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HISTORY
Direct Support Professionals of Missouri began in Northwest Missouri as a single
meeting, held to give direct support a voice in local Person Centered Organizational
Change meetings. Questionnaires were sent out by a planning committee, the DSP core group,
to local DS staff to get an idea of topics they wanted to discuss. Entitled "Let's
Talk," the first conference dealt with communication between DS and service
coordinators, administration and other staff.
After the success of the first conference, the core group received a
grant from the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) to present more
conferences. In 1997, DSPM held conferences ranging from a meeting between DS and local
regional center administration to a presentation on Person Centered Planning.
In February of 1998, DSP was proud to present internationally known
author and lecturer, Dave Hingsburger. Mr. Hingsburger spoke on the "Ethics of
Touch" and self-esteem.
DSPM core group has spoken at conferences in Missouri and Nebraska
about their work. Others in the state became interested in starting their own core groups
and holding their own conferences. So, the core group began to work on setting up other
groups in the state.
While continuing to work with DS in the northwest area, DSPM future goals include a network of communication for direct support professionals across the state of Missouri and working with other direct support groups nation-wide.
Note:
When reading minutes from previous years; DSPM begins it's conference year in March and ends it in February. This should explain why the February 18, 1998 conference is included in the 1997 minutes.
After 5/8/00, DSPM will stop posting minutes on these pages. Minutes from specific regions will be posted on their individual pages. See the DSPM Map Page for more information.
1999 1998 1997 Washington Trip
To contact the Direct Support Professionals of Missouri core group:
Direct Support Professionals of Missouri
P.O. Box 454
Maryville, MO. 64468
Fax: (660) 582-3493
dspm@asde.net