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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 DIDD More…
SEPTEMBER SPECIAL – One Year DSPAT Membership – ONLY $10
THE MISSION:
The purpose and activity of the Direct Support Professionals Association of Tennessee (DSPAT) is to improve the quality of human services and supports through an ethical, credentialed and respected DSP workforce.
THE REQUEST:
Support our mission by becoming a member of DSPAT today!
DSPAT is a professional association of and for DSPs, and for others who wish to demonstrate their support of the work of Tennessee’s DSPs. Our goals are to promote service excellence through adherence to the DSP Code of Ethics, to support a movement towards a national, portable DSP credentialing and to present a unified voice of advocacy for DSPs and for the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities we support.
During DSP Recognition Month of September, annual membership dues have been cut in half to only $10 for DSP members. (All others, please support at the listed, reasonable rate.)
ADDED BENEFIT: Membership in DSPAT includes joint membership with the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) – with similar but broader goals and objectives. All at no additional charge!
Join today: register online www.nadsp.org
or
download the membership brochure and application HERE
HOW YOU’LL BENEFIT FROM MEMBERSHIP:
- An opportunity for your voice to be heard by the Tennessee Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (DIDD), area legislators and provider agencies
- Up-to-date website, DSPAT on Facebook & twitter, and a quarterly newsletter keeping members informed and connected
- Statewide promotion of the activities and accomplishments of Tennessee’s DSPs
- An Advisory Board made up of DSP representatives from across the state
- Joint membership with NADSP, keeping information flowing in all directions – from you to national leadership and from Washington, D.C. and other states to you
- A statewide awards program that recognizes Tennessee DSPs who are doing extraordinary things!
The business of DSPAT is people ...
We are in the people business, and in order to provide effective supports to individuals with disabilities we must learn how to support, encourage and inspire DSPs on a day-to-day basis such that they stay upbeat, focused, with a desire to learn and grow, as we strive towards our primary goal of developing the best possible DSP workforce.
We believe that the most effective definition of quality is found at the point of service - the vital, complex, challenging work of skilled DSPs. Our organization generates its own self-advocacy for systems reform as well as seeking to design a system for quality workforce development.
We encourage DSPs to continue to provide DSPAT with vital information that will assist with these on-going efforts.
It is important for you to know that DSPAT is your circle of support. DSPAT also is your voice, your vehicle to being heard. For many, sharing thoughts and being heard has seemed an impossibility. It is your responsibility however, to help us move this association forward with your membership support. Doing so assists DSPAT and makes progress possible. With the help of members, that is, members who wish to be recognized for career excellence, DSPAT can help redesign the future of this essential occupation while at the same time helping to change the future of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities about whom we truly care.
Please become a member today!