Resident Among 1st with Direct Support Professional Credential

Brookhaven resident Gloria Prott has learned how to juggle her life. She works the overnight awake shift as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at YAI’s Holbrook Residence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But when she was asked to participate in a Long Island DSP Credentialing Pilot Program, it changed not only her sleep pattern, but also her outlook on her career at YAI and the people she supports.

“I remember sitting at the computer at 3 a.m. and thinking, ‘Wow, I didn’t know that,’” Gloria said.

Today Gloria is the first DSP in the YAI Network and among the first in New York State and Long Island to earn her credential. It wasn’t easy, said the 15-year YAI veteran. YAI is a network of agencies offering children and adults with disabilities a comprehensive range of supports.

The program, supported by the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals and OPWDD's Regional Workforce Transformation initiative on Long Island, took over a year and required completing 120 online courses, meeting regularly for months with her mentor and other DSPs in the program, and writing an 80-page portfolio demonstrating her knowledge of the curriculum and how she applied it on the job.

Making an Impact

“Gloria came up with the projects (detailed in her portfolio) that would have the largest impact on the people in her program,” said Pam Wolff, Assistant Director of YAI’s Long Island Services.

To demonstrate how she supports people in growing more independent, she worked with Michael on teaching him to grocery shop. His goal is to live in an apartment. Gloria and Michael read grocery circulars, clipped coupons and put together shopping lists. With her support, he learned the layout of the store and how to handle money. Over the course of three months, they shopped together. “Now he’s able to do most of it independently,” Gloria said. “I was surprised how quickly he picked it up.”

Loading the dishwasher was one woman’s goal so she could be more independent and helpful in the home. Three mornings each week for over three months, Gloria would clean out the refrigerator and create dirty dishes. She put together a checklist with pictures along with step-by-step instructions.

Staff Training

She developed a training for staff on the importance of documentation in log notes. Gloria asks: “If you never worked in this house before, what notes would give you a better idea of what happened during the previous shift?” Details provide a full picture, she said.

“As Gloria’s mentor, I had the opportunity to see her grow personally and professionally,” said Denise Anghel, YAI’s Regional System Coordinator for Long Island. “It was truly exciting to be a part of this new endeavor to professionalize the role of DSPs and enhance the ways we support people.”

For more information about services available and jobs at YAI, visit https://www.yai.org/.