A Closer Look at Frontline Initiative Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota

Our guest is Amy Hewitt, Ph.D., director of the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota.
Amy explains that as direct support professionals, you have to fight for what you need and for the recognition and respect that you deserve – and she knows! Amy has been a direct support professional, is a family member of someone who has support, and has been in the field for years.

Megan Russell has supported Jay as a direct support professional (DSP) for the past 10 years. In this episode, Megan talks about her experience at the NADSP Advocacy Symposium where she learned the skills to advocate for herself and the people she supports to her legislators. She explains the importance of personal storytelling and shares that it's not as intimidating as she thought.
Read Megan Russell's story: Share link to FI story when it's public
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Frontline Initiative [update link]
Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)

Michelle Murphy left the corporate world 19 years ago and became a direct support professional (DSP) when her sister strongly suggested she come to work with her at her workshop job. Michelle is now a DSP Certified-1 at Arc Mid-Hudson in Kingston, New York.
In this episode of A Closer Look, Michelle talks about her article in Frontline Initiative and how she uses the NADSP Code of Ethics Tenet 5: Justice, Fairness, and Equity to improve the quality of life for the people she supports. She dives deeper into how she gets to know them as people and how that and the COE help her navigate sensitive topics that might affect their quality of life.
Read Michelle Murphy's story: Ethical Practice is About Learning Side-By-Side with the Person Supported
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Frontline Initiative
NADSP Code of Ethics
Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)

Two-time Frontline Initiative author Zoe Korengold, who is on the support response team (SRT) at Lionsgate Academy, reflects on how they handle situations with students who are experiencing big emotions that are challenging in a way that is supportive and safe for everyone. Zoe shares their perspective as an autistic person, who didn’t have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in school to support them, and how starting with students' strengths can make a huge difference in how students with disabilities view themselves.
Read Zoe Korengold's story: Supporting Students' Psychological Health and Wellness
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Frontline Initiative
Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)

Frontline Initiative author LeAnn Bieber talks about how using tools such as a Health Care Person-Centered Profile and a one-page description can make a positive difference in how a medical appointment can go for everyone.
Read LeAnn's story: The Key to Successful Health Care Appointments through One-page Descriptions
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Frontline Initiative
Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)

Host Chet Tschetter discusses what “A Closer Look” is and what the listeners can expect. In this podcast, we will talk with the authors of recent issues of Frontline Initiative and really dig in and look closer at the best practices, tools, and resources direct support professionals are using and how they make a difference in the lives of the people they support.
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Frontline Initiative
Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)