[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 126 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6403-S6404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 245--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 13,
2015, AS ``NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK''
Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Brown, Mr. Portman, Mr.
King, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr.
Booker, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Ayotte, and Mrs. Murray)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 245
Whereas direct support professionals, direct care workers,
personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support
workers, and paraprofessionals (in this resolution
collectively referred to as ``direct support professionals'')
are the primary providers of publicly funded long-term
support and services for millions of individuals with
disabilities;
Whereas a direct support professional must build a close,
respectful, and trusting relationship with an individual with
disabilities;
Whereas a direct support professional assists individuals
with disabilities with intimate personal care assistance on a
daily basis;
Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range
of individualized support, including--
(1) preparation of meals;
(2) helping with medications;
(3) assisting with bathing, dressing, and other aspects of
daily living;
(4) assisting individuals with physical disabilities in
accessing their environment;
(5) providing transportation to school, work, religious
activities, and recreational activities; and
(6) helping with general daily affairs, such as assisting
with financial matters, medical appointments, and personal
interests;
Whereas direct support professionals provide essential
support to help keep individuals with disabilities connected
to the families, friends, and communities of the individuals;
Whereas direct support professionals support individuals
with disabilities in making choices that lead to meaningful,
productive lives;
Whereas direct support professionals are integral to
helping individuals with disabilities live successfully in
the communities of the individuals, avoiding more costly
institutional care;
Whereas the participation of direct support professionals
in medical care planning is critical to the successful
transition from medical events to post-acute care and long-
term support and services;
Whereas many direct support professionals are the primary
financial providers for the families of the direct support
professionals;
Whereas direct support professionals are a critical element
in supporting individuals--
(1) who receive health care services for severe chronic
health conditions; and
(2) with functional limitations;
Whereas direct support professionals are hardworking,
taxpaying citizens who provide an important service to
individuals with disabilities, yet many direct support
professionals continue to earn low wages, receive inadequate
benefits, and have limited opportunities for advancement,
resulting in high turnover and vacancy rates, adversely
affecting the quality of support for, and the safety and
health of, individuals with disabilities;
Whereas there is a documented critical and increasing
shortage of direct support professionals throughout the
United States;
Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States, in Olmstead
v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), recognized the importance of
community-based services for individuals with disabilities in
holding that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), States must provide
community-based treatment to individuals with disabilities
when--
(1) the services are appropriate;
(2) the affected individuals do not oppose community-based
treatment; and
(3) community-based treatment can be reasonably
accommodated, taking into account the resources available to
the State and the needs of other individuals with
disabilities; and
Whereas, in 2015, the majority of direct support
professionals are employed in home-based and community-based
settings, and this trend is projected to increase over the
next decade: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week beginning September 13, 2015, as
``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week'';
(2) recognizes the dedication and vital role of direct
support professionals in enhancing the lives of individuals
with disabilities of all ages;
(3) appreciates the contribution of direct support
professionals in supporting individuals with disabilities and
their families in the United States;
(4) commends direct support professionals as integral to
the long-term support of and services for individuals with
disabilities; and
(5) finds that the successful implementation of the public
policies affecting individuals with disabilities in the
United States depends on the dedication of direct support
professionals.
Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to submit, with my colleague
Senator Collins, a resolution designating the week beginning September
13, 2015, as ``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition
Week.'' The Senate has passed a similar resolution each year for the
past seven years, and National Direct Support Professionals Recognition
Week holds special significance this year as we celebrate the 25th
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA.
Direct support professionals play an incredibly important role in
providing essential community supports to millions of Americans with
disabilities. These dedicated workers assist individuals with
disabilities with daily life activities such as dressing, eating, and
bathing, and they help ensure that people with disabilities can be
active participants in their communities.
Let me share with you the story of Ed Wainwright, Jr., a direct
support professional who was recognized this year for his incredible
work and dedication when he was given Maryland's Direct Support
Professional, DSP, of the Year Award by the American Network of
Community Options and Resources, ANCOR. Ed works for New Horizons
Supported Services in Upper Marlboro, MD, and has been a direct support
professional for over 6 years. He and his staff provide essential
support to 33 individuals with disabilities. Ed's primary job is to
teach and reinforce practical life skills for individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities by integrating strategic
goal setting with daily living, with the goal of achieving self-
sufficiency.
Ed is committed to helping individuals with disabilities realize
their full potential. For example, Ed once worked with a man who had
suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident as a youth. After
the accident, he could not walk, and the prognosis for regaining his
mobility was poor. After work, Ed would often take this young man to
the gym with him to help rebuild his strength, on Ed's own time
[[Page S6404]]
and using his personal gym membership. Recognizing this young man's
creative abilities, Ed also took it upon himself to research and apply
for a grant to help pay for his college expenses. Thanks in large part
to Ed's commitment and dedication, that young man is a now graphic
designer and, as he continues to work on his rehabilitation, taking
steps again is a real possibility.
As Ed's story demonstrates, the job of a direct support professional
is not easy. The hours are often long, and the wages are low. The job
can be physically laborious, as well as emotionally draining. The
reward for direct support professionals, however, is that they are able
to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and help fulfill
the promise of the ADA by making it possible for these Americans to
participate in their communities to the fullest extent possible.
Today, we have the opportunity to recognize the millions of direct
support professionals who provide essential services to individuals
with disabilities, to thank them for their commitment and dedication,
and to express our appreciation for the critically important work they
do every day throughout our country.
I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator Collins in expressing our
appreciation for our country's direct support professionals and
supporting the resolution designating the week beginning September 13,
2015, as ``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.''
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