The College of Direct Support (CDS) is Pleased to Learn of the Approval of The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Competency Set on the Department of Labor Competency Model

ATLANTA, December 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

The College of Direct Support (CDS), an online curriculum for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and managed in collaboration with Elsevier/MC Strategies and the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center on Community Living, is pleased to announce that the NADSP Competency Set is now recognized on the Department of Labor (DOL) Competency Model for Long-Term Care Supports & Services. This is the first Tier 5 Competency Set that has been built into the model.

CDS, the flagship of Elsevier's DirectCourse suite of online training curricula, has built its content to train to these NADSP competencies. CDS is an NADSP Accredited Training Program that prepares learners to become credentialed through the NADSP Credentialing Program, a program providing recognition for the advanced skills and competencies DSPs have acquired in the 15 competency areas. The recognition of the NADSP Competency Set by the Department of Labor affirms these competencies are critical to the development of a prepared, competent DSP workforce that will provide quality supports and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in the community.  

"Recognition of these competencies by the Department of Labor provides an even more compelling reason to choose CDS as the training of choice for the direct support workforce," said Bill Tapp, Director of DirectCourse/College of Direct Support. "CDS, based on the NADSP Competencies, is the most comprehensive, convenient approach to preparing a learner to become credentialed. CDS supports the ongoing training and professional development of DSPs, and the recognition of this vital workforce."

These competencies are the critical skills needed for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to perform their job well and provide quality services to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The NADSP competency set is the basis for the NADSP Credentialing Program and the U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship Program for DSPs, developed by DOL in partnership with NADSP and the American Network of Community Options & Resources (ANCOR).  

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t.reller@elsevier.com