Progress Center honors staff

NORWAY — The Progress Center has announced that for the third consecutive year, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution designating the week beginning Sept. 12 as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.

The bill recognizes direct support professionals for their commitment to supporting individuals and promoting community-inclusion for individuals with disabilities of all ages.

“Direct support professionals provide an invaluable service to the millions of Americans living with disabilities. I'm proud to honor these hard-working individuals who give so much to help those in need. Their dedication to service is an example to us all,” said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska  in a press release. He sponsored the bill.

When asked by The Progress Center her feelings, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “The compassionate care provided by direct support professionals helps keep families together and enables people with disabilities to live meaningful, productive lives.  Moreover, the services provided by direct support professionals help these individuals avoid more costly institutional care.  I am pleased to co-sponsor the Senate Resolution honoring these hard-working individuals who give so much of themselves to help others.”

Officials at the Progress Center, located at 35 Cottage St., said National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week is celebrated annually across the country with special events and ceremonies earmarked to honor the tens of thousands of workers who enable the most fragile citizens and their families to live healthy community-oriented lives. Direct support professionals are the people who work as direct care workers, in-home support workers, personal assistants and attendants to ensure that people with disabilities are able to live more independently and in community settings.

The Progress Center currently employs 73 direct support professionals. Some of the festivities planned at The Progress Center to celebrate include barbecues for the direct support professionals.

Kathy Brown, program manager of Day Program/Community Support Program at the center, said, “The DSPs in our Community Support Program step up to the plate each and every day with compassion, dedication and strong teamwork ethic that nurtures the growth and confidence that each individual served has achieved.”

For more information on National Direct Support Professionals week or on The Progress Center call Priscilla Burnette at 743-8049, ext. 266