Resources

Articles

Equity, Equality, and Inclusion
The difference between equality and equity is a concept that recently has seen a resurgence in interest and one closely tied to the greater issue of community inclusion for people with disabilities.

The “Dual-Customer” Approach is Changing Vocational Rehabilitation
In recent years, some states have recognized the value of seeing the employer as a customer, as much as the person with a disability. This is called the “dual-customer” approach.

Testimonials

Success Snapshot: State of New Jersey Career Path and DirectCourse
Read how DirectCourse online training program helped the state of New Jersey implement skill and competency development opportunities that aligned with a career pathway for Direct Support Professionals.

Success Snapshot: State of Minnesota and DirectCourse
Read how the partnership between Minnesota DHS and DirectCourse was formed to advance the statewide commitment that Minnesotans with disabilities have choices about their community settings and where they live.

Success Snapshot: State of Mississippi and DirectCourse
Read how the Arc of Mississippi implemented DirectCourse statewide to provide the Direct Support and Direct Care workforce with easy access to training to help enhance their practical skills and professionalism while decreasing training costs and standardizing quality.

Success Snapshot: Community Options, Inc. and DirectCourse
Read why Community Options selected DirectCourse and its College of Direct Support (CDS) to provide high quality training to meet all the requirements across states.

DSP Visibility

The below resources and events are intended to further increase public visibility, stature and respect for the direct support workforce and the capabilities that people with disabilities bring to our communities, employers and economy.           

Insights into the Direct Support Professional (DSP) Workforce

Community Supports in Crisis: No Staff, No Services

For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their loved ones, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the heart and soul of IDD services.

This white paper from the DirectCourse curriculum developers at the UMN Institute on Community Integration and its partners at Human Services Research Institute and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services can help you learn more about the nature and breadth of settings where DSPs work, drivers and impact of the DSP crisis, and what we need to do now.   

DSP COVID-19 Survey Results

Read UMN’s findings on their initial DSP survey, as well as their follow-up 6-month and 12-month surveys on how COVID-19 impacted their role. Another update to this survey is forthcoming and the results will be posted here and on the DirectCourse Facebook page.

Letter to the U.S. President to Support the DSP Workforce

Check out this full report to the president of the United States about the state of the direct support workforce and outlining recommendations for systems-change!

Amy Hewitt, founder of DirectCourse training and Director of the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration was a major contributor to this U.S. President Report, contributing her decades long research and recommendations for federal acknowledgement and support of Direct Support Professionals!