Shownotes
As DSP we are accustomed to speaking up for the wants and needs of the people we support. Nic shares his story of speaking up for himself and all DSPs on a national stage.
Nicholas Smith has been a Direct Support Professional for over 25 years. He has worked at SPIN, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the past 17 years. He was a contributor in the 2023 issue of Frontline Initiative, DSPs use the NADSP Code of Ethics to Support People.
You can find the issue here:
https://ici.umn.edu/products/-aj88oT2QS6F633fE0LpLQ
Transcripts
00;00;00;00 - 00;00;35;14
Chet Tschetter
Hi, my name is Chet Tschetter, and I'll be your host for a closer look, where we'll explore the most current and relevant topics covered in frontline initiative, which is a magazine produced by the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals in partnership with the University of Minnesota's Institute of Community Integration. If you're wondering what Frontline initiative is all about, it's about the work that direct support professionals do on a day to day basis as they support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
00;00;35;17 - 00;00;48;28
Chet Tschetter
I'll be talking to authors and taking a closer look at current practices, tools, and resources. So buckle up and let's hear what the authors have to say.
00;00;49;00 - 00;01;23;01
Chet Tschetter
Welcome, everybody. We're so happy to have you here. Joining us with, a closer look. This, episode today is going to be focused on our first issue of Frontline initiative in two thousand twenty four, which is on advocacy and voting. And and Julie and I just loved, having this issue be a part of our collection, and hearing from DSPs and everybody about how to really get involved to advocate for themselves, for the profession of being a direct support professional, as well as getting out there and voting.
00;01;23;04 - 00;01;31;22
Chet Tschetter
So I'm very blessed today to have two fantastic people with me. First is my coeditor, Doctor Julie Kramme.
00;01;31;22 - 00;01;32;25
Julie Kramme
And so excited to be.
00;01;32;25 - 00;01;45;25
Chet Tschetter
Here, our, special guest, Nicholas Smith, who you if you listen to our prior podcast, you heard him talk about self-determination and all the possibilities. Welcome, Nick.
00;01;46;03 - 00;01;48;00
Nicholas Smith
Thank you. Thank you for having me back again.
00;01;48;05 - 00;01;50;25
Chet Tschetter
All right. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, Nick?
00;01;50;27 - 00;02;24;03
Nicholas Smith
Yes, I am. My name is Nicholas Smith. I am in DSP from Philadelphia. I work at, one of wonderful organization spin special people in northeast. I've been in the field for over 25 years, but a wonderful 17 years with spin. I'm a single father. I am a brother, a uncle, and everything above. I am, you know, you know, just to, you know, as I see myself in this world and every guy, you know, talk to, you know, make sure I just make a little light in the world.
00;02;24;06 - 00;02;29;18
Chet Tschetter
So, you share a lot of light in the world. You're also a dog owner. I've learned that.
00;02;29;21 - 00;02;40;08
Nicholas Smith
Oh, yes. Yeah. Yeah, I'm a lawyer. I'm a dog. I'm a dog owner. Like that, of Astro, column Astro booming and macho. Macho man. You know.
00;02;40;10 - 00;02;41;08
Chet Tschetter
Little tiny guy.
00;02;41;10 - 00;02;49;00
Nicholas Smith
Little tiny little, little miniature, Chihuahua that when I come home, somehow, the men I sit down and say, oh, sorry, I didn't know you was there.
00;02;49;03 - 00;02;51;00
Nicholas Smith
Come on, buddy, you know.
00;02;51;03 - 00;03;04;22
Nicholas Smith
Oh, he's a very, you know, but, you know, so but, you know, you know, just, I'm just a regular guy, so I'm honored and glad that I can be here. So some time, you guys all right?
00;03;04;24 - 00;03;29;26
Chet Tschetter
Thank you. Vic, you had a really amazing experience, this past year when you had the opportunity to testify before a special committee of Congress. I believe it was the full committee of a special committee on aging, on long term, on the long term workforce, and addressing the shortage of DSPs and, ways to improve the profession.
00;03;29;28 - 00;03;35;01
Chet Tschetter
That had to be just an incredible experience. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
00;03;35;04 - 00;03;58;24
Nicholas Smith
Yeah. So, I, I, I work with the organization, you know, PA, Pennsylvania advocacy and research for autism and the president, Mark Davis, gave me a call one morning and said, hey, look, Senator Casey and some of his staffers want to have a talk with you. Would you have maybe about 10 or 15 minutes to assume?
00;03;58;24 - 00;04;18;29
Nicholas Smith
I said, sure, and I didn't know what, that there was really no topic or anything like that, you know? So, I showed up for the zoom and there was about several people in the room, and they all introduced themselves. Very nice young people. DC you know, and they just start asking questions. And, you know, he went in to tell us your story and I'm like, you know, and I laugh.
00;04;18;29 - 00;04;36;06
Nicholas Smith
I said, you want the beginning, you want the end. You want to know, right there for breakfast. And then we laughed a little bit, and we just talked generally about life as a direct support professional. Some of the things I've done, or and then they cut the zoom off. All right. We're back with, you know, I'm like, okay, that was great.
00;04;36;09 - 00;04;47;05
Nicholas Smith
I guess, you know, and, about a couple of days later, about a week later, they want to do a second, you know, with different staffers from different senators. So.
00;04;47;07 - 00;04;48;21
Chet Tschetter
So they want to do a second interview?
00;04;48;21 - 00;05;09;11
Nicholas Smith
Yeah. Second interview. So said, you know, I said, sure. Showed up for the zoom and more questions came in just, you know, specifically tell me, you know, what your experience like, how do you feel about like, know DSPs and, you know, pretty much some of the things I talk about with, you know, talking points before and, and, they say, okay, we'll be back with you in the zoom and off again.
00;05;09;11 - 00;05;38;07
Nicholas Smith
I said, okay, I guess that went good too. I don't know, you know, you know, those staffers are very, you know, a lot of note taking very seriously, you know? So I was like, I hope you like me. I hope I'm wrong, you know, and then I got a, from, Maria Bacher. She's, Casey's one of his main, his executive, staffers who said, Nick, we would like to have you invite you to testify on our for the Senate for Senator Casey's witness.
00;05;38;07 - 00;06;05;18
Nicholas Smith
And I said, wow, the honor, you know, and I didn't know what that meant, you know, but she explained a little bit, you know, we're going to prep, so I went into the whole, you know, it was a, preparation thing. You know, we had to craft a story. They had questions that Casey that I have to answer, that we wanted to get together and, but the help with our corporate team and help, you know, spin we we said and we crafted, you know,
00;06;05;20 - 00;06;06;15
Chet Tschetter
The message.
00;06;06;16 - 00;06;06;24
Nicholas Smith
Yeah.
00;06;06;25 - 00;06;09;05
Chet Tschetter
So send when you're answering the questions.
00;06;09;05 - 00;06;23;23
Nicholas Smith
Yeah. So that was, that was decided I think it was a lot of handoff back and forth like that. You know, we had to do something concise into something that we all were comfortable with. It was a mentality. You know, I've been to DC before trips, but this time Mr. Smith is going to Washington for, you know, six.
00;06;23;26 - 00;06;25;02
Nicholas Smith
Let's go.
00;06;25;04 - 00;06;52;05
Nicholas Smith
So I, they, they, you know, even from getting there, you know, do you want to take the train? Do you want to do you want to fly? They know I'm gonna drive. You sure? I'm like, yeah, for me, that's that's my thing. I practice, you know, you know, so do all the DC, you know, before there was about a week, week or two of just just preparing what I'm going to say and homing in on specific.
00;06;52;05 - 00;07;13;01
Nicholas Smith
So, you know, as I'm finding out their, their time related. So this time on that clock that you have to answer things precise and specific to the, to the senator's question. And so practicing those type of things, so, you know, getting DC, you know, I'm one of those guys, I'm a prepper. So I got to prep me some on focus.
00;07;13;03 - 00;07;38;27
Nicholas Smith
So it was a, it was a it was an experience. It was it was I would say like in the movies, you know, the lights are bright. You know what? People don't know? There's a huge camera at the on the floor with a bright light in it. It does. Don't look at it like that. Well, I kid you not, but I didn't, you know, you know, and know that night before, I'm in the room and sitting in front of mirror on the floor, like, focus, look.
00;07;38;29 - 00;07;46;21
Nicholas Smith
And like, you know, watching videos to say, you know, you know, make sure that I answer questions, make sure that following, you know, so I'm like, hyper focus.
00;07;46;22 - 00;07;47;25
Chet Tschetter
No pressure at all.
00;07;47;26 - 00;08;00;14
Nicholas Smith
No pressure at all, you know, and and I was, you know, I'm there, I got everything lined up and then, Senator Warren walked in the room and called to me for. I got a little starstruck.
00;08;00;18 - 00;08;01;03
Chet Tschetter
Expecting.
00;08;01;03 - 00;08;16;12
Nicholas Smith
Her. No, I wasn't expecting her. All they said she could come, but she's super busy, so she's probably not coming. They already had the agenda about who's going to show up, but anything that could show, she decided to say, hey, I'm coming in today. So the camera wasn't on my face. But if you could have someone face somebody.
00;08;16;15 - 00;08;17;16
Chet Tschetter
Okay, here we go.
00;08;17;21 - 00;08;18;28
Nicholas Smith
Here we go.
00;08;19;00 - 00;08;40;19
Nicholas Smith
And just like on all the, you know, the, you know, all the shows that, you know, she is, she came in and she got right down to business up, you know, like that. And then you know, she if by eight minutes of the time. So we so I had to change some things but I followed Casey's lead. You know worry about she's right there behind me with I can't take like, we got it, you know.
00;08;40;19 - 00;09;03;15
Nicholas Smith
So it was a wonderful experience. I they get me some awesome people, on both sides, you know, like that. So, and, you know, and, you know, some of the cases a very, very, very nice guy, you know, he really, you know, knew my story and myself, you know, sometimes you think these guys get talking points and they, you know, he was like, no, you you've been with spin for many years and you know your daughter I'm like, wow.
00;09;03;17 - 00;09;27;18
Nicholas Smith
You know and the and we we had a nice experience that I wouldn't, you know I would never you mean in a million years, I would never think I would have the opportunity to, you know, they put it in the national record. You know, she's like, this will be a national record forever. I'm like, that's a lot of pressure, you know, but with the help with like, spin and, and, and just our team, you know, I was able to get my words concise and precise.
00;09;27;18 - 00;09;29;27
Chet Tschetter
So absolutely. That's so great.
00;09;30;00 - 00;09;51;05
Julie Kramme
Yeah. And advocacy is such a key skill for direct support professionals. You do it day to day, but then getting an audience like that, it's a lot. But speaking from your experience in your testimony, one of the things you talked about is the low wages paid to DSPs and how that affects your life and how that affects the life of your family.
00;09;51;07 - 00;09;53;22
Julie Kramme
Can you tell us a little bit about what you what you shared?
00;09;53;24 - 00;10;18;16
Nicholas Smith
Yeah. So love this. You know, did not make it a livable wage. So what happens is that myself, right now, you end up doing overtime. You have to just to maintain a keep up. Now with inflation, you you have to do a certain amount of shifts. Now I'm blessed and lucky to have the overtime at, you know, our company and you know, you can you know you you have a system that you can call and get it.
00;10;18;16 - 00;10;38;16
Nicholas Smith
But I have a lot of DSP friends who have to work second or three jobs just because there is no overtime. So they have to pick up a second or third job, you know, while maintaining, you know, so that's great that you can do that though. But something has to give, right? Sleep. You know, my life, I've missed many of family events.
00;10;38;18 - 00;11;04;16
Nicholas Smith
So the Thanksgivings, the Christmases, all those holidays where most people are at home celebrating. I'm at work now. It's not a for me, for me, and for a lot of this is not a sad day because we're having Thanksgiving with people that, you know, someone that I want to support and I want to be there, you know, so, you know, I might not be having a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner or whatever with my family, but I'm having Thanksgiving.
00;11;04;16 - 00;11;17;29
Nicholas Smith
We're planning a whole Thanksgiving turkey dinner out with the pressure of support. And and a lot of times houses get together, you know, we make sure it's a whole family involved type of thing to make sure that everybody, you know, we are people going home, you know, like that. So it's
00;11;18;02 - 00;11;24;06
Chet Tschetter
So you're still making it a very genuine, genuine celebration together with who you're with, right?
00;11;24;06 - 00;11;52;11
Nicholas Smith
Like I told my family, I said, hey, listen, don't forget, you know, have my plate. I get it Friday or whatever, but they do, right? So, you know, you end up working these days and, you know, as a DSP, you know, just the those days are like time and a half or double time like that. So, you know, there's been some times where I think, man, I really would like to be home this Christmas or I would really like to have the Christmas breakfast that, you know, you if you're not there, you're not there, right.
00;11;52;13 - 00;12;06;20
Nicholas Smith
You know, yeah, they can call me in on face time and I can kind of be there, but I'm not there. All right, well, maybe there's a cousin or aunt who came into town many times, and I just for me, the chance that the missing became it for a day, you know. But that is the life of DSP.
00;12;06;20 - 00;12;25;07
Nicholas Smith
We do a lot of hours. We do doubles. Sometimes you get stuff for triples, you know, and, you know, but I mean, it is a gift and a curse, you know, you you you're blessed to have that money, but it comes at a sacrifice. And a lot of hours, though, like a 40 hour workweek for me.
00;12;25;10 - 00;12;46;19
Nicholas Smith
That feels weird. It's like, oh, my God, like 40 hours. Like, my take is kind of, you know, 62, 70. So, you know, these people that work, those type of hours, you know, just to maintain and to make it, make it through, you know, so, I just, you know, sometimes I, you know, I'm not going to lie, I sometimes I'm getting older.
00;12;46;22 - 00;13;08;19
Nicholas Smith
Older. Nick. You know, I might want to, you know, work a little less. I like I try to maintain a Sunday myself. There's a Sunday. Monday. So at least at least on a Monday, I take off because I need to sleep, right? I can't get past that. But sometimes on Sundays I pick up a shift or, you know, then many times my daughter was young.
00;13;08;19 - 00;13;28;07
Nicholas Smith
She said that you're going to be on Sunday. Monday I go, no, I will be off. You know, I'll be off like Monday for, you know, and, you know, and it became a part of life, you know. So know Nick's at work. So pretty much, you know, and that's where a lot of these piece of crossword I wear where I work and we're happy and we want to be.
00;13;28;12 - 00;13;37;27
Julie Kramme
So why is it important for DSPs to understand who's making the decisions about their wages and the supports that are available to the people that they support?
00;13;37;29 - 00;14;06;09
Nicholas Smith
I think the ISPs need to you definitely need to know who's making the decisions though, you know? So once again, you know, I think, you know, you hear that saying, if you're not at the table, you know, I just read you become the food, right? I think that, you know, your organization, the place that you work, you know, it's important that you know, when those decisions have been made for us, that we have some say, some things, you know, so I think that, you know, that may not be the case for DSPs across the nation.
00;14;06;09 - 00;14;26;00
Nicholas Smith
It depends where they're working at like that. But definitely KSA where I work is spent. So we have we have a nice you know, we have a great corporate team. We have a great, management team. So you know that our words matter. You know what we think we do? Focus groups. We do. You know, we we do surveys just to see where we.
00;14;26;02 - 00;14;42;16
Nicholas Smith
Yeah, we have a listen to circle where the CEO comes and in, in, in actually the way she does it is phenomenal because she it's not just a time you be there. It's 1:00 in the morning for DSPs that work at night. It's the weekends for DSP to just work. The booking shifts. It's the middle of the day.
00;14;42;16 - 00;15;07;11
Nicholas Smith
It's midnight. Just so she can hear what matters to you. What what are some things? And this is an open forum so, you know, you can bring up from the time clock issues to things that are going on, but it's not so much of, event session or like that is soliciting session like, you know, what's going on with you, how how you know what's new, what's not new, what's working, what's not working.
00;15;07;14 - 00;15;26;12
Nicholas Smith
I think to have those type of talks gives you a, you know, they're they're being heard, you know, having your voice out there and just making sure that you're being heard. And, you know, like I'm talking to some of the DSPs that may sometimes not have the voice. I might say things like, listen, you know, it's okay to, you know, if how do I speak up?
00;15;26;14 - 00;15;47;04
Nicholas Smith
You know, small steps, maybe talking to your manager and then following through and making sure, you know, hey, can we maybe talk about this issue or bring this up again, or can we maybe get a committee up, or can we maybe, you know, for something that I think, you know, and then advocacy on the other side for the people that we support is what we do every day.
00;15;47;04 - 00;16;05;13
Nicholas Smith
You know, you know, if you have somebody who wants to achieve a certain job and how do we get what's that look like, you know, or think I'm not happy with this? Have you said anything to, you know, have a say anything, you know, so let's let's advocate for you. Let's let's get in there and say, hey, listen, this is what you know.
00;16;05;20 - 00;16;26;14
Nicholas Smith
Is it the hours? Is it the time the shifts know to get you? You know, I think advocacy in the DSP field is a bulk of what we do, you know, what is it for yourself? What for the person you support. You know, but we have to go out there and use our voice to you know, advocate for, you know, everybody.
00;16;26;15 - 00;16;51;19
Chet Tschetter
Do you think DSPs really understand, like, where their wages come from and why sometimes, you know, as a direct support professional or a provider, we're not able to just like raise the prices of providing services, like at a caribou or a Starbucks, they can raise the price of a cup of coffee, right. And then pay their staff members more.
00;16;51;22 - 00;16;53;16
Chet Tschetter
Talk a little bit about that.
00;16;53;18 - 00;17;12;21
Nicholas Smith
Yeah. You know, you have I believe knowledge is power, right? So you have to follow through and like, you know, if you're going to be a DSP, you know, I take pride in like education and making sure that we myself, you know, you you want to do some research and find out, you know, what waivers are, what where this fund is come.
00;17;12;21 - 00;17;43;02
Nicholas Smith
Why wouldn't you know about it? Just can't pay $35 an hour because they, you know, we're a nonprofit and, you know, gas and all the different things that go into in paying staff is and overtime, it's a big chunk of the budget. I think sometimes like, you know, like DSPs where, you know, a lot of times these people maybe don't like, do the research or, you know, I think they just don't pay us that well or I don't know why, but there's a reason why.
00;17;43;02 - 00;18;04;19
Nicholas Smith
So I think myself and other DSPs that I work with are coming. We talk about these things like, hey, listen, this is why. And I think with management and being transparent, this is why we, we look at we look forward to the budget being passed, you know, you know, and just make sure these, these monies come in that we can eventually get to a livable wage.
00;18;04;21 - 00;18;24;05
Nicholas Smith
And it's going to come, you know, it's going to come my day. I mean, with the help of going on the SLC, you know, and, and just different things, the standard occupational classifications, you know, so with, with those things, you know, there's a, there's this is, is the Dow Jones will say this stuff, stuff brewing.
00;18;24;08 - 00;18;42;15
Nicholas Smith
Right. You know, 20, 28 I believe it comes up. So, you know, will it be a game changer? I think so that would be federal, you know, recognition that we are we're not invisible. We are DSP directional professionals. And we deserve to be on that list because we do so much.
00;18;42;18 - 00;19;04;09
Chet Tschetter
You were speaking of Joe. He mentioned the name Joe before in the he's speaking of Joe McBath, who's the, president, CEO of, the NEA, DSP, which is the National Alliance of Drug Support Professionals. Do you think I mean, you were talking about it's really important to become knowledgeable about, what a waiver is or what the different funding is.
00;19;04;09 - 00;19;31;05
Chet Tschetter
I think it's a new DSP. You're just so, you know, trying to learn your job, but you have no idea. So and then you talked about you have no idea where the funding comes from or why it is that you're getting paid a certain wage. Right. But you also then talked about transparency. And that's referring to like the organ innate organization can be transparent and sharing information about the funding and how they get paid.
00;19;31;12 - 00;20;03;25
Chet Tschetter
And what are those different buckets that money goes into. And so being able to share that information and then providing it so that DSPs have the knowledge base to go forward. Exactly. And talk then with their legislators, with their elected officials about, okay, this is how we get paid and this is how, it affects me and my family, and it means I have to work 2 or 3 jobs or I'm working double shifts or overtime.
00;20;03;25 - 00;20;20;26
Chet Tschetter
Right? Right. That's the part that can be really difficult for a new day. A newer DSP, or even some who've been around for a while to understand. Yeah. So why do you think what holds DSPs back from, like going in and talking with their elected officials.
00;20;20;28 - 00;20;43;11
Nicholas Smith
You know, I think sometimes it could be you know, I've heard it before, Nick, I don't know most patients and they don't listen to me or, you know, I'm not you. You know, like I see you are me, you know, if not more. Your your words matter. So let's start by simply the email blast we get to, you know, we all get work emails and you can show them off the important things.
00;20;43;13 - 00;21;07;15
Nicholas Smith
Hey, take that time out and select that survey for for the senator. You know, it doesn't matter. Yeah. Because that one story, your story could be a different they could resonate with with somebody. You know maybe my story does me you know. So you know, if more people will do that across the nation, I think that would, you know, have significant value.
00;21;07;15 - 00;21;38;11
Nicholas Smith
You know, like you said, again, being transparent organization provides provides agencies being transparent and just say, hey, listen, this is this is where the funding goes. You know, this is, you know, and we know, you know, we, you know, we we have a union. At the same time, they work hand-in-hand and they work together, to, you know, management to make sure that we, we, we compromise ways and I and, and spin has been really good to us, you know, I mean, they make, you know, we we've gotten some significant raises over the years, you know, is it enough now?
00;21;38;11 - 00;21;42;22
Nicholas Smith
We still, you know, we still trying to get to that point, like right now where you.
00;21;42;22 - 00;21;46;20
Chet Tschetter
Can have a livable wage for not working 2 or 3 jobs.
00;21;46;20 - 00;22;10;19
Nicholas Smith
Two, three jobs. And like we're competing now like now after pandemic, we're competing with BestBuy Lowe's The Home Depot's with it paying 23 Walmart at night. The stock 20 you know is is that is you know, if that's for you, that's for you, you know. Right. But like, you know, stability is, you know, the heart that, you know, working with people, you know, a lot of these this is what they want to do.
00;22;10;19 - 00;22;28;24
Nicholas Smith
Well, fortunately it may not be the highest paying right. And you have to do that over time to get to that way. So, you know, over the years, myself, it can it can get hard. It can wear down, you know, missing out on events and and different things. But you know, you come to, you know, deal with it.
00;22;28;24 - 00;22;30;29
Nicholas Smith
I guess. What what holds back.
00;22;31;00 - 00;22;58;18
Chet Tschetter
Well, even if I could dig a little bit deeper on that. Yeah. Not only the missing out on, family events and that sort of thing, but your own health and how working multiple shifts. Oh, yeah. And not getting rest and and possibly also because of the, the wages not being as high as they should be, maybe not getting the quality food, or health care, that you need.
00;22;58;20 - 00;23;05;15
Chet Tschetter
I'm assuming that, you know, you've, you're working with some other DSPs or maybe struggling with those issues.
00;23;05;17 - 00;23;30;09
Nicholas Smith
Yeah. I mean, it's a fine balance. So, you know, I might have a system. We all have different systems, you know, but does that new DSP who's like my how do you how do you I like I'm working all these hours, but I'm like, you know, so for me, you know supplementation for me is very important. Making sure that I keep up on like 40 minutes of water and doctor appointments because you know, I'm not Superman, you know?
00;23;30;09 - 00;23;48;17
Nicholas Smith
So, like, I think, you know, it's a balance between, like, communicate and talking with, you know, we we have like, you know, amongst my coworkers, we have like a talk group like, hey, listen, I'm going through certain things that that, you know, how do how do I what do you think I should do? Hey, go see a doctor.
00;23;48;19 - 00;24;12;28
Nicholas Smith
Do you have a PCP? You you do. You know, we have we have great assurance. And, you know, it's been impacted this this systems that we have that, you know, if you did. But we do. And we just have to utilize which we utilize these things. It's, you know, each one teach when you pass this knowledge down, you know, if you're working a double the small things, make sure that you have, you know, water for yourself.
00;24;12;28 - 00;24;29;22
Nicholas Smith
Make sure you know, when this stuff in the house to just make sure that you're prepared. You know, if you happen to get stuck when the time is coming, make sure you in your trunk, in your car, that you have certain things that you know that you might need, just in case, you know, it's important. I know you take my own advice, get some sleep.
00;24;29;24 - 00;24;38;24
Nicholas Smith
You know, rest is very important like that. You know, it's kind of when you do a you want to do it. You know, I get off on. It's a thousand things I want to do before, you know, it's time to go back to work.
00;24;38;26 - 00;25;09;29
Julie Kramme
What a contrast. You talked about we just mentioned some customer service jobs that maybe, compete for hiring DSPs. And so rarely is that the conversation in your orientation training after a month end to say, hey, are you taking care of yourself? Are you getting the rest that you need? Are you working the extra shifts and, taking care of making sure that you make an appointment with your primary care provider with getting your vitamins and drinking enough water to make sure you're doing well for yourself.
00;25;10;02 - 00;25;28;16
Julie Kramme
It's a very big difference, in the DSP workforce that, you, as a lead DSP, talking through these conversations with other DSPs that you're working with, who might be making the same wages as somebody who's working at Home Depot or some of these other customer service jobs.
00;25;28;16 - 00;25;56;27
Chet Tschetter
It's really important that DSPs advocate for themselves because they've got the stories, and we cannot rely upon the provider organizations anymore to tell our stories. And that's what's really important. And that I'd really like to empower DSPs to do. And I know it can be really scary to think about, oh, I need to go talk to, you know, my congressman or my congresswoman and have that discussion.
00;25;57;00 - 00;26;22;18
Chet Tschetter
But we have to remember that each of, you know, we vote. We vote people in to represent us. They work for us. Like when we vote, they win the election. They were hired by us to have that point, to have that position. And so it's really important that we speak for ourselves, that we go tell our story and how it affects you personally, because those stories are the ones that they're going to remember.
00;26;22;20 - 00;26;47;05
Chet Tschetter
One of our other contributors is, Tammy Delfin, and she's from here in, Minneapolis. And she has really gotten to know, her representatives and congressmen because she goes and delivers, yard signs with them. Right? So while they're walking, they're talking and she's talking about her role as a DSP, and she's been a career DSP for 30 or 40 years.
00;26;47;05 - 00;27;10;25
Chet Tschetter
Tammy, not to say how long you've been out there, but I think that's pretty close. Very similar to me. They know her because of her story, and they've said to her, I would. I am, you know, making decisions about what affects people in their wages. Tammy, I think about you and I think about what you've told me.
00;27;10;27 - 00;27;18;00
Chet Tschetter
So I just want DSPs to know that that they really can make a difference in how people think. Because people remember stories.
00;27;18;03 - 00;27;37;06
Nicholas Smith
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, you definitely want to, you know, it doesn't have to be like I say something. So Granholm is talking to your senator. Your congressman is simply, you know, that story of, you know, talking to, you know, I'm a manager, a listening ear to say, hey, listen, I have this idea or it's not always a vent session.
00;27;37;06 - 00;27;50;25
Nicholas Smith
It's always, you know, maybe it's a great idea that you or maybe just something you thought of that you want to want to happen, you know, how do we grow that? How do we foster that? How do we make sure that that happens? And, you know, but you have to follow through. I say, hey, listen, you know, when I did, what did you follow, too?
00;27;50;26 - 00;28;11;28
Nicholas Smith
Are we going to talk about it next week? You know, and a chance with somebody listen to speak up to say, hey, listen, this is what I'm going through. This is what I'm experiencing. You know, that I've. I've seen it learn. You know, sometimes you take these cylinders and these conversations, like I said again, it just so they they're not even know they you know, I, you know, I leave them out.
00;28;12;04 - 00;28;40;09
Nicholas Smith
Hey, listen, I remember what you said about working so hard. I remember my cousin or I was looking forward to seeing my, you know, my uncle, and he wasn't there because he was at work as a DSP. These things, you know, a senator, he told a story on the exact spot. You know, he was almost in tears how a DSP helped his base to take care of his his wife, you know, her brother, you know, it was, you know, passed him.
00;28;40;16 - 00;28;59;03
Nicholas Smith
So those those type of stories, you know, those were hit really resonate. It resonates with him, holds it, highlight there. Because, you know, when you when we all at the end of the day in our car and going home, we don't we don't know. That's what calls you hear like, wow, that was really you know, this wasn't the story or that was really something that touched me that, you know, I got to remember that.
00;28;59;03 - 00;29;05;03
Nicholas Smith
And I, you know, have the power to try to advocate for the right person that told that story.
00;29;05;03 - 00;29;09;04
Chet Tschetter
And it might, might be through writing a letter, or it might be setting up a time to talk with them.
00;29;09;05 - 00;29;15;01
Nicholas Smith
So, you know, we get these email blasts. I tell people, hey, don't skip the email blast. Now. Make sure you, you know, you do it, you know.
00;29;15;07 - 00;29;38;10
Julie Kramme
So and I'm sure that your speaking up amidst your peers in your local context with PA, your local organization that you've done work with, suddenly you're up the ranks and you're having a conversation with a senator because you're an articulate storyteller. Yes. And you're a DSP who's committed to this work. I want to talk about, voting.
00;29;38;14 - 00;29;51;09
Julie Kramme
We're in, the season where people are registering to vote. And curious about your experience as a DSP supporting anyone to register to vote. And then of course, voting yourself.
00;29;51;13 - 00;30;09;09
Nicholas Smith
Oh, yeah. Definitely. So we have the improvers, the bless of, I had a young man who, we we have an initiative. It's a big thing to make sure that everybody we support does get out and vote, and we're going to get out and vote. It is a whole day thing. And it's not just no federal local two.
00;30;09;12 - 00;30;34;03
Nicholas Smith
Right. We have I have supported a young man. He was on a what's called a committee of 70 where they they check, we go to polling places just to make sure everything's sensible, make sure everything you know. So, you know, it is a really great power to watch somebody get on. Well, we have these talks like, you know, we try not to go to in the park because, you know, you got to take your own personal.
00;30;34;05 - 00;30;36;06
Chet Tschetter
It's not about how your.
00;30;36;08 - 00;30;53;17
Nicholas Smith
Politics are, you know, it's it's it's you know, you know, we had these conversations about what, you know, how you hear we come up saying, you know, they're talking to us like they want to vote for such and such and vote for such and such and and why, you know, and but they're voting right.
00;30;53;19 - 00;31;04;18
Chet Tschetter
And it's important to let them know, you know what? Empowering people to know what the issues are, what the candidate's takes are on the issues. Right, right. That's your role as a DSP.
00;31;04;18 - 00;31;05;05
Nicholas Smith
Just to make.
00;31;05;05 - 00;31;06;18
Chet Tschetter
It provide that information.
00;31;06;18 - 00;31;07;01
Nicholas Smith
Exactly.
00;31;07;01 - 00;31;09;08
Chet Tschetter
You know, without telling them who to vote for.
00;31;09;10 - 00;31;38;01
Nicholas Smith
You know, and it's sometimes, you know, you get that question, well, Nick, who you vote for. And I go, we don't know, right? Because I don't want to sway, I should sway. It's not, it's not I don't think that I have the right to I don't want to, you know, and making sure that we have that educational piece that you know why, you know, why you vote for said, you know, I feel that they, you know, and I've gotten that, you know, and two sides of the, you know, two sides of the coin, you know, in the same house.
00;31;38;08 - 00;32;00;24
Nicholas Smith
But you know what? You know, you have you watch different things or have you watched things, you know, what have you where did you get it from? And you know, and I can tell, you know, even hey, this is what my family does. Well, why do you want to. Right. And then you go out there, make a, you know, vote and the pride on people's faces when they go, we get a little sticker says, I voted, you know, is that you like it's a big deal.
00;32;00;26 - 00;32;19;00
Nicholas Smith
You know, Nick, I voted by Voice County devoted to that. You know, we we pride ourselves in that. And I think it's an awesome thing though, you know, to see somebody exercise their right to get out there and vote how they want to vote, for whom they want to vote for, you know, and I, you know, if you can be a part of that, you know, in a neutral way, I think that's phenomenal.
00;32;19;03 - 00;32;27;05
Julie Kramme
I love that your team went out to the polling stations to make sure that things were accessible for people. Yeah, to be able to get there and speak up for themselves, their.
00;32;27;05 - 00;32;48;25
Nicholas Smith
Fellow, I mean, and so, I mean, it's a good experience. I, you know, we like you said this is the season it's coming up election like this. So we we as always initiative to make sure that like you said again everybody get out there to have a vote. When I get a chance to talk to other DSPs, I asked like, you know, did you guys you know, you guys, you're going to get your guys out there to the polls.
00;32;48;27 - 00;32;51;23
Nicholas Smith
Usually speaking, yes, we are, you know, so.
00;32;51;28 - 00;32;55;09
Julie Kramme
It's an important part. Yeah. And part about being a citizen.
00;32;55;11 - 00;32;55;25
Nicholas Smith
Yeah.
00;32;55;28 - 00;33;18;23
Chet Tschetter
Yeah yeah. Being able to vote. So we do know that, you know, voting is really advocating for yourself and your profession. And we also know that there are people who, you know, are really disenfranchized, with voting, what would you say to people who are like, oh, I'm not going to do it this year?
00;33;18;23 - 00;33;35;25
Nicholas Smith
Oh, yeah. I come across people, you know, you you come in and, you know, in, in a daily thing and they come out, vote for you. So the same, it doesn't matter. And, for me personally, I, I will say, listen, no matter what you vote, you have to vote, right? No matter how you feel, nothing gets changed.
00;33;35;25 - 00;33;54;29
Nicholas Smith
Nothing, nothing, nothing. Keep moving. If you don't speak up or at least exercise your right to vote, you know we can. We can agree to disagree. You know. Does the vote count? Does the actual vote count or do you know, you know, at the end of the day, you got to get to the poll. And we make time.
00;33;54;29 - 00;34;13;25
Nicholas Smith
We make time to get to the poll. Like, you know, me person. Hey, did you did you vote today? I think I was the words I'm going to follow up to to make sure that you, you know, because you know, that one guy, that one lady, you know, gentleman or you know, the most say, hey, my vote doesn't count or just really disenfranchized with voting.
00;34;13;25 - 00;34;33;10
Nicholas Smith
They just have a disdain for the whole thing, you know? For me, you know, maybe I can sway over. Hey. To the. Have you have you checked on YouTube? Have you watched news? What's happening? Do you certain things coming up, maybe with this particular senator or president or whoever it's for? You know, this would be a good thing for us in our field.
00;34;33;13 - 00;34;58;12
Nicholas Smith
You know, the end of the day, you know, exercise your right. I, you know, please, you know, education, research, you know, your vote, your vote vote and voice does count. You know, and like I said again, you know, I was well, grown, you know, trying to get somebody to the vote that doesn't vote, you know, but every year, maybe, maybe not this year, but maybe two years from now, I can get them to, you know.
00;34;58;19 - 00;34;58;26
Nicholas Smith
Yeah.
00;34;58;26 - 00;35;02;27
Chet Tschetter
Sometimes encouraging people and to think about how does it affect their job.
00;35;02;28 - 00;35;03;21
Nicholas Smith
Yeah. You know.
00;35;03;21 - 00;35;18;09
Chet Tschetter
Definitely. And that's where probably as a coworker, you can have some influence not on who they vote for, but for them to really look at the issues and, and the candidates and who's going to help you know them as a person, as a professional benefit.
00;35;18;10 - 00;35;33;20
Nicholas Smith
Where certain things are coming up on the ballot that we we definitely need to be, you know, hey, listen, what are you doing? You know, like, whoever or whatever, but this is coming up. So this exercise so. Right. And I know sometimes Nick I didn't know. Wow. I didn't know that, you know it's going to affect us like that.
00;35;33;20 - 00;35;39;19
Nicholas Smith
Yes. It's going to affect us tremendously, you know. And hey, listen I'm going to go ahead and vote. Yay.
00;35;39;22 - 00;35;58;19
Chet Tschetter
Yeah, buddy. Different candidates, support or not support the policies that support people with disabilities. And if that's important to you, then, you know, research and and figure out, how is it going to best benefit, those people you're supporting and also yourself as a direct support professional. Yeah.
00;35;58;21 - 00;36;05;13
Nicholas Smith
Perfect. I don't yeah, I mean, I, I wholeheartedly believe that though, you know, like, you know, like I said again, at the end of the day, your voice matters.
00;36;05;13 - 00;36;35;25
Chet Tschetter
Your voice matters, right? Absolutely. All right. Nick, I just cannot thank you enough. You did such a great job. Sharing your story with us. Really proud to have you here. And just want to thank you for the advocacy work that you're you're doing, not only in your company, but also, you know, across the country, you know, speaking to Congress about, you know, what, what the needs are of DSPs and, you know, having our voice.
00;36;35;27 - 00;36;49;01
Nicholas Smith
Listen, thank you, thank you. And like I said again, it's a whole team thing. I wouldn't be here for you guys here, you know, giving me a, you know, letting me have a little platform to talk. So, thank you guys for just having me here. I appreciate it.
00;36;49;01 - 00;36;55;26
Chet Tschetter
Absolutely. And Miss Creamy or Doctor Creamy. Thank you for being here.
00;36;55;28 - 00;36;56;21
Nicholas Smith
I listen.
00;36;56;24 - 00;36;57;20
Julie Kramme
Pretentions, not.
00;36;57;20 - 00;36;59;27
Nicholas Smith
Me. This is doctor.
00;37;00;02 - 00;37;11;07
Nicholas Smith
I would say the first thing I said was if I said, oh, Ted was telling me about it. I said, I believe he works. He earned it. You worked hard for that. So we're going to say it. Let me do it. Right, doctor.
00;37;11;09 - 00;37;15;15
Nicholas Smith
Great. You know.
00;37;15;18 - 00;37;42;20
Julie Kramme
This is, such a great chance to hear from you, Nick. I am just thrilled about both this podcast and, having you share about your experiences, the great platform that you got, this season, as well as, the previous podcast on South Termination is, I think a super important topic to consider as well, and just really grateful for the chance to pick your brain about both of these things and to share your story.
00;37;42;26 - 00;37;45;20
Nicholas Smith
Thank you. Thank you. I'm glad we have taken more to come.
00;37;45;22 - 00;38;07;09
Chet Tschetter
But more to come. I like that. Thank you so much, Nick, and thank you, the listeners, for taking the time to take a closer look at the stories. And, the people who contribute to frontline initiatives such as Nick Smith. You can follow a closer look wherever you find your favorite podcast, so you don't have to miss any episodes.
00;38;07;11 - 00;38;46;29
Chet Tschetter
And to find all of the issues of frontline initiative, go to ISI, Dot, and Edu slash series X or slash seven. You can subscribe and get the next issues as soon as they're published. So we don't want you to miss out on any of that information. If you like today's podcast and you're interested in hearing about other ways to support the health and wellness of direct support, professionals, tune in to another podcast called Wellness Matters for direct support for some great resources and ideas about how to take care for yourself as a DSP.
00;38;47;02 - 00;38;59;04
Chet Tschetter
Because we know that your job is very demanding and that it really takes a lot to be a great DSP. So until next time, be well.
00;38;59;06 - 00;39;10;19
Chet Tschetter
Thanks for joining in the conversation. If you would like to reproduce all or part of this podcast, please email frontlinedsp@umd.edu
00;39;10;21 - 00;39;54;27
Pete McCauley
Our show is co-produced at the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration by Frontline Initiative. Coeditor Chet Tschetter and ISI technical Director Pete McCauley. Skyler Mihajlov is our editor. Graphic designers are Connie Burkhart and Sarah Curtner. For more information on the Institute on Community Integration and all of our products and projects, please visit ici.umn.edu
