Lindsay Anne Murry is a long-time employee of AHRC NYC, with 19 years of experience in the organization. Lindsay has held various positions within AHRC NYC, including assistant manager, human rights committee coordinator, staff trainer, executive assistant, and program manager for special initiatives. Monique Robinson has been with AHCR NYC for a little over a year. She started as a direct support professional, then was promoted to employment community support coordinator. Shortly after Monique was promoted to community support supervisor. Dayvina Robinson heard about AHRC NYC through a friend. She started her career at AHRC right before the pandemic. Dayvina is passionate about learning and applying her love for psychology when working with the people she supports as a community support professional. Scott Diaz started as an intern at AHRC NYC. Advocacy work runs in his family, so he gravitated towards work that supported others. He started his career at AHRC in 2017 working in a day habilitation setting, but during the pandemic transitioned to residential. Since participating in the NADSP E-Badge Academy, he’s had the opportunity to network, build relationships with peers, and grow in his profession.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of DSP Talk, host Gina Scarpa interviews four employees, Lindsay, Monique, Scott, and Dayvina, from AHRC NYC, who have taken advantage of the career pathway opportunities offered by the organization. Lindsay provides an overview of AHRC NYC and the services it provides for individuals and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also discusses the various career development opportunities available to the direct support workforce, including trainings, certifications, and leadership programs. Monique, Scott, and Dayvina share their personal experiences and the impact these opportunities have had on their careers. They discuss the challenges they have faced, such as managing time and implementing new practices, as well as the rewards of supporting the people receiving services and making a positive impact in their lives.

Key Takeaways:

• AHRC NYC offers a wide range of career development opportunities for the direct support workforce, including trainings, certifications, and leadership programs.
• The NADSP E-Badge Academy is highly recommended for DSPs as it provides valuable knowledge and skills for supporting individuals with disabilities.
• Time management can be a challenge for DSPs, but the benefits of career development and networking outweigh the difficulties.
• The most rewarding part of the job is the opportunity to support and make a difference in the lives of the people receiving services.

Notable Quotes:

• "The most rewarding part of it is really the people that I support. They are just some of the most genuine people I've ever met in my life." – Dayvina Robinson
• “I was always asking for other ways to learn and develop my career and network. So, I was super proactive in trying to find these opportunities.” – Lindsay Anne Murry
• “You’re gonna have to want to do this, you’re going to want to be someone that is an ally…the passion shines.” – Scott Diaz
• “It [NADSP E-Badge Academy] teaches you so much. A lot of stuff that you thought, you know, and you really don't know.” – Monique Robinson

Resources:

• AHRC NYC website: hrcnyc.org
• NADSP E-Badge Academy: https://ebadge.nadsp.org/

Listen to the full episode of DSP Talk to learn more about AHRC NYC's career pathway opportunities and the experiences of staff members in the Direct Support Profession.

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