Attracting Direct Support Professionals: Advancing Career Pathways with Job Quality in Mind

Direct support professionals (DSPs) support people with disabilities and older adults to live independently, participate in their communities, and seek and maintain competitive integrated employment. DSPs help people find and retain high-quality jobs, often playing a critical role in supporting the employment of people with a wide range of disabilities. This National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities resource presents three recommendations for making the occupation more attractive to job seekers. This memo also addresses DSP career pathways and training and DSP wages and benefits.