III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 532 

Designating the week beginning September 7, 2014, as ‘‘National Direct 

Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 31, 2014 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BROWN, Mr. 

CASEY, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. 

MANCHIN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, and Ms. WARREN) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week beginning September 7, 2014, as 

‘‘National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

Whereas 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 

with disabilities; 

Whereas direct support professionals must build a close, respectful, and trusted relationship with individuals with 

disabilities; 


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•SRES 532 ATS 

Whereas direct support professionals assist individuals with 

disabilities with intimate personal care assistance on a 

daily basis; 

Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range 

of individualized support, including— 

(1) preparation of meals; 

(2) helping with medications; 

(3) assisting with bathing and dressing; 

(4) assisting individuals with physical disabilities 

with access to their environment; 

(5) providing transportation to school, work, religious, and recreational activities; and 

(6) helping with general aspects of daily living, such 

as financial matters, medical appointments, and personal 

interests; 

Whereas direct support professionals provide essential support to help keep individuals with disabilities connected 

to family, friends, and community; 

Whereas direct support professionals support individuals with 

disabilities in making choices that lead to meaningful, 

productive lives; 

Whereas direct support professionals are the key to helping 

individuals with disabilities to live successfully in the 

community, and to avoid more costly institutional care; 

Whereas the participation of direct support professionals in 

medical care planning is critical to the successful transition from medical events to post-acute care and long-term 

support and services; 

Whereas the majority of direct support professionals are the 

primary financial providers for their families and often 

work multiple jobs to make ends meet; 


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Whereas direct support professionals are a critical element in 

supporting individuals who are receiving health care services for severe chronic health conditions and individuals 

with with functional limitations; 

Whereas while direct support professionals work and pay 

taxes, many direct support professionals earn povertylevel wages and are therefore eligible for the same Federal and State public assistance programs on which individuals with disabilities served by direct support professionals must also depend; 

Whereas Federal and State policies assert the right of certain 

individuals with a disability to live in a residential setting 

in the community, or an institutional setting of their 

choice, and the Supreme Court of the United States, in 

Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), confirmed that 

right for certain individuals; 

Whereas, as of 2014, the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home and community-based settings and this majority is projected to increase over the 

next decade; 

Whereas there is a documented and increasing critical shortage of direct support professionals throughout the United 

States; and 

Whereas many direct support professionals are forced to 

leave their jobs due to inadequate wages and benefits and 

limited opportunities for advancement, creating demonstrated high turnover and vacancy rates, which adversely affect the quality of support and the safety and 

health of individuals with disabilities: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 532 ATS 

1 (1) designates the week beginning September 7, 

2 2014, as ‘‘National Direct Support Professionals 

3 Recognition Week’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the dedication of direct support 

5 professionals and the vital role direct support profes6 sionals have in enhancing the lives of individuals 

7 with disabilities of all ages; 

8 (3) appreciates the contribution of direct sup9 port professionals in supporting individuals with dis10 abilities and their families in the United States; 

11 (4) identifies direct support professionals as in12 tegral to long-term support and services for individ13 uals with disabilities; and 

14 (5) finds that the successful implementation of 

15 the public policies affecting individuals with disabil16 ities in the United States depends on the dedication 

17 of direct support professionals. 

Æ 


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