Aspire of WNY is proud to highlight Nicole Smith, Crystal Todd, Vanessa Morse and Suzanne Stone for being among the first of our employees to complete a semester in the Direct Support Professional (DSP) program at SUNY Jamestown Community College (JCC).
Earlier this year, SUNY JCC launched three new micro-credential programs designed to prepare students for their DSP certificates while earning college credits. These programs focus on essential topics for DSPs, offering nine to ten credits per credential, each of which can be completed in just one semester. Thanks to a partnership with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), New York state residents can enroll in these programs at no cost.
Each of the four dedicated employees who completed the program took on the challenge of balancing work, life, and studies, to learn valuable skills that will help them flourish in their careers of supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities here at Aspire of WNY!
Nicole, who works part-time with Supported Volunteering and Lifestyle’s Enrichment’s (SVLE) program, credits her circle of support for being able to balance the program with work and coaching her daughter’s cheerleading team. “It was stressful at first, but all my coworkers from SVLE were so encouraging. A couple of my teachers from the program even reached out and told me that I was doing a great job and reminded me that I’m making a real difference for the individuals I support,” Nicole shares.
The employees who completed the program emphasize that it has given them new perspectives and tools to enhance the lives of the individuals they support. “I thought it could help me better understand where some of our individuals are coming from—their behaviors, off days, and just help me be better for them,” Nicole explains. Nicole believes that this will significantly enhance her ability to support the individuals that she works with.
For now, Nicole plans on completing three more semesters to obtain her DSP 2 Certificate. Nicole encourages anyone else who is interested to go for it and leaves them with a piece of advice: “It can be overwhelming at first, but don’t give up because you can do it. No matter how busy you are, there’s always time for improvement.”
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of the Aspire of WNY employees who continue to challenge themselves to improve the lives of the individuals that we support. Your achievements inspire us all, and we look forward to seeing how you apply your new skills to help individuals realize their full potential and live as independently as possible. The sky is the limit!
