster care services.
(3) Community-based sheltered employment services.
(4) Community education and therapeutic activities services.
(5) Community habilitation and participation services.
(6) Facility-based sheltered employment services.
(7) Prevocational services.
(8) Residential habilitation and support services.
(9) Respite care services.
(10) Supported employment services.
(11) Transportation services.
(12) Children’s foster care services.
(13) Independence assistance services.
(Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services; 460 IAC 6-3-18; filed Nov 4, 2002, 12:04 p.m.: 26 IR 751; filed Aug 29, 2003,
10:30 a.m.: 27 IR 102)
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Who is the NADSP?
The NADSP is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to strengthening the quality of human service support by strengthening the direct support workforce. The group has representatives from the fields of mental health, developmental disabilities, child welfare, education, and many others in the human services community.
"Making a world of difference in people's lives" NADSP LINK
Direct Support Workforce Development
Publications & Products- The Research and Training Center on Community Living RTC LINK
You Need To Know Me: I am a Direct Support Professional
http://www.youneedtoknowme.org/
Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute: Quality Care Through Quality Jobs
http://phinational.org/
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INTrain Newsletter - Spring 2008
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/training/newsletter/INTraiNewsletter_spring2008.pdf?id=9905
Additional information:
REGIONAL TRAINING COORDINATORS
Kristi McCann, P.H.R., M.S.M.
Email: ksmccann@indiana.edu
Ron Smith, M.S.W.
Email: ronsmith@indiana.edu
Marcy Thompson, M.Ed.
Email: mlthomp@indiana.edu
Phone: (812) 855-6508
TTY: (812) 855-9396
Fax: (812) 855-9630
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