September 10-17 is National Direct Support Professional Week
Kudos to all our Direct Service Professionals (DSPs) who are on the front lines of Goodwill NYNJ programs every day. They help fulfill our mission of empowering individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment to gain independence through the power of work. This week, we’ll highlight their stories to celebrate their accomplishments.
DSP Profile: Tasha Stanton
Tasha was promoted to a full-time position this year. Congratulations, Tasha!
What do you do in your job at Goodwill?
At goodwill, I provide quality support to the people we serve. Through providing these services, I instill confidence, life skills and vocational skills needed to prosper in the world independently. And…paperwork. I do lots of paperwork and documentation being a case manager.
What impact do you think your work has on the greater good that Goodwill does?
I feel through hard work and dedication I have provided a steady and nurturing environment which allowed our clients a springboard to succeed in the world. With the people, we serve maintaining employment and a social life within the community, the world becomes a little bit of a better place.
What impact has being a DSP had on you?
Being a DSP has shown me what true dedication is and humbled me in a way no other job could. While I started as a Rehab Tech I got to progress professionally alongside our clientele. We have supported each other and grew with each other professionally. Now as a Rehab Specialist I watch our clients acquire employment and go off into the world I feel we have come full circle. One cannot succeed without the other and Goodwill is great place that fosters both staff and clients.
What would you consider your greatest accomplishment in your current job at Goodwill?
Personally, It was the successful completion of the CVS training program. I started alongside our clients as a Rehab Tech both of us learning and acquiring soft skills needed for general employment. Then we progressed on to the Mock Store my clients learning hard skills and me learning how to support them as a counselor. Then I learned how to job coach them throughout their real time in store internship. Now, they have job offers. I feel the whole experience has been very poetic and consider this one of my best accomplishments.
What is something about your department that you’d like to share?
I would like the world to know how hard working and committed my department is to supporting the people we serve. Real sweat and tears goes into our work every day and team work is the reason progress is possible. Our team is strong and without each other the road to the future would be far less achievable.