Connie J Burkhart

Every day, direct support professionals (DSPs) make significant decisions affecting the lives of the people they support. But it can be hard for DSPs to make decisions when they are doing something…

A newsletter issue recognizing the changing role of the Direct Support Professional (DSP). This issue highlights public policies that can support the changing role of DSPs, and ways they support …

This issue is dedicated to direct support professionals and all they have endured since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes stories from self-advocates, family members, health care …

Most people with IDD, whether they get funded support or not, live with family members throughout their lives. This Policy Research Brief describes living arrangements for people with IDD, trends …

This brief contains findings from a recent study of COVID-19 and vaccination rates among DSPs. Conducted by ICI and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, the study showed signific…

A multimedia resource providing information important to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that is accessible to all. The content is translated into understandable language …

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) exploring the importance of social capital in the lives of the people they support. Social capital is the value a person gets from …

An issue providing information about how diverse communities view, understand, and experience Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. A growing body of research …

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) exploring trauma-informed care. This issue of Frontline Initiative provides background information on trauma-informed care and offers...

Family members play essential roles in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including providing medical, emotional, financial, and day-to-day support. Family …

Direct support professionals (DSPs) advocate regularly with the people they support. This issue of Frontline Initiative argues that DSPs now need to speak up for themselves and their profession— …

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) exploring person-centered practices. This issue of Frontline Initiative brought together voices on what has been happening in this work …

A health promotion curriculum that addresses the unique learning needs of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) who require ongoing daily supports, have limited readings...

A website presenting the Institute on Community Integration (ICI), a federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD - pronounced U Said), part of a...

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) encouraging the people they support to exercise choice, direction, and control over their lives. DSPs also support people who have …

The term polypharmacy refers to taking five or more medicines. Each state might define polypharmacy in different ways, including how many medicines a person must be taking to be considered overmedi…

The large, often miserable, state-run institutions that used to house people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) are closing as people with IDD increasingly live in community. …

This toolkit was designed by faculty and staff from the University of Minnesota and Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) in the Republic of Armenia to help educators to include students …

This issue is on direct support professionals (DSPs) supporting people’s employment. Many people with disabilities experience barriers in getting the job they want. This can be discouraging. This …

A brief reporting findings from a recent study exploring direct support professionals (DSPs) providing support during the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed the critical shortage of DSPs supporting …

The U.S. Department of Education defines physical restraints as a restriction that immobilizes or reduces the ability to move torso, arms, legs, or head freely. Because of the inherent dangers of …

Direct support professionals (DSPs) have been through a lot this past year. Through a global pandemic, natural disasters, social unrest, and personal distress, they’ve stepped up as they always do …

This issue of Frontline Initiative is about making a career in direct support. Direct support professionals (DSPs) report on why and how they have accomplished this. People supported and their …

Technology has greatly impacted our lives and culture in recent years. For direct support professionals (DSPs), the use of technology at work has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. DSPs can …

This brief contains findings from a recent study exploring direct support professionals (DSPs) providing support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 …

Mainstream media does not use consistent language to talk about the role of direct support workers. This inconsistency makes it difficult to communicate the value and complexity of the direct …

A newsletter issue promoting self-care for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). To assist the people they support, DSPs must also take care of their own needs, health, and wellness. Incorporating …

This issue explores diverse and lesser-heard voices among direct support professionals. Authors include DSPs who are autistic, Deaf, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and immigrants…

Self-direction allows people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to control most aspects of their home- and community-based services. Other names that states use for self- …

This brief uses publicly available data from the National Core Indicators® (NCI)-IDD Staff Stability Survey to compare wages of direct support professionals (DSPs) to what people earn in other …

A brief with findings from a recent study exploring experiences of direct support professionals (DSPs) providing support during the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed the critical shortage of DSPs …

Medicaid requires states to provide institutional services to eligible Medicaid recipients, but allows states to have waiting lists for recipients preferring home and community based services. …

This report from ICI and partners documents lessons learned from model demonstrations projects (MDPs) nationwide who tested an intervention for support transition-age youth who receive Supplemental...

This issue of Frontline Initiative focuses on developing awareness, knowledge, and skills for supporting healthy relationships. It also includes information about tools and resources that direct...

This textbook is a resource for implementing inclusive education practices in Armenia, other post-Soviet countries, and countries on the path to a more inclusive education and society. The content …

The pandemic brought direct support professionals’ role of supporting peoples’ health and wellness to the forefront. DSPs had to slow down, take more precautions, and learn new ways to maintain …

Assistive technology helps people in daily activities, such as text-to-speech software for communication, transition planning software, and virtual reality for learning job and interview skills. …

This brief contains findings from a recent study that was a first of its kind to look at both organizational- and state-level factors related to turnover among direct support professionals (DSP), …