Alabama Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week

Proclamation

By the Governor of Alabama

WHEREAS, direct support professionals, direct care workers, personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support workers and paraprofessionals are the primary providers of publicly-funded long term supports and services for millions of individuals with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, a direct support professional must build close, respectful and trusted relationships with an individual with disabilities, as well as empower people with disabilities, to fully participate in their communities; and

WHEREAS, a direct support professional assists people with intimate personal care assistance and other individualized supports on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, direct support professionals provide essential support to help keep an individual with disabilities connected to their family, friends and community; additionally, they support individuals with disabilities in making choices that lead to meaningful, productive lives; and

WHEREAS, direct support professionals are the key lynchpin to supporting an individual with disabilities to live successfully in the community, and to avoid more costly institutional care; and

WHEREAS, the participation of direct support professionals in medical care planning is critical to the successful transition from medical events to post-acute care and long term supports and services; and

WHEREAS, direct support professionals are a critical element in supporting persons who are receiving health care services for severe chronic health conditions or with functional limitations; and

WHEREAS, Federal and State policies, as well as the Supreme Court, in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), assert the right of an individual with a disability to live in the home community residential setting or institutional settings of their choice;

WHEREAS, in 2016, the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home and community-based settings and this trend is projected to increase over the decade:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim September 11th through September 17th, 2016, as

Alabama Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week

in the State of Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 1st day of September 2016.

Robert Bentley

Governor