I am a DSP (Direct Support Professional).
I love my job because I get to make a difference in my clients’ lives. I have the pleasure of making sure that they get the care they need and deserve.
I love seeing how happy the clients are when I walk into their group home. I make sure they get proper nutrition, medication and assist with everyday needs. These needs include hygiene, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning.
But there is a downside. For families like mine, where only one person works, the DSP wage puts us below the living wage. Other DSPs like me work very hard to ensure our clients have the proper care they need to survive and thrive, even though we aren’t even getting paid enough to take proper care of ourselves. We also make “too much” to qualify for food stamps but don’t make enough to pay for groceries.
Value the work. Raise the wage!
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