Hear Me, A DSP
Quotes taken from interviews with Hoosier DSP's in desperate need of a wage rate increase.
DSP: Direct Support Professionals
SIPN DSP's provide services to individuals with disabilities as well as people with social, personal, economic or other challenges in Indiana. The average DSP worker is a single mother, age 35 with 2 children.
A DSP's Responsibilities:
- Provide instruction and training in a variety of life skills, such as: meal preparation, safety, relationship-building, etc.
- Attend to daily self-care needs (i.e. feeding, toileting, etc) in a way that signifies respect and dignity.
- Assist in maintaining a clean environment, sanitize, complete detailed cleaning and perform those tasks beyond the individual’s ability to complete.
- Provide transportation to and from community activities.
- Instruct workplace skills such as: work place behavior, task completion and attendance.
- Ensure individuals receive necessary benefits such as food stamps, housing assistance and social security.
- Document any schedule of medication administration to include monitoring of side effects if required.
- Assist with scheduling and running medical appointments.
