SPIN was excited to welcome Kristin Ahrens, ODP Deputy Secretary, Jeremy Yale, ODP Director Bureau of Policy and Quality Management and Zander Gawn, ODP Outreach and Training Coordinator to SPIN Community & Fitness today. The ODP Leaders were here to celebrate Heather Radcliffe, SPIN Community Participation Support team member, who received the 1,000th National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals eBadge Academy (NADSP) DSP certification in Pennsylvania. Through the NADSP E-Badge Academy, Heather and many other DSPs at SPIN, are earning nationally recognized DSPs Certifications.
A celebration took place in the SPIN Community & Fitness Theatre with words of recognition from Deputy Secretary Ahrens, Jeremy Yale and SPIN CEO, Judy Dotzman. Heather shared her appreciation and spoke about the importance of learning and development and the professionalization of the field of Direct Support Professionals. After celebrating together, a discussion was held on the importance of credentialing for the Direct Support workforce. Thank you to Deputy Secretary Ahrens, Jeremy and Zander for prioritizing and recognizing the essential role of Direct Support Professionals and to SPIN’s Learning & Development and SPIN Community & Fitness teams for planning such an important day!
