III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 548 

Designating the week beginning September 9, 2012, as ‘‘National Direct 

Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week beginning September 9, 2012, as 

‘‘National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

Whereas direct support professionals, 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 supports and services for millions of individuals with disabilities; 

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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•SRES 548 ATS 

Whereas direct support professionals perform a broad range 

of activities for individuals with disabilities, including 

preparing meals, managing medications, bathing, dressing, helping with mobility, providing transportation to 

school, work, and religious and recreational activities, and 

helping with 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 and avoid more costly institutional care; 

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

Whereas, although direct support professionals work and pay 

taxes, many are impoverished and are eligible for the 

same Federal and State public assistance programs that 

individuals with disabilities depend on; 

Whereas Federal policies, State policies, and the opinion of 

the Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 

(1999) assert the right of an individual to live in his or 

her home and community; 

Whereas the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home and community-based settings, and the 

percentage of direct support professionals employed in 

such settings is projected to increase during this decade; 


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•SRES 548 ATS 

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, which, research demonstrates, adversely affects the quality of supports provided to individuals with disabilities: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week beginning September 9, 

3 2012, as ‘‘National Direct Support Professionals 

4 Recognition Week’’; 

5 (2) recognizes the dedication and vital role of 

6 direct support professionals, direct care workers, 

7 personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home 

8 support workers, and paraprofessionals (referred to 

9 in this resolution as ‘‘direct support professionals’’) 

10 in enhancing the lives of individuals of all ages with 

11 disabilities; 

12 (3) appreciates the contribution of direct sup13 port professionals in serving needs that are beyond 

14 the capacity of millions of families in the United 

15 States; 

16 (4) commends direct support professionals as 

17 integral participants in the long-term support and 

18 services system of the United States; and 


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•SRES 548 ATS 

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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