Description

Joseph Macbeth is the President and CEO for the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). He has been working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1983. Macbeth is recognized as an international leader in the advocacy movement to recognize direct support work as a profession. In 2022, he was awarded the Service to the Field Award from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. President Biden appointed him to a two-year term as a member of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

In this episode of DSP Talk, host Gina Scarpa interviews Joseph Macbeth, the President and CEO of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). Macbeth shares his insights on the origins of direct support work, the shift from institutional care to community-based support, and the evolving role of direct support professionals (DSPs) in people's lives. He emphasizes the importance of DSPs in helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live fulfilling lives and become valued members of their communities. Macbeth also discusses the need for recognition of DSPs as professionals and the challenges they face, including low wages and inadequate training. He highlights the opportunity presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to advocate for better support and career opportunities for DSPs.

Key Takeaways:

• Direct support professionals (DSPs) assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in realizing their full potential and becoming valued members of their communities.
• The origins of direct support work can be traced back to the closure of large public institutions in the 1970s, which led to the opening of group homes and community-based support.
• DSPs play a crucial role in supporting individuals with disabilities in various settings, including residential, day programs, employment, and self-directed services.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the essential nature of DSPs and the need for better recognition, wages, training, and career opportunities in the field.
• Advocacy efforts are underway to secure professional identity for DSPs through standardized occupational classification and to improve the overall perception and compensation for the profession.

Notable Quotes:

• "Being a direct support professional was the most challenging job I have ever had. It was the most energizing job I ever had." - Joseph Macbeth
• "Direct support professionals are ultimately seen as ambassadors or mentors or coaches to the people that they support, walking side by side on their own life's journey." - Joseph Macbeth
• "Our job is to get out of the way, help people build those relationships, help people contribute to their communities, and then fade away and be there if you need us." - Joseph Macbeth

Resources:

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) 

Thank you for listening to this episode of DSP Talk. To gain more insights into the world of direct support professionals and disability support, be sure to listen to the full episode. Stay tuned for more inspiring content from DSP Talk.

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