CDS-I-A: Teaching People with Developmental Disabilities
Related Competencies
CDS-I-A: Teaching People with Developmental Disabilities
College of Direct Support (CDS)
The College of Direct Support (CDS) is a competency based training and development tool. These competency sets are nationally validated and/or come from expert consensus. The foundation of competencies makes lessons and courses easier to use in a coordinated way. They can be selected to develop a person’s overall competence. They can be used to create a meaningful development plan. These lists provide you with the competency sets that reinforce the CDS content. They indicate the specific competencies covered by this lesson or course.
NADSP Competency Areas
The following competency areas and skill statements are used by the National Alliance on Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). The NADSP set is based on the Community Support Skills Standards (HSRI, 1996). The CSSS are a nationally validated set of competencies for DSPs. The ones listed below are only part of the whole set. They are the knowledge and skills a learner must be able to demonstrate at a basic level of competence having completed the content. See the full set of NADSP competencies and to learn more about the NADSP.
Area 5: Facilitation of Services
The Direct Support Professional is knowledgeable about a range of participatory planning techniques and is skilled in implementing plans in a collaborative and expeditious manner.
Skill Statements
- The competent DSP assists and/or facilitates the implementation of an individualized plan to achieve specific outcomes derived from participants’ preferences, needs and interests.
Area 6: Community Living Skills & Supports
The Direct Support Professional has the ability to match specific supports and interventions to the unique needs of individual participants and recognizes the importance of friends, family and community relationships.
Skill Statements
- The competent DSP assists the participant to meet his or her physical (e.g., health, grooming, toileting, eating) and personal management needs (e.g., human development, human sexuality), by teaching skills, providing supports, and building on individual strengths and capabilities.
Area 12: Documentation
The Direct Support Professional is aware of the requirements for documentation in his or her organization and is able to manage these requirements efficiently.
Skill Statements
- The competent DSP maintains accurate records, collecting, compiling and evaluating data, and submitting records to appropriate sources in a timely fashion.
- The competent DSP learns and remains current with appropriate documentation systems, setting priorities and developing a system to manage documentation.
Area 14: Provide Person Centered Supports
Skill Statements
- The competent DSP modifies support programs and interventions to ensure they are person centered.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)- Direct Support Workforce Core Competencies.
The CMS core competencies for the Direct Service Workforce (DSW) were part of an initiative to improve access to high quality LTSS for all populations. The competencies are designed to improve worker quality. These competencies are designed to inform direct support service delivery and promote best practices in community-based LTSS. They are also a core foundation to career development. Only some of the competencies are listed here. These are the ones a learner should be able to demonstrate basic competence in once completing the content. Read the full set of CMS-DSW competencies.
Area 2: Person-Centered Practices
The DSW uses person-centered practices, assisting individuals to make choices and plan goals, and provides services to help individuals achieve their goals.
Skill Statements:
The Direct Service Worker:
- Helps design services or support plans based on the choices and goals of the individual supported, and involves the individual in the process.
- Builds collaborative, professional relationships with the individual and others on the support team.
- Provides supports and services that help the individual achieve his or her goals.
- Works in partnership with the individual to track progress toward goals and adjust services as needed and desired by individual.
Area 9: Community Living Skills and Supports
The DSW helps individuals to manage the personal, financial and household tasks that are necessary on a day-to-day basis to pursue an independent, community-based lifestyle.
Skill Statements:
The Direct Service Worker:
- Provides person centered support and helps the individual to build on his or her strengths in life activities.
Area 11: Cultural Competency
The DSW respects cultural differences, and provides services and supports that fit with an individual’s preferences.
Skill Statements:
The Direct Service Worker:
- Provides or accesses services that fit with the individuals’ culture or preferences.
NADD An Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Needs DSP Competency Standards
Supporting people with co-occurring intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses well takes special skill, knowledge, and effort. The NADD competency standards were to define critical areas of skill that people need to do this well. There are several levels of competencies developed by national experts in this area. The ones listed below are only part of the set for direct support professionals. They are the ones that a learner should be able to demonstrate at a basic level of competence having completed the course. Read the full set of NADD competencies and related certification and accreditation efforts.
Competency Standard 1: Assessment and Observation
The qualified direct support professional (DSP) is competent in the area of “assessment and observation” as it relates to individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Mental Illness (IDD/MI).
Benchmark 1B: Use of Assessment and Observation Tools
The qualified DSP demonstrates proficiency in the use of assessments and observation methods to support needs of individuals served.
Benchmark 1B Performance Indicators
In the area of “assessment and observation tools,” the qualified DSP:
- Uses individual goals, desires, preferences, expectations, and interests for each person in daily interactions and support.
Competency Standard 2: Behavior Support
The qualified direct support professional (DSP) is competent in the area of “behavior support” as it relates to individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Mental Illness (IDD/MI).
Benchmark 2D: Teaching New Behaviors and Skills
The qualified DSP demonstrates skill in teaching and support methods related to behavior support. The DSP understands that the individual with intellectual disabilities may have cognitive challenges that affect learning. However, he/she does not make assumptions on individual learning potential. The DSP recognizes that behavior is complex. He/she teaches skills related to behavior management. However, he/she also recognizes that quality of life affects behavior. He /she take the time to teach life skills that promote independence, integration, and opportunity.
Benchmark 2D Performance Indicators
In the area of “teaching new behaviors and skills,” the qualified DSP:
- Uses basic principles of effective communication and teaching including clearly communicating expectations, checking for understanding, and adjusting styles to meet unique needs.
- Uses formal or informal functional behavior assessment and person-centered planning to guide choices and methods skill development and reinforcement.
- Models appropriate behavior and interactions.
- Uses reinforcement frequently, appropriately and positively.
- Assists individuals in identifying new skills as an alternative to meet behavior function.
- Tailors instruction and intervention strategies to address individual differences, preferences, goals, learning styles, and culture.