Thank you to all of our Direct Support Professionals (DSP’s) for all that you do!  We recognize all of your hard work and the skills necessary for you to do your job.  DSP's have the most impact on those individuals we serve! 

In an effort to continue this recognition, we plan on spotlighting a Direct Support Professional of the Month ... every month!

AUGUST 2018's DSP ...  

Marie Farmer

Marie does an excellent job working as a Direct Support Professional! She takes both of her individuals out into the community to volunteer and shop, among many other activities. Marie exhibits professionalism when dealing with challenging behaviors. One of the individuals Marie works with has a hard time expressing himself and she has taught him how to communicate verbally and through sign language! Marie uses sign language as a way of enhancing and supporting his verbal skills, which have increased since she began teaching him!

Core Competencies: Professionalism, Getting into the Community, Putting People First

JULY 2018's DSP ...  

Brenda Sanford

Brenda is a wonderful example of the core competency of 'Putting people First'. She is incredibly dedicated to her individual and ensures that they engage in activities of their choosing. Brenda demonstrates patience, care, and creativity in the way she helps her individual reach their personal goals. It is clear how much Brenda cares about her individual and helping them discover new interests and strengthen their skills.

Core Competency: Putting People First

JUNE 2018's DSP ... Beth Cole "Beth is here for our individuals first and foremost. Working at DPAO is not just a job for her. As much as she cares for every individual, they reciprocate that back to her three times as much! Don’t try to pick on her because DPAO’s participants will come for you! It is an on-going joke with some of us, but it really shows that they love her dearly. “Don’t mess with my Beth” is heard often in the office. When Beth brings the individuals in to drop off the mail or get soda, she always tells them to keep their voices down in case we are on the phone. If we are having a meeting, she makes sure they enter quietly. Until one of us gets them excited, then she might as well throw in the towel! When they are with her, she ensures they use manners, behave appropriately, and gets them involved with whatever task they are sent over to do. Beth puts all 7 core competencies in action daily!" ~ DPAO Employee                                                                                                                           Core Competencies: Putting People First, Maintaining Positive Relationships

MAY 2018's DSP ...

Nicole Bachner

“I would like to nominate Nicole Bachner. She works with an individual who I am friends with. I am over protective and worry about him and Nicole goes above and beyond to ensure he is comfortable and taken care of. She always makes sure that his needs are met. When he was hospitalized in Syracuse she visited him on her own time. On New Year’s Eve he really wanted to go out to celebrate but due to the impending inclement weather this was not advisable. Nicole went the day before New Year’s and brought party hats and pizza to celebrate with him. It is DSP’s like her who make our individuals happy and content. She is caring, responsible and dependable!”

~DPAO Employee 

Core Competency: Putting People First

APRIL 2018's DSP ...

Terri Fulmer

It goes without saying that Terri goes above and beyond for the individuals she works with.  Recently at the Chili Cook-Off, Terri participated with a group of our individuals and did a great job with them.  A lot of people were approaching Terri, saying hello and telling her how much they have missed her.  Terri puts so much time and effort into her position and is greatly appreciated by many!

Core Competencies: Building & Maintaining Positive Relationships, Get into the Community, Putting People First

MARCH 2018's DSP ...

JoAnn Kirk

JoAnn attends different functions with her individual such as Religious Education Thanksgiving dinner which allows the individual to maintain positive relationships with friends and teachers. JoAnn also keeps a schedule with her individual which includes going to the gym and preparing healthy meals for the week to maintain good health.  Both of the individuals that work with JoAnn are always eager to spend time with her.  The bond that they have formed over the years is admirable!

Core Competencies: Building & Maintaining Positive Relationships, Supporting Good Health

FEBRUARY 2018's DSP ...

Yvonne Albertson

Yvonne demonstrates professionalism, supports safety, builds and maintains positive relationships and puts our individuals’ needs first! Recently Yvonne was involved in an accident where she and six individuals were passengers in an agency van. Yvonne remained calm and focused on the individuals’ needs, keeping them safe and reassuring them that everything was going to be ok! Yvonne stepped up when she needed to and not only supported our individuals but also the staff who was driving. This is just one of the many examples why Yvonne is named DSP of the month. Yvonne’s team leader is proud to have her as a staff member!

Core Competency: Safety

JANUARY 2018's DSP ...

Carole Sutherland

(Carole Sutherland is NOT a pit bull but she loves them!)

"When I first started back in July I only had a little bit of experience working with disabled people. My manager put me on the 4:30 to midnight shift where I've had the pleasure of working with Carole Sutherland. Although she is only a part time employee at Free Standing Respite, I would like to nominate her to be the DSP of the month for January. She meets all of the core competencies and much more. She always puts everyone's needs before her own, consumers and staff. She had taught me so much in the past couple of months, I couldn't ask for a better mentor. She is very kind and passionate about her work. She seems to know how to handle any situation that is thrown her way. She is constantly building, maintaining AND improving positive relationships with consumers and their caregivers as well. She is a role model not only for consumers but for staff and caregivers as well, demonstrating and supporting ALL 7 of the competency goals. I've learned so much from Carole and I really hope you would consider her for January's DSP of the month. She deserves it for all of the hard work she does for the consumers, caregivers, staff and the agency as a whole."

~DPAO Employee

Core Competency: Putting People First

Kelley supports the individuals’ interests and encourages them every step of the way!  One individual won a photography contest two years in a row, in which Kelley helped her enter!  Kelley continues to think outside the box when working with the individuals she supports.  It remains very apparent that thought is put in to the activities while (and most importantly) keeping their interests in mind!

A recent survey report by the Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College on behalf of the Disabled Persons Action Organization (DPAO) concludes that the DPAO Summer Concert Series was responsible for a positive financial impact of over $10 Million Dollars in the region over the past five years!

The report specifically identified the following impacts the Concert Series had had on the greater Watertown region.

• Over the past 5 years (2012-2016) an annual average of 9722 people attended a DPAO concert
• The estimated economic impact for this five year period is $10,204,311
• 16.2 jobs as an average are created annually by the DPAO Summer Concert Series-for every 1000 attendees 2.52 jobs are created in the community

In addition the report in part considers the results of customer intercept studies taken through-out the 2016 DPAO concert series.

• Over 11% of the attendees traveled from outside the area and stayed overnight in the region
• 95 % of those concert attendee’s surveyed viewed the DPAO Summer Concert Series as a valuable addition to the quality of life in the community
• Data from the past five years indicates each attendee had a direct and indirect economic impact to the community of $212.76 per concert event

Another interesting fact is that almost 84% of concert attendee’s plan on going to future DPAO Concerts and will also recommend them to others.

This study is the most detailed statistical look at data at this particular group of people in our community and it offers value to other businesses besides DPAO as well as public officials and regional economic developers. The success of the Summer Concert Series over the past 40 years can be attributed to our concert goers and loyal sponsors.

The proceeds from the DPAO Summer Concert Series are used to fund the programs and services provided to over five hundred families that DPAO serves in multiple counties. It is very gratifying to know that these shows have had such a positive economic impact on our community and that the concert attendees realize these events enhance the quality of life in our area.

Since 1974, DPAO’s mission has been to provide quality and effective individualized services to developmentally disabled children and adults in Jefferson and Lewis Counties. The services are primarily geared to helping families cope with the stress of caring for their disabled loved ones.

For more information on DPAO’s programs and services please call (315) 782-3577.