September 13-19, 2020
Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Week is a national week of recognition for Direct Support Professionals across the country. DSPs do incredible work EVERY DAY. The job of a DSP is 24/7 no matter the circumstance. At AIM our DSPs share their compassion, care, kindness, encouragement and support to people with diverse abilities. DSPs support people of all ages with developmental and intellectual disabilities to live their most independent lives at home and in the community.
Read our A Day in the Life column for a look into the lives of some of our incredible DSPs!
Local Businesses supporting AIM DSPs
This week AIM has partnered with local businesses to provide merchandise, services, food and drink to DSPs at a discount.
Thank you to our local business partners!
Spot Coffee Saratoga
Nate’s Barber Shop
Luxe Salon/Spa
Body Glow
Saratoga Candy Co.
Impressions
Dark Horse
Celtic Treasures
Tailgate & Party
Taquero
Midas
King Brother’s Dairy
Dunkin Franchisee, Tom Burke of The Burke Companies owned and operated Dunkin locations is donating coffee and donuts for AIM’s DSPs.
A message from our Executive Director, Christopher Lyons
This year’s DSP WEEK is truly unique. Direct Support Professionals have served as a critical line of defense against the COVID-19 pandemic. Each day, they work in close quarters, doing everything from helping individuals feed, dress, bathe and care for themselves to supporting people to safely navigate the community, imparting meaning in their lives on their terms and more. They continue to place themselves in harm’s way to support others, they make a terrific difference in peoples’ quality of life.
However, that is only a part of their sacrifice. They juggle kids home from school, caring for aging parents, and the financial instability of an economy in peril. They slap another piece of duct tape on their car to make it for the next shift, knowing someone is waiting joyfully. They work directly in the homes of the people we support; there is no asking a colleague to cover so you can leave early. There is no running home on their lunch break to check on Mom and Dad. There is no homeschooling the kids when distance learning becomes the norm. DSP’s were there yesterday, DSP’s are there today and rest assured they’ll be there tomorrow. DSP’s are true professionals in every sense of the word; Their compassion and dedication are an inspiration to everyone; it is well that we honor them.