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Developmental Service Worker

Interviews

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Working with the developmentally disabled can be both rewarding and challenging. Developmental service workers help clients lead meaningful, normal lives. Although the potential for burnout and stress is high, developmental service workers rely on little victories to make their jobs worthwhile, interesting and varied.

Little victories can take many forms. "It's great to see someone that's never held down a job in their life receive their first pay check," says Scott Martin. He's a developmental service worker at a sheltered workshop. "We get so much pleasure from going to work and doing our jobs well."

Martin works for a production plant that hires developmentally disabled people. The plant's focus is "normalization." Targeted and non-disabled people work together on teams to assemble simple electronic equipment. Martin helps train the targeted workers and is the primary liaison with outside case managers and family members.

One day, Martin may teach targeted workers basic assembly. The next day, he may provide group training on team building or sexual harassment. "We treat our targeted employees the same as our non-targeted," he says. "These people are productive adults earning a pay check."

In the past, Martin worked with the elderly, at-risk children and AIDS patients. Seeking a new challenge, he answered an ad for a training advocate. "I'd never worked with the developmentally disabled before," he says. "It's challenging all the time, but that's what makes it fun.

"After working with kids and the elderly, I had to learn new skills to communicate with the developmentally disabled. Sometimes they forget to take their medication. We've had targeted workers start acting out, not show up to work or exhibit abnormal behaviors when they do show up. We immediately notify their family and their case manager to get them help as soon as possible."

Despite the challenges, Martin enjoys his work. "I feel like I'm helping these people, and I'm really making a difference in their lives. It makes me feel good whenever I see a smile on a targeted worker's face. I've had a lot of fantastic moments."

Penneye Robinson has had her share of fantastic moments. "I like my job because I feel like I make a difference in people's lives," she says. "Hopefully, I give them a better quality of life."

As a residential counselor for a group home and a trainer for a day program, Robinson assists developmentally disabled people with daily living. "I make lunches, escort clients to appointments, act as an advocate and drive a wheelchair-accessible van.

"I learned early on that I was good at the field, and it just kind of stuck," she says.

"The hardest part of my job you might think would be changing diapers or cleaning up vomit, but to me the worst part is dealing with behaviors I don't understand. Why does someone hit a glass door to tell me she's upset about something? I find that the most frustrating by far!"

Despite the frustrations, Robinson has also experienced many little victories. "I enjoy going on outings.... I enjoy giving people who are generally stuck in a wheelchair the opportunity to experience something so different and stimulating like the roller coasters."

Robinson has some advice for future developmental service workers: "Try not to limit yourself to one aspect of the field. Get lots of experience in different areas. That way, it's easier to move on and move up."

Diverse experience can make a worker more marketable and reduce chances of burnout. "You don't burn out quite as fast if you don't let yourself stagnate," she says.

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

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