A Professional Development Model for Direct Support Professionals: Enhancing Outcomes for Adults With Extensive Support Needs

This article introduces a professional development model designed to equip direct support professionals (DSPs) with evidence-based practices (EBPs) to enhance their instructional skills, as well as improve community inclusion and post-school employment outcomes for adults with extensive support needs (ESN). This article outlines a simple approach to professional development that involves six crucial steps: (a) assemble a team and conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps in DSPs’ knowledge, (b) develop tailored content to address these gaps, (c) deliver professional development sessions on EBPs, (d) support DSPs in implementing learned EBPs with individuals with ESN, (e) monitor DSP progress and provide micro-training to address areas of improvement, and (f) teach DSPs to track the progress of the learners they support. This framework improves DSPs’ instructional knowledge and provides a replicable model to improve support services for adults with ESN.