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Do you know someone who is making a difference in the field of Direct Support? Then they should be nominated to win an award from DSPAT and DMRS More…

Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee

We are pleased to welcome members and supporters of DSPAT. These are exciting times for DSPs and our mission is to continue to set new goals for our association and to celebrate new accomplishments as we strive to implement a system of networking nationally with multiple stakeholders to provide a better way to communicate with Direct Support Professionals.

The Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee’s (DSPAT) position on labor union organizing of direct support professionals is one of neutrality. DSPAT neither recommends nor discourages DSPs from joining a union. The purpose and activity of DSPAT is to improve the quality of human services and supports through an ethical, credentialed and respected DSP workforce. We believe that the most effective definition of quality is defined at the point of service - the work of DSPs. Our organization generates its own self-advocacy for systems reform as well as its own methodology of workforce development. DSPAT is a professional association of DSPs and led by DSPs promoting service excellence with a code of ethics, a national credential and a unified voice of advocacy. Although organized labor may share one or another aspect of our national agenda (e.g. staff opportunity or compensation), DSPAT is neither represented by a union nor engaged in union-like activities.

We want to encourage DSPs to continue to provide us with vital information that will assist us with our on- going efforts. We are in the people business and in order to provide care and supports to individuals with disabilities we must learn how to approach, encourage and inspire people on a day to day basis to stay focused and upbeat as we work toward our primary goal of developing the best DSP workforce possible.

It is important for you to know that DSPAT is your circle of support and your vehicle to opening doors that until this point was impossible for DSPs to walk through. It is your responsibility to help us move this association forward by assisting us and providing much needed input. With your help we can build our future and at the same time support the future of many others whom we truly care about. If you want to know more about DSPAT continue to search other areas on the website.

From the officers and staff of DSPAT we hope that this year is one of the best years in the history of our industry and the great State of Tennessee.

Sincerely,

B. Earl Foxx Jr.
Executive Director
Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee