III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 613 

Designating the week beginning September 8, 2008, as ‘‘National Direct 

Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 14, 2008 

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. 

SMITH, Mr. KERRY, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. DODD, Mr. HATCH, Mr. BROWN, 

Mr. BUNNING, and Mr. BINGAMAN) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week beginning September 8, 2008, as 

‘‘National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

Whereas direct support workers, direct care workers, personal 

assistants, personal attendants, in-home support workers, 

and paraprofessionals (referred to in this preamble as 

‘‘direct support professionals’’) are the primary providers 

of publicly funded long term support and services for millions of individuals; 

Whereas a direct support professional must build a close, 

trusted relationship with an individual with disabilities; 

Whereas a direct support professional assists an individual 

with disabilities with the most intimate needs, on a daily 

basis; 


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Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range 

of support, including— 

(1) preparation of meals; 

(2) helping with medications; 

(3) bathing; 

(4) dressing; 

(5) mobility; 

(6) getting to school, work, religious, and recreational activities; and 

(7) general daily affairs; 

Whereas a direct support professional provides essential support to help keep an individual with disabilities connected 

to the family and community of the individual; 

Whereas direct support professionals enable individuals with 

disabilities to live meaningful, productive lives; 

Whereas direct support professionals are the key to allowing 

an individual with disabilities to live successfully in the 

community of the individual, and to avoid more costly institutional care; 

Whereas the majority of direct support professionals are female, and many are the sole breadwinners of their families; 

Whereas direct support professionals work and pay taxes, but 

many remain impoverished and are eligible for the same 

Federal and State public assistance programs on which 

the individuals with disabilities served by the direct support professionals must depend; 

Whereas Federal and State policies, as well as the Supreme 

Court, in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), assert 

the right of an individual to live in the home and community of the individual; 


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Whereas, in 2008, the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home and community-based settings and this trend is projected to increase over the next 

decade; 

Whereas there is a documented critical and growing shortage 

of direct support professionals in every community 

throughout the United States; and 

Whereas many direct support professionals are forced to 

leave jobs due to inadequate wages and benefits, creating 

high turnover and vacancy rates that research demonstrates adversely affects the quality of support to individuals with disabilities: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week beginning September 8, 

3 2008, as ‘‘National Direct Support Professionals 

4 Recognition Week’’; 

5 (2) recognizes the dedication and vital role of 

6 direct support professionals in enhancing the lives of 

7 individuals with disabilities of all ages; 

8 (3) appreciates the contribution of direct sup9 port professionals in supporting the needs that reach 

10 beyond the capacities of millions of families in the 

11 United States; 

12 (4) commends direct support professionals as 

13 integral in supporting the long-term support and 

14 services system of the United States; and 


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1 (5) finds that the successful implementation of 

2 the public policies of the United States depends on 

3 the dedication of direct support professionals. 

Æ 


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