Beyond Caregiving: The Heart of a DSP
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are an essential workforce. They work hard day in and day out, on weekends and holidays, to serve and support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Despite their critical role, many people in the community are not too familiar with this profession. DSPs are trained caregivers who work directly with people with developmental disabilities, helping them live safely and as independently as possible. Kris McPheron and Stephanie Tapia sat down to talk about this profession and what it means to them.
Kris has been a DSP for almost 27 years, working at Marimor Industries' Day Service Program. In almost three decades, Kris has been a part of incredible milestones in the lives of all the people she serves. "After so many years, this is not a job for me. This is my family," Kris shared, "My favorite part is being with my family every day and watching them be successful and happy with their daily choices and accomplishments."
Kris's workdays are incredibly dynamic. At any given moment she is a friend, advocate, bus driver, caretaker, and leader. She assists people with realizing their full potential while providing caregiving needs. Kris loves being a part of peoples’ lives and being "someone they can count on and showing up when they need someone in their corner."
When recounting why she wanted to join this field, Kris shared, "When I was in high school, we volunteered with Special Olympics. The joy that I experienced was something I wanted to continue. I wanted to become a teacher, but once I graduated, I met two ladies who worked at Marimor Industries who told me their work was similar but with adults, and the experience was bigger picture and helping others in their lives." Fast forward to today, Kris has become an incredible DSP who gives her entire heart every day to the people she serves.
As an Independent Provider, Stephanie’s work looks a little different compared to Kris as she's not in a day program setting but rather provides services in each person's home and the community. Stephanie shared, "my role is to support individuals in being active and independent members of their community. This can include taking individuals out to eat, helping them with shopping or errands, taking them to the bank, attending appointments, or participating in activities that they enjoy. Every individual has different interests and goals, so a big part of my role is getting to know the people I support and helping them have meaningful experiences while maintaining as much choice and independence as possible as well as reaching those goals."
Stephanie began her career as a DSP this year after speaking with her brother's Service and Support Associate (SSA). Stephanie provides care to her brother, so this felt like a natural move for her. "I would say my 'why' is rooted in my care and compassion for others. Being able to care for individuals similar to my brother is incredibly meaningful for me. I understand how much love, time, and energy goes into caring for someone you love, and I want to be able to provide that same compassion and support to others," Stephanie shared.
Just a few months in, Stephanie has made an incredible impact in the lives of the people she serves. Through being a DSP, she has provided caregivers and families moments to breathe and recharge while knowing their loved one is receiving quality care. A favorite part of her job is "the flexibility it provides and the opportunity to meet and connect with members of the community. I really enjoy building relationships with the people that I serve and being able to make a positive impact in my community."
One sentiment Kris wanted to leave for people learning about the DSP profession is this: "Being a DSP is a challenging job but it is the most rewarding at the same time. Life is never easy so you make the best of what is given to you and spread the joy to others around you and help others see the best in themselves."
Stephanie added that "being a DSP is rewarding. It’s about building meaningful relationships, helping people reach their goals, and being part of their everyday lives. I love that the work also gives the individuals that I support opportunities to be involved in their community, while supporting local businesses and becoming a familiar face in the places we visit. Every day can be different, and that’s one of the things that makes the work so meaningful."
Kris and Stephanie are just two of the over 400 DSPs in Allen County. They ensure the people they serve are cared for, happy, independent and thriving. The Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities cannot thank Kris, Stephanie, and all DSPs enough for the incredible work they do every single day.
