Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Pennsylvania's College of Direct Support. The College of Direct Support is a national, web-based curriculum designed for individuals who support women and men with developmental disabilities. It was created by some of the leading experts in the field and built on established and validated skill sets. The Department of Public Welfare's Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has purchased a license for this curriculum to bring you the most up-to-date information on supporting people with developmental disabilities. Pennsylvania is proud to be the first state to offer this curriculum. We hope that by using the College of Direct Support, we will begin to build a common language, which will enhance communication and help us better support the people we serve.

The Office of Developmental Programs heard your request for training that is practical, user-friendly, and flexible. Because the College of Direct Support is web-based, you have the freedom to participate at times and in places that are convenient for you. You can learn at a pace that is comfortable, and training can be personalized by assigning specific courses and lessons. Furthermore, the curriculum has been customized to meet the ODP's regulations, policies, and practices based on a review by a panel of Pennsylvania stakeholders. In order to continue this process of stakeholder feedback, we will periodically ask for your thoughts on the curriculum to evaluate its implementation and enhance its usefulness.

We recognize the value of your contribution to the lives of the people you serve. Your work is essential to the mental retardation system, and we believe that this curriculum will help you grow and succeed. Thank you for all of your endeavors and continuing contributions to the lives of Pennsylvanians with mental retardation.

Sincerely,

Kevin T. Casey

Deputy Secretary for Office of Developmental Programs