Direct Support Professional

Position Overview

Interested in working as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) with an honor student who is a non-speaking autistic man? I am ambitious, curious, methodical, open-minded, intuitive, honest, intellectual, humorous, and outgoing man. I need to work with people who also have these qualities.

Key Responsibilities

• Listening to and honoring nonverbal, verbal, and typing communication
• Listening to and honoring nonverbal, verbal, and typing communication
• Using AAC tools and strategies to support social interactions
• Creating conversational space to include and support communication
• Providing verbal and/or physical resistance prompts that help intimate mind-body connection to be self-determined in achieving goals
• Social outings to places like restaurants, classes, and medical appointments
• Attending academic, medical, occupational, and personal events
• Collaborating with Circle of Support team to support individual self-expression, well-being, and advocacy
• Assisting with activities, including academic classes and projects, physical exercise, virtual connections, social media posts and interaction, and social events
• Following "best practices" of communication supports that promote self-advocacy, self-determination, and independence
• Learning needs, wants, and feelings
• Maintaining safe, supportive environment while respecting boundaries and upholding ETTA's guidelines and policies
• Attending monthly staff meetings to learn how to support the disabilities community and connect with fellow disability support staff and leadership

About ETTA

ETTA is a respected non-profit agency serving the Jewish community in the Los Angeles area. You may have heard about ETTA in the media. We have provided services and support for individuals on the spectrum, and with other intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1993. We also help their families as one of the premier providers of such services on the West Coast. Our staff works one-on-one with individuals in the I/DD community, engaging, guiding, and inspiring them to increase community involvement, grow their social network, develop opportunities, and achieve their greatest potential and goals.