Austin Hargraves
Being with my client for 6 years, I find my position both rewarding and purposeful. My client and I were able to organize a flower donation with a local special education teacher. A local nursery generously donated flowers and we took the donated flowers to local nursing homes and low-income housing facilities. This is just one example of what makes me proud to be a Direct Support Professional.
This past year has been a challenge as activities in the community have been limited or eliminated due to COVID-19. However, the flexibility of the job allows us to pursue other options. Together, we have done more outdoor nature activities than we have done in the past. This has had the added benefit of improving our health and well-being in these challenging times.
Josh Huffman
I am always proud to be a DSP (SSP)! But there is one moment from the last year that stands out well above the rest. Tommy (The Tominator) Levosky was able to join me as a groomsman on my wedding day! When I moved to a completely new area in 2015, Tommy was one of the first friends I made, and the memories have been ongoing ever since. To go from complete strangers to standing by me on my wedding day, that shows how special Tommy is and how much he has impacted my life in just 5 years. He makes me proud in so many ways, but his encouragement, support, and joy for my wife and I on our wedding day made me extremely proud.
Deanna Kerstetter
My client, who is also my daughter Rachel Kerstetter, has become so independent in the kitchen. She has made several things mainly on own. She enjoys cooking and baking and has become efficient with both. It’s always a great time in the kitchen and we have so many pictures. Some of her favorites are baking brownies and cooking anything with chicken. She reads instructions and ingredients off packages or off Pinterest. Not only is this fantastic for her in terms of life skills, but it’s great to see Rachel really enjoy something with which she is doing so well.
Since we were (and still are) very limited in our outings, we practiced cooking and baking, and it has paid off. We also practiced working with money and this is getting more familiar to Rachel. She worked hard on completing tasks such as cooking and not quitting before she was done. Being home so much did help with this, since there was less rushing around. Now, she rarely quits before completing a meal or dessert.
Lori Lidle
I recently quit my job of nine years as the Operations Director of a day program that supports adults with IDD. I had no idea what was in store for me next. My friend suggested that I start working for UCP’s Agency with Choice (AWC) to work with her adult son. I wasn’t sure I would like doing that compared to what I had been doing but I actually fell in love with it. Now, I have 3 clients and no stress what-so-ever. I had no idea I would be this happy working as a DSP again.
Working in Home and Community Services, it was difficult to find places that were safe to visit. We started volunteering at a church and making meals and baked goods for people. Eric loved giving these treats to his friends and neighbors and making people happy. We are very busy now volunteering, baking, crafting, and making others happy. One of the things we did at Easter time was make goodie bags for his neighbors. We shopped for treats, put the bags together and then delivered them to his neighbors and placed them on their porches. Eric enjoyed this activity and we continue to do it today.
Adrienne Marsh
My situation is a little unique. I have the privilege of working with my brother, Michael, each week. I am proud to say that through all that has happened with the virus and mandates, I was still able to be Michael’s constant. Each week I was still able to be a part of his routine. Even now, each time I see him he is full of smiles and seems genuinely happy to be with me and go on our adventures together.
The moment I am most proud of has to be on our summer vacation to Avalon, New Jersey. We rented a house with a pool. Michael loves the pool–the beach not so much. Each day I had him in the pool. One day, I worked with him in the pool and finally got him to agree to let me help him on a raft. Immediately after I got him on the raft he was full of smiles and giggles. I cannot remember a time when I saw him smile and laugh so much! This was definitely a moment that I am thankful I caught on video and pictures. It’s an amazing thing to see a loved one so happy and so content. I am proud to be a DSP, because even though I am his sister, if I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be with him every week consistently doing tasks, I don’t think he would have been as trusting and easy going to get on a raft in the pool. This was definitely out of his comfort zone. But I think he was glad he took the chance!
Elaine Michael
Over the past year, we have been faced with many different transitions as my client has had to jump over many obstacles in order to enter the adult world in the midst of a pandemic. He graduated high school and also became a father. I am so proud of him, as he transitioned well and made great choices.
He adapted to many changes, from being at home to wearing a mask and finding other ways to socialize by phone and other media. His skill at riding has been his lifesaver as horses and other animals play a great part in his ability to balance his emotions. Volunteering with other kids with disabilities is also his strength. We were able to have a semi-normal graduation, go to graduation, go to prom. And congrats to him, he also brought a baby boy into the world! Life is unexpected but making the best of it is what matters. Jason was able to complete his CPR and AED as well as other training; he has worked hard in the pregnancy program for becoming a parent. He also has participated in therapeutic riding and helping others with special needs and fundraisers. He does not let his disability get in the way of helping others and continues to strive.
Makensy Pletcher
I work with Alejo, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age. He is able to do many basic tasks on his own, but struggles with things like counting, providing the correct amount of money, and communicating with detail. Over the past year of working with him, I have helped him with his counting, and he is at the point where he can scan all of his items at the grocery store self-checkout, insert the money himself, and most of the time he even chooses the correct bill to pay with. But the moment that made me most proud to be a DSP was the first time he responded to a question of mine with a lot of detail. I asked him a simple yes or no question, and after he answered, I saw he was thinking even more. After a few seconds he followed up his answer with a full sentence further explaining his previous answer. Since that day, he has been getting home from work and immediately telling me how his day was and what he did for work. Seeing him come so far with his communication skills made me proud and overjoyed to work with him. I may work for UCP, but I work with Alejo. He teaches me kindness, patience, and never to judge anyone, so I get just as much out of working with him as he does with me. My joy of working with him is enunciated when I arrive to Alejo’s house on days when he isn’t working, and he has the door open before I even get on the porch. It makes me so happy to know he’s just excited to see me as I am to see him.
Alejo and I struggled when we were limited to where we could go because of the pandemic. We took a lot of walks around his development since neighbors were often out and would talk to him from a distance, so that allowed us to work on his social skills without really going anywhere. We also built a car model together (pictured). There were actually screws involved, and we had to build it from many small pieces, so he definitely had to work hard for it.
Amber Ritter
The moment that makes me most proud to be a DSP is every time I see my client smile. Also, when we spend time with her family.
The biggest challenge we had to overcome during the pandemic was when she wanted to go somewhere but we had to also look out for her safety.
Nancy Snyder
Each day I spend with DP is a delight. She has so much to offer and cares about everyone. It is so rewarding to take her in the community, because she is always so nice to everyone, telling them to have a great night, (no matter the time). I took her to the store and she told the cashier that she liked her sparkly bracelets. In return, the cashier was so nice, she gave them to her. We went back to the store to show the cashier how proud DP is of them, but she was off work that day. Another cashier remembered her and commented on how she makes their day. DP makes me very proud.
The pandemic allowed us more one-on-one time. DP learned so much and taught me so much. We are the best team.
Sandra Stover
My moment of being proud to be a DSP is when I taught Andrew not to be afraid of the vacuum. We had sessions every day to practice touching the vacuum and retracting the cord. We did this daily for a while, then next time I plugged it in, he worked the on and off switch, letting it run. We did this for months, then one day I asked him if he wanted to vacuum and he said yes. And he did it! Yay! Not being afraid of the noise is not 100% yet but he has come a long way with our vacuum sessions. That makes me proud to be a DSP!
Another proud moment is walking at parks on different trails, supporting him to walk with me this and that way, and helping him understand that we can take different walk routes and be comfortable doing it! It’s so rewarding to be a DSP! On our walks at home Andrew likes to pet the horses and when he smiles his face lights up. It makes me proud that Andrew is coming out of his shell a little more!
Our biggest challenge during the pandemic, I would say, was the change in routine. It was hard to make him understand the change to not seeing friends or family, not going in the community, staying home, staying safe, lost feelings, and learning to mask up. We had to train on the use of, and we still are using, hand sanitizer. Now we have a daily routine that helps Andrew make it through the day without getting overwhelmed. I think that had an impact on all of us as together we put Andrew first; he was our main concern! We wanted him to continue enjoying his days doing meaningful activities. I am so proud of him!
Vera Zimmerman
When I first heard of UCP there was no way of telling how impactful it would be for Josh. It has allowed him to stay at home where I can work with him, helping him develop faster because as his mother I know how he functions. The other day, we were hanging up the laundry and Josh took a fascination to a couple large mushrooms growing in the yard so we stopped and looked at them, giving an opportunity to learn.
Many of the family and friends have comment on how much Josh has improved In his development and it’s all thanks to the kind people at UCP. They were very helpful when I didn’t know what I was doing. They were so patient till I learned how the system worked. We are very grateful for UCP and we give them a big thank you!
Cindy Benner
It is difficult to share just one moment that makes me proud to be a DSP. My heart has always been in working with children and adults with special needs. I volunteered for the Easter Seal Society during my high school years, then worked at Camp Easter Seal in Somerset County during the summers of my college years. I spent my career as a Special Education teacher for 33 years at Greenwood Elementary and loved working with children with a great variety of learning differences. After retiring from teaching, I was searching for a way to still be involved with these individuals who had stolen my heart! I was able to make this connection when I joined the UCP team at Newport CPS in 2016.
The pandemic has certainly presented challenges in meeting the needs of our individuals. They have missed the staff and friends at their programs. When I arrived in the mornings to work with Bill at his home, he was always waiting with anticipation. He had eggs and bread out waiting for me to assist him in making breakfast. He eagerly anticipated what the day had in store. Bill really likes music, so we would find songs that he enjoys and listen to them. One day, he was trying to tell me about a song about the Statue of Liberty. After some searching, we discovered that he was referring to “The Cross is my Statue of Liberty” by the Couriers. When that music played, Bill sang along with gusto! He said that he had attended a Couriers concert and the group had invited him on stage to sing with them. It is the little things that matter most! On another occasion, we ate lunch at a local diner that Bill really enjoys and had requested. We enjoyed our meal and when we were ready to pay our bill, we learned that one of the customers had already paid for us and wanted to remain anonymous. That meant a lot to both Bill and me.
Teri DeDominicis (Participant Submission)
My meaningful moments were over a year of four-days-a-week virtual visits to my home because of the COVID shutdown. Because of Jessica Ranck’s expertise, creativity and commitment, I did a variety of fun and educational projects every day. It was tough staying home every day, but Jessica created a great program for me. I looked forward to my visits every day! I learned a lot and had fun, too! Thank you, Jessica, for being there for me!
Karen Faust
In March of 2020, I was let go from my job. I have had services for my two sons for years with other agencies. I finally decided to be my sons’ caregiver and DSP since we are always doing everything together anyway. This way I know my sons are getting the help they need, and I know that things are getting done the right way. The problem with other agencies and other caregivers is that the turnover is so great. My sons would get used to one person and then they would leave and they would have to wait a long time for another support person. This way I am always available and we don’t have to worry about the worker leaving us (since I’m here to stay)! I truly enjoy working with my sons on a one-on-one basis and it gives us bonding time also.
Kevin Gebhard
Being one of the many DSPs that were able to keep working, and keeping our individuals cared for and entertained, even though most of the programs have been closed due to the pandemic… what makes me proud is that we are still able to get individuals out on outings.
A pandemic obstacle was being able to be there for individuals, even though there weren’t many places open for outings, we made the best out of it by going to parks and enjoying the outdoors.
Tammy Mullen
At the end of March or beginning of April, I was asked to work one-on-one with an individual from Harrisburg. I am not going to lie; the prospect had me very nervous, first of all because I knew nothing about him and secondly because he wasn’t from the Newport day program. But I decided that I wanted to explore something new and I agreed to take on this opportunity. I can honestly say 100% that I did (the right thing) because this participant totally became like a best friend to me!!!! We got to explore so many wonderful places together. We joked, laughed and got to know each other better the more we spent time together!!!! We even participated in the monthly picture (raffle) where our names were put into a drawing and we actually won!!! I noticed that back when I first started going to this participant’s house, he would always be watching TV when I arrived. Later on, whenever I walked into his house he would be sitting at the table waiting for me… that melted my heart!!!!
My challenge before this pandemic (which at the time I didn’t even realize was a challenge) was really taking the time to get to know the participants. During the pandemic, I started thinking about it because of the one-on-one time spent getting to know an individual’s strengths and weaknesses, their likes and dislikes. It made it so much easier when it came to working with the participant.
Kathy Mundis (Family Submission)
Thank Heaven for the CPS Home program during the Covid lockdowns! Laura’s Dad and I live in separate households and we both work jobs that require us to work sometimes from home and sometimes from our offices. DSPs Tammy and Lisa were able to be flexible with the locations and schedules, enabling both of us to work at whichever location was needed, often changing on a daily basis. I don’t know what we would have done without them! They kept Laura content and engaged all day so that she didn’t mind being stuck at home all the time, plus we were able to keep everything in line at the office. Thank you UCP and all of the DSPs!
Lisa Noll
When the pandemic hit and we were all forced to change directions in how we could safely provide services to our individuals, Home CPS was born. I had the privilege to work in Home CPS while my program was closed. As a supervisor, I don’t often get the opportunity to interact for extended periods of time with my participants; home CPS was my chance.
I was invited into Laura’s home and into her life. I got to know her as a participant, not just at program, but in life. I watched her flourish in her life roles as a daughter, a friend, an aunt, and a teacher. Laura taught me, or at least reminded me, that some of the simplest things turn out to be the most profound such as looking at the clouds and talking about what you see, sitting quietly while watching creatures in nature do their thing, or just laughing and being silly. Laura communicates several different ways: sounds, gestures, signs, and her iPad. I realized that on some occasions in the past, I misinterpreted a sound or gesture. The look on her face when she knows her message got across is priceless! I found out that Laura really likes to “crochet.” Her giggles and her smile when holding the yarn to make sure it wouldn’t tangle as I made the stitches melted my heart. As you can see from the pictures, Laura is modeling some of the creations she helped make. Laura’s determination to do things on her own is a lesson we could all benefit from. Being able to help her communicate and socialize with others is an incredible feeling. Laura taught me that human connection is essential to a person’s well-being and it can be accomplished without words.
Mary Angela Pinci
I am very new to being a DSP. I started with UCP in August of last year. I had been brought up always wanting to help people and I really wanted to start a full-time career. So my mom found out about this job and told me she used to work as a DSP for this agency and she thought it would be a good fit. When I first started, I was nervous but very excited to get to know the individuals. I think my proudest moment as a DSP was not too long after I started working here, when I got one of the individuals to apply for a job. My supervisor said in the past the individual tried to apply to different jobs but never got a call back. Well about a week after I helped this participant fill out an application, they came up to me with a big smile on their face and said they got the job. In that moment I felt so much joy! I felt proud to be able to help this amazing individual get a job and know they were able to be independent and reach for new goals. This individual has come so far and I was so shocked that in only a small time working here I got this participant to a place where they are now thriving. I absolutely love to see these guys do new things every day, and I don’t think that overwhelming joy will ever stop. I hope to keep motivating them to do their best and reach for new goals each and every day. I am proud to be a DSP and get to experience new and exciting things with them!
Taija Rauch
Honestly, every time that I pick up my participant and see a beaming smile on her face makes me proud to be a DSP. I love that she feels safe enough to openly share her thoughts, feelings, and opinions with me. We have a lot of fun together and awesome conversations. Every aspect of the job makes me proud.
Jasmine Sellers
Last April, I began working virtually (through at Home CPS) with a young man who had never played BINGO!! I thought to myself ‘How can I teach him how to play BINGO online?’ So I Googled it. I taught him how to make his own BINGO boards with a grid system (since he already knew how to play tic-tac-toe) and found a website that visually showed him what number was being called, as well as what numbers were already called. And he LOVED IT!!! We began playing BINGO every time I worked with him, sometimes for upwards of half an hour!
Jennifer Walters (On Behalf of CPS Services)
About three months into the pandemic, UCP was able to move to remote CPS. I went to work setting up a schedule of things we could do together online twice a day. The first week we launched our remote CPS, I was actually on vacation with my family in Virginia. I knew this was going to be a great way to bring our individuals back to the program without the risk of physically bringing them back!! It soon became the highlight of my day—twice a day—to log on and see the smiling faces of our individuals, waiting to do a craft with me, or cooking up a new and fun food to try. We did exercises and several popular line dances. We read stories and did scavenger hunts. The most popular activity was bingo and I sent out prizes to the winners. Family and caregivers shared how the individuals would anxiously be waiting for the time to log on and participate in the activity of the hour. Soon, other individuals from other programs started joining and it was a screen full of smiles and happy faces.
I feel like in the time when it seemed like the whole world came to a screeching halt, I was able to reach out to our individuals in their homes and make everything seem just a little better, for one hour at least, two times a day. I have since moved to residential, as there was a great need to support individuals in the homes where they live, thanks to UCP. I am happy to say that I have met the most fun-filled, joking, laughing, respectful, gentlemen at Greenbriar. Every day is a new adventure. Every day is filled with laughter and excitement. I am not sure if I have changed the lives of any one individual while I have worked for UCP but, I will say that they have ALL changed my life forever. So, even though this is my job, it is much more than that. It is my life, my livelihood, my inspiration.
Jasmyn Williams
I have only been a DSP for approximately one month now. When I applied to this position for an internship, I did not realize that it would be the best decision of my entire life. I have had the incredible opportunity to work with some of the best individuals I have ever met, and I am beyond honored to have made an impact in any of their lives so far. One of the moments that makes me proud to be a DSP is truly a simple one; for others, it could be something so small that they would not have even noticed. For me, however, this showed me that I was truly in the place that I was meant to be! I was on an outing with three participants, and we were out at a park for a picnic. While sitting there, a participant who does not normally connect deeply with his staff was sitting near me. I have had the opportunity to really work with this participant and to get him to agree to participate in activities and outings that he had not agreed to before! When I asked him if he was okay, he responded like this: he looked at me, moved to sit closer to me, smiled at me, and said, “now I am.” Seeing the comfort and joy in his eyes when he was simply able to sit beside me, I knew that I was truly making an impact in his life. I have been able to encourage him to try new things, reach to go out of his comfort zone, and more! I now get to watch him smile, laugh, dance, and socialize with his peers more than I have ever witnessed. I am beyond blessed and grateful for the opportunity that I have been given by interning with UCP. I will forever remember these “small moments” because, to me, they will have the largest impact and continue to make me the most proud to be a DSP!
I have been able to connect the Shippensburg program to an indoor gymnasium within the campus of Shippensburg University. This has allowed participants to have a reliable and safe option to remain active and healthy while exercising. So far, they have been able to play volleyball, tennis, walk the indoor track, and more! They have all LOVED having this new opportunity, and I have already witnessed their energy levels and personal confidence increasing each time they attend!
Len Zaikoski (Family Submission)
Both my wife and myself are able to do our full-time jobs, working from home, knowing that Alex is well cared for, active and engaged in the community.
There’s no single moment to describe as our son Alexander’s caregiver, Natalie, has been so good for so long. Right from the start, she and Alex bonded very well. She shows a sincere interest in keeping Alex’s experiences varied and entertaining. From trips to the library, local parks and stores all the way to Lake Tobias, Natalie makes sure Alex is frequently getting out of the house. She uses his iPad for all sorts of educational videos (from YouTube and other sites) as well as his favorite types of music. We’re so grateful for Natalie.
Shannon Baker
As a Physical Therapist working with children birth through 3 years, I get to share a lot of “firsts” with parents. It is hard to pick just one moment as I really LOVE my job! I was working with a kiddo and scheduled a weekend visit to include Dad. We were working on the steps… The kiddo had been doing them a little with his family and had taken a little spill, so he was fearful.
We had worked on the steps the week before with just Mom. This week, even though there was some fear and minor complaints, within one hour we were able to see big improvements. He went down an entire flight of stairs. It was great to hear the parents talk about the changes they were seeing!
Jennifer Moskalczak (Family Submission)
I just want to thank ALL of my daughter’s therapists and ALL of UCP for the support and love we have received during the past two years! There have been some hard times and amazing times with my daughter. I feel so much stronger and supported by you all! Every step and every “inchstone” (milestone) she makes is just a miracle to me. I can’t thank you enough! You are ALL amazing and I couldn’t imagine having any other TEAM supporting us!
Barb Feaser
I have been working with an individual for over 20 years, and we have grown together in so many different ways. The Pandemic was a very different time for everyone. The individual that I work with and I sat down together and discussed this very important time. We talked about the importance of being safe and following all the new protocols for the seemingly new normal. We both decided that we were not going to let this scary time get us down or make us stop spending quality time together; in fact, it would do just the opposite. We decided that we were going to think outside the box and do fun things. During the actual shutdown we created our own movie theater, and had dinner and movie night with popcorn, candy, and even made cookies together. (It was better than the theatre LOL.) We did “Christmas in July,” complete with a decorated Christmas tree, presents, and home-baked Christmas cookies. We did a mock camping trip, (glamping). We drove everywhere we were allowed to drive once we were able to. We went to a few drive-thru zoos and took rides to every place we could think of. We even put together little bags for the homeless with some water, protein bars, hand sanitizer, and an uplifting picture with an inspirational quote that my kiddos did. Then we handed them out and discussed how lucky we were not to be homeless. It’s been a very different time and the support and encouragement we had from Samantha and Abby (UCP Home and Community management) was just WONDERFUL!! I am very proud to be part of an agency that honestly puts the individual’s needs first.
The support of management was so important!! They checked in with us often, and from time to time, safely met with us while we remained in our cars in full mask attire. I have always felt supported and have ALWAYS been treated with respect here. I am very proud to be an employee of UCP.
Crystal Bennett (Family Submission)
I would like to nominate Ashley Wormsley for any recognition that you might be able to give! A cruise? A Disney trip? SHE IS SO DESERVING OF THIS AND MORE! Ashley stepped into Alicia’s supervisory role seamlessly! Ashley has helped Emily and her job coaches immensely with her new job. She has gone above and beyond by taking Emily for her TB test, her fingerprints, offered to take her shopping for uniform pants, initiated all the online pre-employment tasks with Emily, and, is even scheduling time to take Emily to get her ID renewed.
Ashley took Emily to get her hair fixed when Emily gave herself a Moe from 3 Stooges haircut! She offered to pick Emily up on a Sunday night, on her off time (her family time), so Emily could get back from vacation in time for her and Jenny to go to the pending apartment for their meeting. I can only imagine the amount of calls Ashley gets, even when she’s off, because she wants the girls to feel that sense of security. She made endless calls to Emily’s doctor in Hershey for her script refill and was prepared to go to the office in person because the staff was not returning my calls or hers! Superb! Caring! Kind! Thoughtful! Compassionate! Dedicated! Top notch employee!
Please accept this lengthy email as a chance to recognize a stellar employee! Please use this for performance reviews! Pad her personnel record! You’ve got yourself a great leader in Ashley!
Thanks, in advance, for giving this amazing employee a pat on the back!
Don and Judy Carraghan (Family Submission)
Isolation was our biggest concern last year with Covid. With lockdowns, restricted visits, and all the cautions of the last year, we were pleased all the DSP staff responded with grace, patience, understanding, and a willingness to do what it took to help Christian continue to thrive. He came through last year healthier and happier and giving those big smiles and thumbs up. Thanks to all the DSPs. UCP – U Care about People.
“Chuck” as we call him (It’s a Peanuts Charlie Brown thing) still faces challenges but the shift to UCP has been a very smooth transition. He is now 28 years old and he continues to make strides. He enjoys his house and all the staff that work tirelessly to support him. Christian is doing better with all his activities now that he and the staff are able to go out in the community and access social, recreational and leisure activities not possible a year ago.
Everyone at UCP works so well as a Team. We feel as though we are all valued and are equal participants in the decisions that impact Christian. He is eating healthier and the staff provide him with fruit and healthier options and he lost over 40 pounds by making good food choices. There are so many people involved to ensure his supports are in place and the care and sensitivity shown him is amazing. In particular, the house supervisor Matt really does an excellent job of keeping open lines of communication and all the staff are trained, know what to do and are engaged with Christian, thereby providing him with a caring and safe environment. The DSP staff are engaged and active and Christian has bonded and is much more at ease and just seems to be happier than a year ago. While always providing options and choices, the DSP staff treat Christian with respect and dignity, understanding his differences that make him unique. We thank you all!
Carmen Henry-Harris
I’m happy to share our wonderful experience with UCP. I couldn’t have asked for a more loving, stable and caring home for my brother Ray to live. The moment when I would leave the house after visiting my brother and it didn’t seem that he “cared” whether I stayed or left… that let me know we selected the best place for him.
Kimberly Orr
I feel that I’m a part of something that truly makes a difference. I view any challenges we may come across as learning experiences. I just wish I would have become a part of this awesome team years ago.
I’ve only been with UCP for 5 months, but I have seen the impact on individuals not being able to go to their day programs and not being involved in the community. Our individuals experience the same emotions as much as anyone else. They had lives before the pandemic too. They went out to eat and did various group activities. The UCP team came up with ways to overcome the isolation even if it was a limited amount of individuals meeting at a park to play bingo, or creating activities to do in the home when going out in the community was simply not possible.
UCP is a unique team that truly has all the individuals’ needs at heart. I’m proud to be a part of it.
Ryan Shoop
Due to COVID restrictions over the past year, I’ve had to learn and adapt to new ways to get the individual I support out into the community because of her refusal to wear a mask. So we started going for outdoor walks in parks and by the river. We also began taking extended car rides which she enjoys. I also started offering more activities to keep her safe at home, including house duties to help with her independence. These included food prep, cooking, helping wipe down tables, and playing games. The memories are heartwarming things we share: like when she says “thank you” when certain things are done for her or some of the funny things she says, or her smile.
Read More Stories
Read what other staff and families/participants have shared about the rewarding work our DSPs do every day.