Frontline Initiative: Health and Wellness
Direct Course Connect
Health and wellness are essential aspects of daily living for people with disabilities. Direct support professionals (DSPs) often notice concerns in the course of their close work with people. DSPs may help with making and getting to medical appointments. They may play a role with supporting communication with healthcare professionals. They can support exercise and healthy nutrition. DSPs also provide supports for people to be active and engaged within their communities. Content in the College of Direct Support (CDS) can help DSPs to learn effective ways to support people’s health and wellness. This can be a part of leading a fulfilling life. Below is a small sample of CDS lessons that could be useful to DSPs.
College of Direct Support
Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Illnesses: Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions in the Community
Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellness. This lesson teaches DSPs how to provide effective support to people who have mental health conditions. This lesson could help learners earn the NADSP E-Badge for Plan Implementation.
Supporting Healthy Lives: Living a Healthy Life
DSPs can play a key role in supporting people to lead their best lives. This lesson explores health and well-being from a holistic view of mind, body, spirit, and emotions. This lesson could help learners earn the NADSP E-Badge for Supporting Well-being.
Supporting Healthy Lives: Individual Health Needs
There are many factors that affect a person’s health needs, such as age, family history, culture, and lifestyle choices. The lesson provides ideas that DSPs can use to meet each person's unique health needs. This lesson could help learners earn a NADSP E-Badge for Accredited Education.
Supporting Healthy Lives: Working with Health Care Professionals
Team collaboration and action can affect the quality of health care for people supported. This lesson helps DSPs explore ways to share health information with people they support and health care providers. It teaches DSPs to advocate for quality care. This lesson could help learners earn the NADSP E-Badge for Self-Advocate Ally.
Understanding Depression: Co-Occurrence with Intellectual/Developmental Disability
Depression can affect people’s health and wellness. This lesson helps DSPs learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and support well-being as part of trauma-informed care. This lesson could help learners earn the NADSP E-Badge for Supporting Well-being.