A young woman stands outside on a sunny day. She wears a black floral shirt and glasses. She is smiling directly at the camera.

Opinion: Personal Thank You This Week and Always

September 7 through 13 is DSP Appreciation Week and so I wanted to express my gratitude for my Direct Support Professionals. My name is Courtney Hineman. I am the Community Outreach Advocate for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities. I co-lead our self-advocacy group, attend and present at different community events. I host a vlog called Courtney Explains It All where I interview other people with disabilities and talk about important issues like accessibility, employment, and inclusion. I serve on the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council. I also receive services through the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities. I have Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) that come to my apartment every day. They help me get ready for the day, help me with my medications, cleaning, cooking, and going out to do errands.

We also do fun activities together; I’ve gone to the Cincinnati Zoo, Pinball Garage, bowling, Main Event in West Chester, Krohn’s Conservatory, and Marcum Park. My staff and I have gone shopping together, they have taken me to Best Buddies events in Oxford, and we’ve even gone to see historic houses in Trenton and in Hamilton!

When I first moved out on my own, I started out just having a DSP one time a week. Then, three times a week, and then in June of 2022 I started having DSPs every day.

At the time, it was a big change for me. I was really struggling to handle my daily living tasks on my own; like making sure I got ready for the day on time, my medications, making sure my food wasn’t expired, keeping organized. All the little things people need to do to complete daily routines…that’s where I struggle.

To maintain my independence and be able to keep living in my own apartment, I had a direct support professional come in every day. To be honest, at first, it felt like a loss of independence. But over time I realized that my DSP and I are working together to maintain as much of my independence as possible: what I’ve heard some advocates call interdependence. Also, having DSPs every day has helped me feel less lonely and stressed out. It’s nice to have someone to talk to and when we are doing fun activities together, sometimes, it feels more like we are spending time as friends rather than as paid support.

On top of having DSPs, I also use Remote Support Services through THS. These technology-based supports help me live safely in my home while my DSPs are not scheduled to be there.

I have two THS iPads, two fall sensors, (one in my living room and the other in my bedroom) and I also have a motion sensor by my bedroom door. I use a walker, but I can fall very easily due to my physical disability, so the motion sensor lets THS know when I am out of bed. If I am not back within 15 minutes, then they will call me on my iPad to make sure I’m okay.

I decide when I want the remote supports to be on (I normally have it on when I go to bed so that staff don’t have to spend the night with me). In bad weather, THS has stayed on to help me remotely until my DSP can get to me.

Having both Remote Supports and my DSPs has increased my independence and helped me live my life to the fullest! If you are a DSP reading this, please know your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed! Thank you so much for all you do!