Will there be a direct support professional for me? Looking at what motivates DSPs

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are people who work directly with people who have developmental disabilities with the aim of assisting the individual to become integrated into his/her community or the least restrictive environment. A DSP is a person who assists an individual with a developmental and/or a mental disability to lead a self-directed life and contribute to the community, assists with activities of daily living if needed, and encourages attitudes and behaviors that enhance community inclusion. A DSP may provide supports to a person with a disability at home, work, school, church, and other community places. A DSP also acts as an advocate for the disabled individual, in communicating their needs, self-expression and goals. Social Workers need to understand why individuals work with this population and why they may see it as a temporary position. Nonprofits can enhance recruitment and retention of DSPs, so they can assist the individuals with developmental disabilities make long-term relationships with DSPs. The goal of this research project is to find out what motivates DSPs to work with individuals with developmental disabilities. This research explores why DSPs are currently working with this particular population and what motivates DSPs to continue to work in this profession. The research questions examined were; what makes individuals decide on being DSP? Do they intend on continuing to work as a DSP? Do they perceive a DSP as a temporary position? Fifty paper-based self-administered surveys were distributed to current and past DSPs. Twenty-one surveys were returned. When asked to identify their first and second statement/issue that matters most to employees about their employer and job, participants identified the number one statements/issues for them as employees to be: work for a cause I believe in (19%), the second was a combination of several statements all at 9.5%; work for a cause I believe in; access to skills building/trainings; career advancement within agency; work independently; caring work environment; co-workers who care about each other as people. Participants in this study exhibited high intrinsic motivational factors, which will assist employers in the hiring process and improving retention.