DSPAM Event Celebrates Direct Support Professionals in Minnesota

Muhannah S. Kakish

You know how usually you get a sponsor and then create an event? Well, we created an event and then got the sponsor.

On September 13, DSPAM (Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota) is commemorating National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week with a special day for direct support professionals (DSPs). That’s the term NADSP uses for the personal care assistants, personal attendants, in-home support workers, and other direct care workers who provide support for people with disabilities.

We started out planning to just having a picnic. Then the DCA gave DSPAM some incentive money to seed a grassroots fundraising effort, and we started to think bigger. Our idea grew into Making Changes Together (PDF), which is a full-fledged event with catered picnic food, beverages, door prizes, games for the kids, and entertainment – all free for direct support workers and their friends and families. We’ll also have free haircuts, mani-pedis, makeovers, and massages, because DSPs work so much and we wanted to do something for them. And we’ll be giving out the DSP Choice Awards (PDF) to honor five outstanding direct support workers.

My main goal is having DSPs recognized as a profession. Most professions know how to advocate for themselves, but we DSPs do not. I also want to make the public aware of the support we provide to people with disabilities and the relationships we develop with them. People say, “You people are no more than glorified babysitters,” or “You’re good people for doing this.” But we’re a lot more than just babysitters. And this work is not about being a good person; it’s about being a competent and giving professional.

As you know, there have been cutbacks in Minnesota this year for personal care work. That’s been a real blow, but in a way I see it as a blessing in disguise. We DSPs used to always assume our employers would take care of things like wages and benefits, but now people see they can’t just wait for their employers to do something because the employers couldn’t stop the cuts either. The only way change can happen now in public policy is through the voice of us DSPs. I truly believe that.

Once we came up with the plan for this event, my colleague Colleen Timbers and I put together a letter asking people to help sponsor it. We sent it to lots of organizations, telling them this was a way they could honor their DSPs. Even in these difficult times, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity people showed to make this a successful event.

We received $5,650 from about a dozen organizations, mostly direct support organizations and places that employ people with disabilities. Some of them are places that you would never think would give. We also got a lot of in-kind donations: a cake, signage, centerpieces, etc. We’re listing our sponsors on all our materials at the event and everything we’re sending out to publicize it. But they’re mostly doing it to show their support. It’s awesome to see so many people saying, “Yes, we want to recognize DSPs for their hard work.”

We’re also using the event as a membership drive. It will only cost $10 to join DSPAM that day, half the usual price. And they won’t just become members of DSPAM. They’ll also become members of NADSP (National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals) and the DCA, which is a big draw.

Making Change Together will give DSPs a chance to talk to other DSPs. We don’t get that a lot. Usually, DSPs just talk to people who work for the same employer, but at this event DSPs from all over can get together and talk about what it takes to provide quality care – or whatever they want.

There’s a stir in the air. A lot of providers have heard of DSPAM as a result of our marketing of this event. I think this will allow for a bigger event next year, maybe a conference. And I believe it will be the catalyst for change in the DSP world, for DSPs to have their voices heard.

Bridget Siljander, the president of DSPAM, has worked so hard on this. She’s been an incredible leader. I wouldn’t be able to do this if I didn’t talk to her and get her ideas and her ‘This is great’ and ‘Run with it’ enthusiasm. It’s been so inspiring. Without that support, DSPs so often feel like they’re at a dead end.

The DCA wants DSPs to be recognized as professionals as badly as we do. And it’s going to happen. I know it’s going to happen.

Muhannah S. Kakish
Board Treasurer
Direct Support Professional Association of Minnesota