John Raffaele
John has a Masters of Social Work degree and is an experienced group worker, community
organizer, educator and expert facilitator. John's graduate education is from Yeshiva University in New York City and State University of New York at New Paltz, NY.
His career spans over 35 years and those years have been spent teaching direct support professionals and the people they support. Most of the people with whom he has worked and supported over the last 35 plus years are people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, at-risk youth, and people with chronic and terminal illnesses in home-care settings.
Between 2001 and 2012 John worked as a Director of Training and Education for a developmental disabilities service provider in New York and gained notoriety consulting and teaching throughout the United States. John also taught undergraduate and graduate human services classes at The State University at New Paltz, NY and for the City University of New York City.
John founded his own international direct support professional consulting company in 2012 and over the last several years, in contract with the National Alliance for Direct Support
Professionals and in close partnership with NADSP Executive Director Joseph Macbeth, has
developed many exciting and informative training programs and curricula to help propel the
NADSP into national/international prominence.
John became NADSP’s Director of Educational Services in December of 2016. John has educated tens of thousands of people in the NADSP Code of Ethics and Competencies and most recently, the NADSP Informed Decision Making curriculum and Frontline Supervisor Train the Trainer Curriculum.
Session Topics:
KEYNOTE: The Direct Support Workforce “Crisis”-A Systematic Failure ! WHAT CAN WE DO? Employers, people with disabilities and families can all benefit from seeing the role of direct support professionals in a new light. Historically direct support workers have been viewed as entry-level companions/attendants/aides. There is nothing farther from the truth if indeed we can view the role and purpose of direct support as a profession. That said, there are expectations that come with a professional title and role.
In this workshop we will explore the ways direct support professionals can be effective in allying and partnering with people needing support. Self determination and person centered practice is the ultimate goal for direct support workers. Competence can be achieved with the right mindset and development of direct support professionals.
​
BREAKOUT: Creating a Culture of Competence and Respect for Direct Support Professionals - Employers, people with disabilities and families can all benefit from seeing the role of direct support professionals in a new light. Historically direct support workers have been viewed as entry-level companions/attendants/aides. There is nothing farther from the truth if indeed we can view the role and purpose of direct support as a profession. That said, there are expectations that come with a professional title and role. In this workshop we will explore the ways direct support professionals can be effective in allying and partnering with people needing support. Self determination and person centered practice is the ultimate goal for direct support workers. Competence can be achieved with the right mindset and development of direct support professionals.