In an op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the state director of The Arc Wisconsin addressed the brutal attack on a Chicago teenager with disabilities and urged that it not… Read more

In October, disability advocates and allies across the U.S. celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, supported by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). DirectCourse and the Institute for Community Inclusion… Read more

In her recent novel, “small great things,” author Jodi Picoult addressed the difference between equality and equity. As one of the author’s character explained it: “Equality is treating everyone the… Read more

October was anti-bullying month, so naturally we at DirectCourse thought this would be a good time to talk about this issue, and how it may affect people with disabilities. Research… Read more

Direct service professionals are an often-overlooked specialty in need of tolerant, good-natured workers; those who can provide the delicate care needed to keep up with the various challenges that are… Read more

As we grow older, the tendency to rely only on ourselves is not unusual; however, doing so to the point of isolation can be detrimental to our health, especially when… Read more

EPM Redesigned Home Page Coming Soon! As part of the ongoing improvement of our products, we are pleased to announce that we will soon launch a new homepage for Elsevier… Read more

  There’s no love like a dogs love. As man’s best friend, dogs have that unique gift to make you feel loved and cherished. They also, as researchers say, have… Read more

Last month marked the 26th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by President H.W. Bush in 1990. A law that ensured that people with disabilities… Read more

Every day, billions of emojis are sent back and forth on social media applications and have come to play a quite significant role in the world of text communication. There has been… Read more

According to Disability Scoop, an estimated 50,000 students with autism graduate from high school each year, entering into the scary realm of adulthood. However, now that they are adults and… Read more

College of Direct Support Updates Several media have been updated to current courses. Some of these include: Cerebral Palsy Depression Diabetes Supporting Healthy Lives …and others Resource Center Reminder: The Elsevier… Read more

Diverse board represents broad variety of provider agency, research and quality entities Philadelphia, PA, June 2, 2016 – Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and… Read more

Low wages are a challenge that’s all too familiar for the nation’s direct support workforce, and in Ohio in particular, it’s a problem that is not being overlooked. According to… Read more

According to UN Women, approximately 10% of the world’s population lives with a disability (about 650 million people) and those with disabilities are often among the most marginalized group in… Read more

‘No Wrong Door’ system offers better way to navigate access to long-term services and support Philadelphia, PA, June 6, 2016 – Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical… Read more

New initiative designed to boost quality of care, improve patient outcomes Three North Carolina specialty Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) have come together to launch a one-of-a-kind workforce development initiative… Read more

An innovative fellowship in Massachusetts is helping parents, employers, and state legislators to support and empower people with autism. Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC), a legal advocacy organization, created the… Read more

In 1990, the United Nations General Assembly declared that October 1st would be designated “International Day of Older Persons.” In an attempt to meet the guiding principle of “Leaving No-One… Read more

Tragedy struck this September in rural Lake County, California, when wildfires tore through neighborhoods, destroying property and taking lives. In this community, where nearly 20% of the residents are over… Read more

When visiting major cities, mobility in public space is often an issue for people with disabilities. Are there working elevators or lifts in the subways and buses? Especially in East… Read more

To register and learn more about the ACRE supplement: https://www.communityinclusion.org/cesacre/   After a rigorous review process that took nearly a year, The Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) has approved the… Read more

NEW Courses Now Available! We have released two new courses, one in College of Employment Services and the other in College of Recovery and Community Inclusion. Customers of the applicable… Read more

Upcoming Therap Conferences Therap Services, LLC. is a web-based service organization that provides an integrated solution for documentation, reporting and communication needs of agencies providing support to people with developmental… Read more

The community mental health field has a long history of trying to meet the needs of people with serious mental health conditions and in trying to help them become active… Read more

As the nation celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its many successes, it’s a good time to examine how far we’ve come as a nation in ensuring the… Read more

This past February, The Arc of Minnesota partnered with the University of Minnesota and DirectCourse to make four online curricula available to Minnesota families and people with disabilities absolutely free. The Arc… Read more

As part of the ongoing recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA), a reception was held at the White House this past July. Among the guests was Alice… Read more

This past May, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) held its first Annual Meeting & Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Titled “The First One”, in anticipation of many such… Read more

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, over one billion people on Earth have some form of disability. If you have a disability, know or work with someone with… Read more

In today’s challenging job market, finding opportunities for people with disabilities often seems like an uphill battle. However, job professionals may want to consider another option when helping the person… Read more

In this age of smartphones, tablets, and apps that can help a person do virtually everything, direct support professionals (DSPs) are also discovering that modern technology is helping them better… Read more

On July 26, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will turn 25 years old. One of the most groundbreaking and influential pieces of legislation in the history of this country,… Read more

If you’re an employment professional seeking new opportunities, one of the fastest growing and most rewarding fields is in rehabilitation counseling. Even more intriguing, rehab counseling is one area where… Read more

As more and more state governments work to build the necessary infrastructure to help make post-secondary education available to people with disabilities, employment professionals should be abreast with all the… Read more

As an employment professional, you know the challenges that face people with disabilities when finding employment. With unemployment rates typically in the double-digits, and with accessibility and discrimination set as two… Read more

For the last decade, Jonathan Keleher has been coming to work every morning at 9:00 on the train, settling in and going about his day as a receptionist and administrative… Read more

For students with disabilities, leaving high school can be fraught with challenges. Like most teenagers, they seek to find their way in a complex world, trying to navigate college, employment,… Read more

We had a great time at the National Council of Behavioral Health Conference this year (see the photos below for proof!). Thank you to everyone who joined our conversation about… Read more

As the need for direct service workers (DSW) increases nationwide, ensuring that they provide quality support is of paramount importance. However, for DSWs, pay has stagnated and turnover is high,… Read more

Almost two years ago, the Center for Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it was no longer going to support reimbursement for sheltered work services–settings such as workshops where all employees… Read more

This summer, DirectCourse: College of Recovery and Community Inclusion (CRCI) will launch a new course on the basics of understanding trauma. The course, Trauma Matters: Providing Trauma Informed Supports and… Read more

In a process that has taken over three decades, the United Nations has created the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), an international human rights treaty that… Read more

In a controversial decision, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon struck down a rule by the Department of Labor that would have meant that home care workers, primarily supporting older adults,… Read more

Last year, the State of Minnesota entered a contract with DirectCourse to make the College of Direct Support curriculum available to all county, tribal and Department of Human Services staff… Read more

March/April 2015 Connections Admin Corner The College of Direct Support was featured in the January 2015 issue of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) Newsletter for… Read more

DirectCourse Crosswalks to the HCBS Regulatory Requirements: College of Direct Support College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving   The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is engaged in an… Read more

As we start the New Year, the DirectCourse team has been reflecting upon a successful 2014, surrounded by friends, old and new. We invite you to share in our reflection… Read more

Mental Health Workforce Development in 2015 and Beyond Strategies to Support Change for County Level Administrators from Elsevier Clinical Solutions on Vimeo.   This past December, DirectCourse/College of Recovery and… Read more

Everybody takes a spill now and then, whether tripping on a carpet or slipping on an icy sidewalk, there are limitless ways we can fall. Stumbling now and then is… Read more

For many years now, corporations have been devising hiring strategies to attract and retain more minorities in their workforce. However, too often corporations don’t look at hiring people with disabilities… Read more

Register Today! Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies (CMS) sponsored the creation of the Road Map for Core Competencies for the Direct Service Workforce (DSW), which is to… Read more

Responding to a 2011 report by the Office of the Inspector General which revealed that nursing homes across the country were using atypical antipsychotic medications to treat residents with dementia, the… Read more

Ever since the DirectCourse/College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving (CPAC) launched in the fall of 2012, the Elsevier sales and marketing force has heard requests from clients and potential purchasers for… Read more

Finding work is one of the most challenging goals a person will face in their lifetime—not just landing a job, but one that is challenging and edifying. People with disabilities… Read more

In September, a bipartisan group of four U.S. senators announced that the groundwork had been laid for the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act to become a reality. The… Read more

As internet technology improves day-by-day, federal and state agencies are beginning to embrace online learning to streamline and improve training. This past July, the State of New Jersey decided to… Read more

According to recent statistics cited by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), persons with mental health issues and substance abuse disorders often die many years earlier than… Read more

Most home care providers understand that being adequately trained and prepared for an emergency is important. Though when we often think of hazardous weather, we may tend to imagine blizzards… Read more

As the Baby Boomer population ages and life expectancy increases, the number of individuals aged 70 and older that will be living with dementia is expected to increase dramatically in… Read more

On July 22, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), a reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act and Rehabilitation Act. For over a decade, Congress… Read more

Veterans returning from military service with disabilities often face an uphill battle when seeking employment. But as an employment specialist, you can prepare yourself to help veterans find satisfying work.… Read more

A presentation from the ICI at UMass Boston. Anya Weber shares a 7 minute presentation about why working in the community is essential for people with disabilities – and how… Read more

It goes without saying that no matter how much you enjoy your job, being paid is a primary motivator for work. Too often, supported employees who do not manage their… Read more

We all know that having a good job has a profound effect on people’s lives. However, job coaches and employment specialists can sometimes focus on getting a person hired –… Read more

This July, Elsevier launched PolicyNavigator, an efficient and flexible management tool that pairs perfectly with Elsevier Performance Manager – the platform on which most DirectCourse users access their content.  PolicyNavigator… Read more

Did you miss our webinar with Nancy Thaler?  Don’t worry – we recorded it. Check it out here: “Future Needs of Caregivers in the Home” with Nancy Thaler, Executive Director of… Read more

Since 2002, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals and the Research & Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota have been bestowing the Moving Mountains Award… Read more

Transitioning from high school and into the workplace is always a challenge. But for people with disabilities and their parents, finding work can often be even more complex. Luckily, a… Read more

As an employment specialist, you work hard to try and get the person you support into a job, keep the job, and enjoy the work with as much independence as… Read more

This past January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a press release detailing important news for seniors and people with disabilities. The Centers for Medicare &… Read more

One of the many challenges facing older people is the continuing need to stay active. Not only do many adults find themselves becoming increasingly sedentary after retirement, but a myriad… Read more

Communication is perhaps the most important element in a person’s life, not to mention in their workplace. Try to imagine being unable to communicate even your most basic needs, much… Read more

DirectCourse is proud to present the recording of its latest webinar, Future Needs of Caregivers in the Home, presented by Nancy Thaler, Executive Director of the National Association of State… Read more

In 2009, the New Jersey Direct Support Professional Workforce Development Coalition created the New Jersey Career Path for DSP’s, in order to help increase the skills of direct support professionals… Read more

Thank you to all participants in the making of our new video, which is now posted on our website: www.directcourseonline.com Ben Woodworth, Director of Training, Iowa Association of Community Providers Megan Hartwig, Technical… Read more

For over a dozen years, Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has been providing self-advocates, families and direct support staff with access to the DirectCourse/College of… Read more

We are proud to announce that Elsevier’s Customer Support Team is providing training directed to clients using DirectCourse products on a bi-monthly basis, as of this April! Please check your… Read more

Traditionally, vocational rehabilitation (VR), including job development, focused almost exclusively on serving the client with disabilities. VR counselors would assess the individual’s needs, offer training, and help the person find… Read more

A person seeking vocational rehabilitation (VR) services often has to go through a lengthy process before finding work—assessments, evaluations, and tests to ensure readiness. The VR specialist often works with… Read more

In this brief presentation, Mel Nerri, Research Associate at the Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, shares tips for Safety at Work for… Read more

According to recent data reported from the National Center on Caregiving, the numbers of individuals caring for people who are disabled, ill, or aged is in excess of 65 million.… Read more

As the nation’s mental health system undergoes enormous changes, from transition to a recovery and community inclusion model, to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (to name just a… Read more

You have questions – we have answers! Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive, as well as our responses. How are your curricula developed? Will… Read more

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies help people with disabilities to find good jobs. When these agencies were first created, their staff were expected to handle every aspect of this process. However,… Read more

Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. As these and other social media websites become more and more essential for the job search, employment professionals must be aware of the benefits—and the challenges—of these… Read more

A recent study by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt University has shown that adults with autism benefit greatly from having employment. The study included 153 adults, ages 19 to… Read more

As an employment specialist, you’re charged with finding the best possible job for the person you support. But often, people have co-occurring issues, including mental health issues, that can make… Read more

After months of concerted effort on the part of disability advocates, on August 27, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a Final Rule that changed the regulations of Section… Read more

For over a decade, mental health advocates have been arguing for the adoption of self-directed care for individuals using Medicare and Medicaid services. Furthermore, in 2003, President Bush’s New Freedom… Read more

If you enjoyed our post about informational interviews (or if you missed it!), please be sure to view this 5 minute presentation from Anya Weber, Copywriter and Editor at the… Read more

Around the United States, this winter has delivered some record snowfalls, but even a light snow can be troublesome for people with disabilities. When winter approaches, it is important that… Read more

Though the economy is improving, finding a job is often challenging. One of the first steps toward securing a rewarding job for the people you support involves connecting with the… Read more

Large or small, organizations that help improve workforce outcomes for direct support professionals (DSPs) and their employers are being sought for possible nomination for the 2014 Moving Mountains Award. The… Read more

A recent study by LifePlans, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping long-term care insurers, plans and providers, examined individuals receiving such care, to help determine the most effective ways to… Read more

When 21-year-old Army Sgt. Erik Schei was about to deploy to Iraq, he told his father that “if anything happened” to him, “pull the plug.” As with many people heading… Read more

The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 (ADA) and the Olmstead Decision in 1999 established community integration as a right of people with psychiatric disabilities.  Since then,… Read more

When trouble strikes, everyone is at a disadvantage. And with “superstorms” a year-by-year occurrence, being prepared is more important than ever. For the people you work for, the difference between… Read more

In a process that began in January 2013, the Social Security Administration (SSA) began eliminating the term “mental retardation” and replacing it with “intellectual disabilities” in its listing of impairments… Read more

Finding a good job is never easy. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), this journey may seem even more daunting—both for them, and the employment professionals who support… Read more

Each year, the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (NADD) bestows its Direct Support Professional (DSP) Award for Excellence on an individual “whose dedication, advocacy, compassion, competence, person-centered approaches and… Read more

At a recent Leadership Summit sponsored by the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), researchers from the Institute of Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Minnesota presented… Read more

When you’re supporting a job seeker to find employment, one of the first steps is to learn about the field he or she is interested in. Informational interviews are a… Read more

Thanks to cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase in 2014. COLA is engaged when inflation rises, to help cover the rise in the… Read more

Whether the economy’s soaring or times are tough, organizations are always seeking ways to cut costs and stretch their budgets whenever, and wherever, possible. With this in mind, DirectCourse has… Read more

The College of Recovery and Community Inclusion (CRCI) will be launched on October 14, bringing to community mental health practitioners a new web-based curriculum. Developed in collaboration between the Temple… Read more

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary for home health aides, or direct support professionals (DSPs), meaning those workers who provide support to people with physical… Read more

The Direct Care Alliance (DCA), a nationwide and state-based advocacy organization for direct care workers in long-term care, has recently named Carla D. Washington as its new Executive Director. DCA… Read more

The DirectCourse curricula is expanding in new and exciting ways! This summer sees the launch of the College of Recovery and Community Inclusion (CRCI), an integrated, web-based curriculum designed for… Read more

Elsevier and the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) have reached an agreement to offer the DirectCourse/College of Direct Support (CDS) online education and training to the network’s nearly 100 affiliates. The… Read more

The City University of New York (CUNY) and its School of Professional Studies (SPS) have a long-standing history of providing direct support workers with the skills and knowledge to improve… Read more

This past summer, Elsevier launched the College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving (CPAC), a new web-based curriculum designed to train and educate learners working with people with physical disabilities and… Read more

After two years in development, Elsevier will launch the College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving (CPAC) this September, thus expanding the DirectCourse curricula. This is a new web-based curriculum designed… Read more

Elsevier/DirectCourse’s College of Employment Services (CES) curriculum is now aligned with the national certification from APSE, the Association for People Supporting Employment 1st, a national organization dedicated to integrated employment… Read more

Elsevier is pleased to announce that it has engaged in a partnership with the Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE.) All registered members of APSE are eligibile for a… Read more

This February the National Council on Disabilities (NCD) issued a report, CMS Managed Care NCD Recommendations, examining the increased financial burden that state governments face when addressing managed care for… Read more

Elsevier, a global leader in medical and health information, continues to find ways to make its DirectCourse online curriculum even more accessible to its learning community. We have successfully launched… Read more

DirectCourse…online curricula for life in community A decade ago the College of Direct Support (CDS) online curriculum was a vision fast becoming reality. Its founder Bill Tapp, DirectCourse Vice President,… Read more

The newly designed DirectCourse website, that embraces new branding, was released November 2011. The website that is optimized for organize web searches enables existing and prospective customers and visitors to… Read more

ATLANTA, November 30, 2011 — DirectCourse is anchored by the renowned College of Direct Support (CDS), plus the addition of the College of Employment Services. Elsevier, a world-leading provider of… Read more

If the three most important factors in real estate are location, location, location, then the three most important factors in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities must be inclusion,… Read more

The College of Employment Services (CES), Elsevier’s second online training curriculum in its new DirectCourse overbrand developed by the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at University of Massachusetts Boston, will… Read more

The Emory Valley Center (EVC) began using the College of Direct Support (CDS) online learning in 2008 and our staff, unaccustomed to computer-based training, responded quite well! How well? EVC… Read more

Though it will never be enough, I like the fact that as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) I am a part of opening more doors for the people we serve,”… Read more

AbilityFirst’s partnership with the College of Direct Support (CDS) has had a positive impact on our organization, an impact that can be seen and felt when someone walks into any… Read more

New Horizons Resources, Inc. (NHR) is a not-for-profit agency providing supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State. Our mission is… Read more

Nominations are now being accepted for the prestigious 2012 Moving Mountains Awards that recognize and honor organizations using best practices in direct support staff workforce development. The deadline for nominations… Read more

The partnership between OHI in Maine and Elsevier/College of Direct Support (CDS) began in March 2010. Bonnie-Jean Brooks, the founder and CEO of this 33-year-old agency says, “CDS completely changed… Read more

The University of Minnesota’s Research and Training Center of Community Living, authors of the College Of Direct Support curriculum and Elsevier are pleased to announce the release of a new… Read more

Elsevier’s product line of online training curricula under the brand of DirectCourse will officially launch in November, along with the introduction of its second curriculum – the College of Employment… Read more

Elsevier Performance Manager: Featuring Content Elsevier Performance Manager: Core Development is an online education and performance management solution that offers administrators, such as you, tools needed to better manage, develop… Read more

Written by Tom King Her powerful words quickly convey why Gina Bartlow is the 2011 ANCOR Direct Support Professional (DSP) of the Year. “I am an ordinary person doing an… Read more

Koinonia Homes Inc., (Koinonia) has signed a three-year contract with Elsevier/College of Direct Support (CDS) to use the College of Direct Support online curriculum and Elsevier’s Performance Manager for staff… Read more

Dr. K. Charlie Lakin, for 22 years the Director of the Institute on Community Integration’s Research and Training Center (RTC) on Community Living at the University of Minnesota and a… Read more