The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina: Advancing Direct Care Services to Improve Outcomes

• By: Matthew Husband, MS, OTR/L Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
• April 4th, 2025
• education, employment, IEP, self-determination, skills, Spring 2025 Issue, transition planning, vocational training, workforce
• 32    0

In 2023, about 22.5% of people with a disability in the U.S. were employed, a shocking contrast to their age-matched, non-disabled peers that are employed at 65.8% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). Over the next decade, a significant number of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),...

The Economic Undervaluing of the Direct Support Professional Workforce: Unveiling Societal Values and Discrimination Against People with Disabilities

• By: Marco Damiani AHRC New York City
• February 27th, 2024
• direct support professionals, discrimination, inclusion, opinion, policy, Spring 2024 Issue, the economy, workforce
• 1993    1

In the intricate tapestry of our society, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) stand as unsung heroes, offering unwavering support to individuals with disabilities. However, despite their invaluable contributions, the DSP workforce remains severely undervalued economically, reflecting broader...

Enabling Smart Technologies to Improve Individuals’ Lives

• By: Matthew Cerasaro Greystone Programs, Inc.
• April 1st, 2022
• autonomy, communication, health and wellness, independence, routines, smart technology, Spring 2022 Issue, technology, technology inclusion, workforce
• 3178    0

The COVID-19 pandemic moved us into a digital space and opened up the world of smart technologies. It challenged us to ask ourselves, “How can we integrate advances in technology into the lives of our individuals to promote independence, lessen the dependency on staff, and move away from a prompt...