Disability Support Worker Professional

Sometimes when we think of a ‘professional’ we think of athletes, doctors, lawyers etc. but we did not think that Disability Support worker are also professional” (Saskatchewan Polytechnic, SPSY 287, 2016 p. 1). As a Disability Support Worker, there are much knowledge, many skills and characteristics that we possess as unique in this profession. This paper outlines how to be “professional” in this field. It also argues that a coat and tie does not make us professional. There are a lot of more things behind us which we cannot see from our own perspective so we need to learn how to see ourselves from another perspective to be in a professional manner. As a professional, we have a better understanding to look for errors that we made and realize

P. Values are important and lifetime beliefs that greatly influence our behavior and attitude (SPSY 185, 2016). “NADSP (National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals) defines values as a professional who have values, skills and knowledge that constitute a unique and important profession” (NADSP Code of ethics, 2016). “As a DSP it is very important to examine one’s own values and attitudes as well as how they might factor in to the relationship with the individual that they are supporting” (SPSY 287, 2016 p: 19). “Our values and attitudes are extremely important factors given the type of work that is required in the human service field” (SPSY 287, 2016 p: 19). Professionals work closely with individuals to value them and spending time with individual. Therefore, it is the best way to learn about individual values and beliefs. Often professionals have hard time to label people, we as a DSP’s must think that the people who we are supporting are same as “we”. Being a successful DSP’s, we must need to have greater knowledge and positive influence when it comes to help people with disabilities. To become successful, we must need to look for changes in people’ lives and their past experience by asking them or by being empathy. There has not been a lot of changes in people with disabilities lives so as a DSP’s professional, we believe that we need to bring out our skills, abilities and