DSP Stories 2022

In June of 2022, Ellie began to attend Newport CPS. We were already acquainted because I taught her when she was in 5th grade.  She is now 21 years old and a grown-up young lady. She appears to really enjoy her participation at Newport CPS, especially the fun shopping trips!

Recently, my husband who has a number of health concerns, was hospitalized for several days. When I returned to work, it was a busy day and nothing was really mentioned. Near the end of the day, Ellie and I were doing a craft together and having a conversation. I told Ellie that my husband had been hospitalized and she immediately reached up and hugged me. Her demonstration of caring meant the world to me.

Ellie has turned out to be such an awesome young lady. It is amazing to me how well she communicates verbally, through gestures, and with her iPad. I am thankful and honored to have the chance to be involved in Ellie’s life once again!

I honestly cannot single out one particular memorable moment, because this job gives me an overall sense of worth and value every single day. The proudest moments I have experienced all revolved around the same thing: when I am able to see that something I have done or taught has helped someone grow. I have an overwhelming sense of accomplishment every day that I am able to come here and see participants enjoying life. Their smiles, laughter, and excitement as they greet me each day is the best feeling any DSP could have.

COVID came on with an unexpected vengeance. UCP’s Community Participant Supports sites were quick to shut down. When we said goodbye, we thought it would be for two weeks. No one in their wildest imaginations would have believed it would be two years before our doors at CPS Harrisburg West would reopen again. In fact, it was two years of uncertainty and longing for some shred of normalcy… and two years of waiting for our UCP family to be together again.

But on April 25th after 2 years and 44 days the time finally came for us to reopen. We were not sure how everyone would respond, but we were thrilled to be met with smiles and so much laughter. Everyone was so happy to be back they could barely contain their excitement. It was such a joy to see all those happy faces. It’s a day we will never forget.

Nothing makes my day better than knowing I made a participant’s day a good one!!! One memory that stands out to me the most from this past year is the day we took the participants to Lake Tobias. The whole way over in the van ride the individuals were talking about the animals they really wanted to see. Once we arrived, the staff at Lake Tobias was exceptional! They came down on their golf carts and loaded us all up. The gentleman that drove us explained where he was taking us, which animals we were going to see and gave background information on the different animals. He also interacted with the participants, made them laugh and really wowed some of them. The individuals felt so comfortable with this gentleman that they even asked him questions. They fed and petted some of the animals and even had their pictures taken with them. I guess what stood out to me on this day was seeing the confidence and comfort level of participants to interact with Lake Tobias’ staff. They had smiles on their faces the whole day and to this day, several months later, they still talk about it!

One of my CPS participants, Michael E, was having a really hard time. His emotions went from 0 to 100 in an instant. He was anxious, unsettled, and unable to calm himself down, or relax. So I started singing to him and he appeared to respond; he was so focused on me (or the song) that he began to relax. By the end of the song, he had gone from 100 back down to 0. He looked at me and said, “Sing it again.” I think I cried a little from happiness. There was only one thing left for me to do… I sang the song again!

Moments like these are priceless. Knowing that you truly helped someone when they needed you the most is the best feeling in the world!

I had many treasured moments in my previous employment at UCP Alternatives Adult Day program: assisting a non-verbal man with voting in a primary election, figuring out that this man wanted to celebrate Communion at Easter time when he kept pointing to the wine icon on his communication board, walking through the grief process with a number of individuals who lost those close to them, and living through many major news events with “my guys”–such as the Gulf War and 9/11.

I returned to UCP last October, and since then I have worked to help CPS be a “safe place” where participants can share their struggles while continuing to grow and experience a more fulfilling life. When two of the CPS participants informed me that they like coming to our site because “It’s quiet here,” I felt affirmed in trying to maintain a calm, peaceful atmosphere.

Now I want to share a more humorous story that impressed me with one gentleman’s comprehensive understanding of the Covid pandemic and his ability to advocate for himself as an adult. The main office at 55 Utley was decked out for the winter holidays, and our participants at CPS Camp Hill West were invited to visit Santa Claus. Jeff (a CPS participant in his forties) drove his power chair into the decorated conference room and around the Christmas tree. Santa gave him a hearty welcome while his helpers (dressed as Santa’s elves) handed out candy canes and applesauce. Unimpressed by St. Nick’s joviality and treats, my friend confronted the bearded icon by asking, “Are you vaccinated??” I stifled a chuckle while the Jolly Old Elf did not miss a beat and responded, “I am.”

I just completed one year of service at Community Participation Supports in Middleburg. During that time I have learned so much, especially as a 1:1 with an individual named Rusty. We have good days and bad days… just like everyone else… but at the end of the day I make sure we give each other a fist bump or a side hug.

I feel very privileged to work with such precious individuals. The smiles they give when they accomplish the smallest of tasks, and the way they interact with their peers and staff is very special. I feel we can learn so much from the individuals we support if we just keep our hearts and minds open to learn from them. They are truly a blessing.

Throughout this last year, I have had countless experiences that make it far too difficult to focus on one moment that makes me proud to be a DSP. If I had to choose; however, two moments truly stand out. One of my proudest moments of the past year was witnessing one of the individuals I work with become a self-advocate while out in the community. During my time with participants, I focus on strengthening their life skills to promote greater independence and joy in all aspects of their lives. While our group was volunteering at a local nonprofit, one of the community members was directing questions about the participant to me (a staff person). The participant in question immediately turned and said, “I’m smart. You can ask me, and I can answer your questions.” I was beyond proud of her bravery and the courage it took for her to stand up and admit that she is more than capable of holding meaningful conversations, regardless of her abilities. I was so proud to see the important, positive influence I have had in her life.

The second memorable moment that stands out was when I was helping at another UCP location. One of the participants mentioned that she has a hard time completing and enjoying crafts because she is not able to see them. I quickly decided to work with her to make a full sensory craft. We created a gnome house together utilizing all sorts of different materials including foam, puffy stickers, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, paint, and more. Just seeing the joy and excitement on her face when she reached down and touched her finished artwork made my heart beyond happy. She was so appreciative of how she could really “see” her own artwork through her fingers and is excited to do more projects like that in the future. My seemingly small gesture of creating a 3D craft was able to positively impact her life in a way I was not expecting. In that moment, I knew that I was proud of this profession and blessed to be a part of it.”

My most memorable moment of this past year: I took Kayla to one of the creeks in Carlisle on one of the hottest days of the summer! It was a great time and Kayla had lots of fun!

Ever since March 2020, we in Home and Community (H&C) have been trying to get back to “normal.” One highlight of our normal routine was the monthly “family dinner nights” that took place in one of the individual’s homes on a rotating basis, with a group of Home and Community participants and staff. This was a great way to build friendships, work on cooking skills, and develop self-confidence. It also gave  individuals the opportunity to proudly show off their home to their friends.

When Covid came on the scene, we made the tough decision to end “family dinner nights.” Throughout 2020-2021, we did virtual group activities, engaged within the community while practicing safe distances, and refrained from situations where we might put individuals or staff at risk of exposure. We knew our individuals were missing the pure connections that they got from family dinner nights. We also knew we needed to find a way to create more group opportunities to socialize. As things have opened up over the past year, our goal in H&C has been to create engaging group activities and opportunities to socialize that were both safe and fun. We planned bowling trips and pumpkin painting. We took turns getting together in the communities where the participants live, visiting local parks to hold group picnics and luncheons, cook outside, play games, and engage in sporting events (our group is awesome at pickleball!). We also encouraged participation in UCP’s Christmas, Halloween and Summer block parties. Recently we met at a local pizza place where we were about to get 6 of our individuals together for lunch. The individuals were able to see their friends and learn new board games. More importantly, they were able to nurture their relationships, enjoy a new restaurant, and develop new connections. At the same time, our staff were able to connect and catch up in person as well.  What makes H&C so special is that the individuals we support are all kind and they care about the people they meet. We will continue to look for ways to give our individuals long-lasting memories, real connections, self-confidence, happiness, and life satisfaction.

Working with Carol S gives me the opportunity to help her enjoy both the simple and the big things in life. We have to remember there is great satisfaction in playing a game and being silly.

I am a Residential Services DSP, working in a house in Dover with two amazing male individuals. Prior to joining UCP, I was a DSP for a mental health employer. I’ve come to discover that being a DSP is not just something I enjoy, it’s who I am. It’s in my blood to care for those who may need additional love and support.

I have only been with UCP for a couple of months, but I am so grateful to have this experience. Yes, there are some hard days. Everyone, including the individuals we serve, has bad days. But UCP is such a loving place of employment. The leadership really cares about their employees and makes everyone feel like family. My UCP home is the same way; I have a wonderful team I work alongside who are always there for each other and willing to help out as necessary.

As far as describing my work as a DSP, I would say loving, nurturing, caring, never a dull moment, some days harder than others… and some are the best days I’ve experienced. The individuals I work with really are the highlight of my day and I love being able to help them learn new skills in order to become as independent as possible. Some days when I’m having a bad day, it’s honestly the individuals who make it 10 times better. They become like family who you love tending to and worry about when they are sick or having a bad day themselves.

They enjoy seeing you, hug you and even some days say they love you or miss you when you aren’t here. They know we love and care about them as well and that’s why we do what we do. You get to watch them learn and grow with your assistance and they sometimes even teach you something new. The way I see it, if you’re a loving, caring person, you can do this job. It doesn’t take a special kind of person. But being a DSP is itself a special job with a specific title. We need more caring DSPs in our community and our world! Remember: “It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.”

I work at the Carlisle apartments which differs from the other UCP residences in that the individuals live independently in their own apartments, with only the level of supervision needed. Residents have a good bit of leeway and the opportunity to do many things on their own. They go to the local gym, attend special events, meet with friends for outings, etc. We’re just there to support them as needed. Some go to community programs and others to local employment, and the staff are responsible for transporting them to and from.

Recently, I was able to take three individuals with me to a Senators ball game and we all had a great time. It’s times like those—when the individuals are experiencing something new or different—that it’s easy to see the impact we have on their lives. But I was reminded today by my supervisor that it is not always the big things we do that make a difference, but the small ones as well.

I have worked in this field for 17 years now and would not change a thing. Sure, some days are stressful. Some days you just want to throw in the towel. But in the end, to see the individuals smile and say they had a great day makes all that disappear. Then you look forward to a better day tomorrow.