She’s spent 20 years as a DSP at Balance!
“You hear it all the time,” says Ann. “People say it takes a special kind of person to do work like this, but I don’t think that is true. I don’t think it takes a special person, it just takes the right person.”
In a room filled with big personalities and lots of noise, you might not notice Ann right away. She is a soft-spoken introvert with light sparkling eyes. She’s the kind of person that people can just count on to be there.
“They didn’t use the title DSP back when I was hired,” says Ann, whose 20th work anniversary is coming up. ”They just called us caregivers or something simple like that.”
“At first I just needed a job and I thought I would try it out,” says Ann who was searching for a new career path.
Ann had been working at Mcdonald’s and was looking for a less stressful job where people didn’t worry so much about trivial things.
After getting hired at Balance the participants quickly worked their way into Ann’s heart. Caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities turned out to be more than just a job. Ann says the people she helps have all become her friends in one way or another.
“I’d say it is like being a mom, but for big kids,” says Ann.
The participants at Balance have taught her to not worry so much about the small things and to be more patient and understanding with people.
“Look around, they don’t get old because they don’t worry about little things,” says Ann as she scans the room and gestures toward one woman in particular. “She’s in her 40s but you can’t even tell, she looks so much younger, because she doesn’t worry the same way we do. Most of them are just so sweet and innocent and we get to do all the worrying for them.”
Ann says that being a DSP is challenging but rewarding in a deep way that many careers lack.
Reflecting on the past 20 years Ann says, “I think the biggest impact was being able to understand them. When they couldn't speak.”
Some of Balance’s participants and residents are nonverbal and being able to communicate their needs can be difficult and frustrating. Having somebody around, like Ann, who understands them improves their quality of life dramatically.
While Ann feels like she is ready to retire and spend more time taking care of herself, she hasn’t been able to set a date yet because she's a little bit worried that taking time for herself is selfish.
“I’m content. I may not be rich now, but I will be rich in heaven and that is priceless,” says Ann.
DSP Ann sitting outside of Balance, Inc., where she has worked for 20 years.
Ann with Tracy. Tracy has been with Balance since before Ann started working as a DSP.
