Watch part one (above) to hear the first part of Tracy’s testimony, and part two to hear about the changes she would like to see.
What do you do when you get a call from the executive director of the DCA asking you to go to Washington, D.C. to tell the people at an Institute of Medicine symposium what it’s like to be a direct care worker?
You panic for a second. You think: “Why me? What would I say?”
Then you take a deep breath to calm your nerves and think: “Why not me? I am the expert in direct care, and people need to hear the voice of the worker if we are ever going to change things.”
I told Leonila I would be happy to speak to the group. Then I panicked again and waited for a call from Elise, the DCA’s communications director. After our conversation, I felt much better. I went home that evening and wrote out my testimony. (PDF) I worked with Elise and she helped me make it as powerful as I could.
Then we had a call with the people from the Institute of Medicine and I found out that I had to cut parts of my testimony, since it was 20 minutes long and it needed to be closer to 10. (And here I’d thought I wouldn’t have enough to say.)
Cutting the testimony was really hard for me to do because I felt it was all important, but we finally figured it out. Once I came up with my final version, I practiced, practiced, practiced.
The next nervewracking challenge I conquered was traveling alone. I have flown before, but never alone. But I did fine. When we got into DC, I could see the white capitol dome in the distance. It kept getting closer until we pulled up to the hotel and I was within walking distance of the capitol. WOW!
Thursday morning I was nervous, but everyone tells me a little nerves are okay. Everyone was very nice and was happy that I was there. As the time drew near for my testimony, I started to have an “I am just a CNA” moment. The moderator for my session asked what was wrong. When I told her, she reassured me that these people wanted and needed to hear what I had to say. That helped calm my nerves.
The funny thing is, I felt okay once I started speaking. As I looked out to the audience I could see that they were really listening to what I had to say. That made it even easier.
After I was done, I had many people come up and tell me they were close to tears and I gave a very powerful testimony.
If we want to make a difference, we need more direct care workers to step forward and become advocates for themselves. Any time one of us can tell our own story, it is much more powerful than having someone else talk about us. Look at me, a direct care worker from Wisconsin. I was able to tell people who can change things what I think needs to be changed. If you are asked to speak up, please step out of your comfort zone and take the chance.
This has been a great learning and growing experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I hope I made a difference.
Tracy Dudzinski
Board member, Direct Care Alliance
Update: You can read about Tracy’s testimony on the PHI blog
I was in the audience for Tracy’s speech.
She was powerful and moving
It was a wonderful opportunity for all those physicians, nurses, social workers and policy experts to hear about direct care work and to learn to RESPECT the skill, hard work and compassion shown by direct care workers. Thank you, Tracy, for the courage to do this. And thank you for bringing your leadership and expertise to the Direct Care Alliance board. Way to go, Tracy!
Tracy, your testimony tells us in moving words the altruism, generosity and unique talent that direct care workers possess. You clearly show that being a direct care worker is a job that calls for unique individuals and that it is about relationships. Policy makers forget how important and unique this job is, but with your testimony reminds us all and you help us understand. Thank you
Thank you, indeed. What a difficult and frightening project to undertake. Well done.
Tracy is a great inspiration to me and a model of the ideal direct care worker. I have known her since attending the Voices Institute, which was held by the Direct Care Alliance last year. Her story, told at the IOM Symposium, highlights the inherent dignity in direct care work. Bravo, Tracy!!
Tracy,
Your powerful, provocative testimony creates a compelling story about the roles and responsibilities of direct care workers. Your voice represents the voices of direct care workers and of the recipients of the compassionate care. Do continue to speak, to teach and to reach. You are a magnificent leader and advocate. Thank you!
Dear Tracy,
Your journey into caregiving and the passion which you put into the profession are inspiring. Thank you for giving a voice and a face to the thousands of direct care givers across the country. Please keep speaking up!