The NADSP E-Badge Academy has provided many AHRC NYC employees engaged in direct support to enhance their professional development and discover new strategies for supporting people with disabilities in a variety of settings. Two people who have found success with this exciting online program are Mary Buckley and Nericka James.
Mary Buckley
After 15 years with AHRC NYC, Mary Buckley, a Project SEARCH Skills Instructor with Employment and Business Services, was eager to add to her institutional and professional knowledge through the NADSP E-Badge Academy.
“The more knowledge you have, the better you can serve people,” Mary said. “We deal with so many types of people that it’s always good to keep trying to learn to improve yourself and better understand and support the people you work with.”
Mary enjoys her work helping people find and maintain employment. “I like the one-on-one back and forth. Seeing someone grow and change, guiding them and helping them so they can achieve their goals. Seeing how different they can become from when they started. Some people don’t believe they can accomplish so much, so when you see them grow and change, that’s the excitement for me.”
Mary said the E-Badge courses updated her understanding of where the field is heading.
“It taught me how we are shifting towards person centered services,” she explained. “I always have to keep in mind to not influence their decision making and watch my biases. That’s human nature, everyone has biases. It was a good refresher that you may think you understand their disability but you’re not in their shoes so don’t pretend to be.”
The E-Badge Academy courses helped Mary better define her occupational goals. “I’m a cheerleader. I’m there to support you, but I have to foster growth and help you learn to advocate for yourself. It’s about moving the person I’m working with forward, not myself. When I started, the skills instructor was right next to the person telling them what to do; now it’s letting the person do the job at their pace. Let the person make mistakes–that’s how we all learn.”
Nericka James
After getting her degree in sociology, Nericka James said “I wanted to help change other people lives in my community.” She joined AHRC NYC more than four years ago to further this goal, working as a Job Coach with our Employment and Business Services-Bronx. Most of Nericka’s caseload is with Hudson River Services, with other supported employment opportunities in retail settings such as Walgreen’s and TJ Maxx.
“I’m more hands on working in employment, and I know I’m actually making a difference,” Nericka said. “I get to find employment and maintain employment. I get to see growth. Even seeing some jobs not work out and getting them to try new things means something. We are learning and growing together.”
Always seeking to further her knowledge and career, Nericka found herself highly engaged in the NADSP E-Badge Academy.
“This program allowed me to have a career with purpose,” she explained. “It’s been teaching me more ways I can contribute to the success of the people I support.”
The E-Badge Academy courses have caused Nericka to shift things such as the language she uses to describe her work. “I used to say I was advocating for someone, but through this program I realize I advocate with someone. I help them make their own decisions.”
Nericka said that the biggest takeaway from the courses has been that this profession can be one of continuous learning. “The wording I use, how I was coaching people, and realizing that just because they have a disability doesn’t mean they don’t have a voice. It’s important for all of us to learn and to fail, and to help them make decisions of their own. I now find myself listening and don’t try to take over a problem for them.”
She feels that NADSP has given her the tools for success. “I’ll continue to advocate with the people I work with, listen to them, use effective communication with them, and always have patience.”
About the E-Badge Academy
The NADSP E-Badge Academy offers Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Frontline Supervisors (FLSs) the ability to earn national certification through stackable electronic badges. These badges demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and values that these professionals utilize every day, recognizing the professional development that might otherwise go unacknowledged. With E-Badges through coursework via online platforms, DSPs and their FLSs can submit specific examples, experience, and education that highlights their achievements and contributions to human services. Topics covered include Community and Service Networking; Vocational, Educational & Career Support; Communication; and Cultural Awareness and Responsiveness, with dozens of others covered in the courses.
For more information, contact Lindsay Anne Murray, Program Associate to Chief Program Officer, at Lindsay.Murray@ahrcnyc.org.
