In training, workshops and less formal discussions it is important to get staff talking and really listen to what they have to say about their experiences doing important work.
I wrote the following papers to be used as conversation starters for groups of direct support professionals.
Shoulder to Shoulder: Celebrating the Important Work of Direct Support Workers (.pdf)
This article was based on a talk given at the Full Lives Direct Support Conference in Anchorage, Alaska in 2003. It is a result of listening to what direct support staff say about what is important to them and what keeps them engaged in their work, and one organization's commitment to change. It was published in 2004 by American Association on Mental Retardation in the journal
MR.
