Empowerment & Advocacy
What does it mean to empower someone you support?
Helping them build the confidence to make their own choices and supporting independence.
What does “active listening” mean?
Paying full attention, showing understanding, and responding appropriately. (Body language, eye contact, body language, etc.)
What should you always include in a progress note or documentation?
Date, time, objective observations, all involved parties, location, and action taken.
Give one example of a community living skill.
Cooking, budgeting, using public transportation, cleaning, self-care.
What is the primary role of a Direct Support Professional (DSP)?
A. To provide medical treatment and therapies.
B. To support people with disabilities in living self-directed, meaningful lives in their communities.
C. To supervise people with disabilities and ensure they follow rules.
D. To handle paperwork and administrative tasks for the agency.
B. To support people with disabilities in living self-directed, meaningful lives in their communities.
Name one way you can advocate for a person you support at their workplace or day program.
Speak up if accommodations are not being met / support them in voicing their own needs.
Give one example of non-verbal communication.
Facial expression, body language, gestures, or tone of voice, text, sign language, Assistive tech, etc.
What is the difference between facts-based and subjective observation?
Objective = facts (what you see/hear); Subjective = opinions or assumptions.
Why is community inclusion important?
Promotes belonging, independence, and equal opportunities.
Which of these is NOT one of the four DSP I core competency areas?
A. Communication & Relationships
B. Community Living Skills & Supports
C. Medication Administration
D. Evaluation & Observation
C. Medication Administration
David wants to join a cooking class, but staff thinks it’s unsafe. What’s a DSP’s role?
Support David’s choice and explore safe ways for him to participate.
Sarah is upset about her new roommate and begins yelling. What’s the best first response?
Remain calm, give Sarah space if needed, listen without interrupting, acknowledge her feelings (“I hear that you’re upset”), and ask how you can support her in addressing the concern.
“Maria didn’t eat much at dinner tonight because she was sad.” How could you re-write this as an objective observation?
Example: “Maria ate two bites of her sandwich, pushed her plate away, and did not eat any more food during dinner.”
Marcus wants to take the bus to the store alone. How can you support him?
Teach bus routes, safety skills, and provide support until he’s confident.
Explain why a DSP must balance following agency policies with supporting a person’s individual choices. How can conflicts between rules and preferences be handled?
A DSP must follow safety and agency rules but also respect the person’s goals and choices. Conflicts can be handled by finding compromises, asking for guidance when needed, and helping the person understand limits while still giving them meaningful options.
What is the difference between empowerment and advocacy?
Empowerment = supporting someone to speak/act for themselves; Advocacy = speaking/acting on their behalf when needed.
Why is adapting your communication style important when supporting different people?
Because each person communicates differently—by adapting (using plain language, visual supports, or alternative methods), DSPs ensure understanding, build trust, and support the person’s independence.
Which DSP I competency focuses on recognizing and reporting changes in people’s needs, skills, and behaviors?
Evaluation & Observation.
How can a DSP support someone in building community living skills without “taking over” and doing the task for them?
By teaching step-by-step, offering guidance and prompts, encouraging practice, and allowing the person to try on their own while ensuring safety.
Why is it important to combine observation and communication when teaching new skills?
Observation identifies needs; communication provides guidance and feedback.
Give an example of how a DSP demonstrates the Empowerment & Advocacy competency in everyday work.
Supporting people in decision-making, encouraging self-advocacy, and respecting personal goals.
Give one way DSPs can strengthen communication and relationships with the people they support.
Building trust, respecting cultural differences, practicing empathy, or adapting communication methods.
Give one example of using Evaluation & Observation in daily DSP work.
Noticing changes in appetite, mood, or sleep and documenting/reporting them accurately.
You are supporting James, who wants to learn to do his laundry. He puts his red sweatshirt in with his white clothes. What’s the BEST way to support him while building independence?
A. Take over and wash the clothes for him so nothing gets ruined.
B. Stop him immediately and tell him he is doing it wrong.
C. Guide him by explaining what might happen, let him decide, and support him in learning from the outcome.
D. Ignore it since it’s his choice, even if the clothes get ruined.
C. Guide him by explaining, let him decide, and support learning — this promotes skill-building and independence while ensuring informed choices.
A DSP is supporting a person who wants to try multiple new daily living skills at once (cooking, budgeting, and using public transportation). Which approach best balances skill-building, independence, and safety?
A. Focus on one skill at a time until mastered, ignore the others temporarily.
B. Teach all skills at once without guidance so the person learns through trial and error.
C. Provide structured guidance, teach skills step-by-step, offer support when needed, and monitor for safety.
D. Do the tasks for the person to ensure no mistakes occur.
C — This approach uses DSP competencies as a guide to promote independence while maintaining safety and effective learning.