How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted direct support professionals across the United States?
Loading...
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted direct support professionals across the United States?
Published Date
2022
Publisher
Type
Presentation
Abstract
In March 2020, many businesses, schools, and organizations supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) closed their doors or changed how they operated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Direct support professionals (DSPs) continued to work but in different ways or different places. DSPs are interdisciplinary professionals who provide complex and essential supports to individuals with IDD, making community inclusion a reality. Many stories emerged of the significant challenges in providing supports safely to individuals with IDD during the pandemic. Staff from the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals knew it was important to hear directly from DSPs and frontline supervisors about their experiences. In response, we developed a series of three surveys that were completed by over 18,000 respondents from across the country. The findings from these surveys provide critical information about DSP experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, DSP experiences are informing effective policy and practice decisions about what is needed. These findings help better prepare for potential future waves of this or other pandemics. Key findings will be presented as well as highlighting responsive outreach activities.
Description
PI on the featured project is Dr. Amy Hewitt, Institute on Community Integration
Related to
Replaces
License
Collections
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Grant #90RTCP0003 to the Research and Training Center for Community Living from the National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Grant #90DDUC0070 to the University Center of Excellence
in Developmental Disabilities from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (DHHS-ACL), AOD Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities University Centers. Grantees undertaking government-sponsored projects are encouraged to freely express their findings and conclusions. Therefore, points of view or opinions do not necessarily represent official NIDILRR or DHHS-ACL policy.
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Suggested citation
Kramme, Julie; Pettingell, Sandra; Bershadsky, Julie; Hewitt, Amy; Smith, Jerry. (2022). How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted direct support professionals across the United States?. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/226759.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.