Direct Support Professionals constitute a workforce that plays an important role in the care, health delivery, and quality of life of millions of people in America. They represent those who do the essential job functions in human service organizations, especially among the developmentally disabled population, nursing homes, day treatment programs, and state institutions. Yet, their recognition remains muted, their pay stagnant, and it appears that they suffer different forms of stigma due, I dare believe, to the fact that the issue of disability and people with disability have not received the type of attention and respect they ought to have had. At some point or another, everyone needs assistance, no matter how rich, powerful, educated, and healthy one might be. And direct care workers will always be needed. Direct care professions are very important but they seem to be faced with various forms of resistance. A survey of many direct care workers revealed that across-the-board compensations, career advancement, and stability take a beating when referring to this segment of our population.
Social change and transformation do not happen overnight and never smoothly. Without any doubt, there will always be resistance. Resistance is due to the fear of the unknown. It is due to a sense of comfort. But it is also due to ignorance. However, with education, true believers and visionaries in social change do not set any deadline while pursuing their ultimate change goals or objectives. They are not unrealistic either. They know they will face difficulties, opposition, rejection, disappointments, and setbacks but they always press on. If they do not live to see the results of their fight, so be it, others will.
Even as we get frustrated daily by the reactions or ignorance of the public to the field in general and to direct care positions in particular, we are partaking in the larger welfare system that is in place to bring about security, and equal access to opportunities, and happiness for all.
Being fully engaged requires learning and requires relentless practice again and again. It requires patience and courage, yes courage because of all the setbacks, frustrations, and difficult moments; but most importantly, however, it is our profound understanding of why we are doing what we are doing that will hold our head high, keep us together, and propel us forward as we envision a better world for our fellow human beings and for us all. It is central to everything that we do.
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