Community Access Specialist

Q.

What is the scenario for a Community Access Specialist?

A.

• Staff A has been employed in the field of I/DD for five or more years, providing relevant community access-type services. Staff A meets requirements to fulfill the role of Community Access Specialist on or after 1/1/14.
• Staff B has an associate's degree from a KCTCS institution in Human Services and has been employed in the field of I/DD for three or more years, providing relevant community access-type services. Staff B meets requirements to fulfill the role of Community Access Specialist on or after 1/1/14.
• Staff C has an associate's degree from a KCTCS institution in Human Services and has been employed in the field of I/DD for one year, providing relevantcommunity access type services. Staff C has been employed with ABC Agency since 11/1/13. Staff C must obtain either a Kentucky DSP Specialty in Community Access or a national equivalent credential by December 31, 2014, to continue in the role of Community Access Specialist.
• Staff D has one year of experience in the field of I/DD and has been providing relevant community access services at ABC Agency since July 1, 2013. Staff D must obtain either a Kentucky DSP Specialty in Community Access or a national equivalent credential by December 31, 2014, to continue in the role of Community Access Specialist.
• Staff E was employed by ABC Agency on 1/2/14 and has one year of experience in the field of I/DD. Staff E must obtain a Kentucky DSP Specialty in Community Access or a national equivalent credential before being placed in the role of Community Access Specialist. Until the credential is attained, Staff E must be employed as a DSP whose role and responsibilities do not require a degree or five years' relevant experience.

Supported Employment Specialist

Q.

What is the scenario for a Supported Employment Specialist?

A.

• Staff A has been employed as a Job Coach in the field of I/DD for five or more years, providing relevant supported employment services. Staff A meets the requirements to fulfill the role of Supported Employment Specialist on or after 1/1/14.
• Staff B has been employed in the field of I/DD for six or more years, providing relevant supported employment services. Staff B meets the qualifications to fulfill the role of Supported Employment Specialist on or after 1/1/14, but must complete the HDI Supported Employment Training Project training within six months of the date Staff B begins providing Supported Employment services.
• Staff C has an associate's degree from a KCTCS institution in Business Administration and has been employed in the field of I/DD for three or more years providing Job Coach responsibilities. Staff C meets the requirements to fulfill the role of Supported Employment Specialist on or after 1/1/14.
• Staff D has an associate's degree from a KCTCS institution in Business Administration, has been employed at ABC Agency since June 1, 2013, providing Job Coach related duties, and has attended the HDI Supported Employment Training Project training. Staff D must obtain either a Kentucky DSP Specialty in Employment Services or a national equivalent credential in Supported Employment by December 31, 2014, to continue in the role of Supported Employment Specialist.
• Staff E has one year of experience in the field of I/DD providing relevant supported employment services at ABC Agency since February 1, 2013, and has completed the HDI Supported Employment Training Project training. Staff E must obtain either a Kentucky DSP Specialty in Employment Services or a national equivalent credential in Supported Employment by December 31, 2014, to continue in the role of Supported Employment Specialist.
• Staff F was employed by ABC Agency on 1/15/14, has 1 year of experience in the field of I/DD and has completed 12 hours of college coursework. Staff F must obtain a Kentucky DSP Specialty in Employment Services or a national equivalent credential before being placed in the role of Employment Support Specialist. Until the credential is attained, Staff F must be employed as a DSP whose role and responsibilities do not require a degree or five years of relevant experience.

Q.

Can a syllabus be used as a work sample, for example, if the class someone took required the person to complete work that was relevant to the credential the person was trying to obtain?

A.

No, a syllabus alone is not an acceptable work sample. If the individual is completing course work, then the work product submitted for a grade would be an acceptable work sample with the appropriate reflective summary.

Q.

Under Option B that requires you to have 18 months of experience, can that be volunteer experience or does it need to be from a paid position? Does it need to be at one employer?

A.

We have revised some of the qualifications under all the requirements. Relevant experience (paid or volunteer) attained from the age of 18 may be appropriate. It would not have to be from the same employer or volunteer agency.

Q.

Since official transcripts come in a sealed envelope, people were asking if they will still be considered official once they open the envelope and scan them into the computer.

A.

Requirements are that we have a copy of an official transcript. So, once they are scanned into the file, then they will be considered official for our purposes.

Q.

Where are the checks and balances regarding work samples that are submitted? How will you know at DDID that someone actually did what he or she said he or she did and wrote about in the work sample and reflective summary versus just making something up and submitting it?

A.

First, we place high value on the honor system. If the DSP did not do the work, then the DSP should not "make up" something just to get a credential. The résumé should demonstrate that the individual worked in a setting that would be conducive and expected for the work sample provided. We will be asking Quality Administrators for input, especially if the work sample does not appear reasonable or realistic. In addition to our QA staff, we will spot check with employers/supervisors as we review documents.

Q.

If someone completed a credential and then it no longer existed, such as the Person-Centered one, would it still be recognized that the individual had the credential?

A.

If we issue a credential that is discontinued in the future, it will be recognized while it is in effect. At renewal time, the DSP will need to determine what other credential offered by DDID or a national organization is applicable for which the DSP should apply.