Don't Work Anonymously Anymore.

Turnover rates average around 45%. Vacancy rates are at roughly 9%. Hourly wages? They tend to be $10.72 per hour. With more than a million Direct Support Professionals in the United States, why is it that we don't have more information to dig deeper into these troubling statistics, including what's causing them and what can be done about them?

While there are many solutions that could be cited, one of the foundational factors is a Standardized Occupational Code (SOC). A SOC is designated by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and serves as a classification system by the federal government for various careers. Other positions like a Home Health Aide, a Personal Care Aide, or a Certified Nursing Assistant all have a SOC, yet a Direct Support Professional does not.

This makes a Direct Support Professional anonymous.

To confront this serious issue, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals has created a change.org petition to Establish a Direct Support Professional Standardized Occupational Code.

With the insight gathered through a SOC, governmental agencies, individual organizations, and everyday citizens can uncover otherwise unavailable information about that occupation. This SOC can be used to set reimbursement rates for services that compensate Direct Support Professionals, improve data analysis for issues like workforce shortages, and demonstrate the contributions of the occupation. Establishing a SOC will impact a Direct Support Professional's work, career, and the quality of lives for people they support.

Take Action Today.

Whether you are a Direct Support Professional, a person receiving supports, a family member, friend, colleague, executive leadership, or other stakeholder - please join NADSP in this nationwide effort to make sure Direct Support Professionals are not anonymous anymore.

After you click the 'Sign Petition' button you will be directed to change.org, where you can read the full petition and choose to join this nationwide effort.

Encourage Others To Sign!

Please spread the word about this important nationwide effort and ask people you know to sign the petition. Please click on the social media icons below, and share this announcement on your social media accounts to help us Establish a Direct Support Professional Standardized Occupational Code.

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NADSP's Petition Partners

The following industry partners of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals are supporting this initiative and asking others to sign this petition:

·    Alliance for Citizen Directed Supports

·    American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD)

·    American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)

·    American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR)

·    The Arc of the United States

·    Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)

·    Community Bridges Consulting Group

·    CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership

·    Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)

·    National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD)

·    National Association on Dual Diagnosis (NADD)

·    National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services (NASDDDS)

·    National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities (NLCDD)

·    Research and Training Center at The University of Minnesota

·    Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)

·    The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices (TLCPCP)

·    The Sibling Leadership Network (SLN)