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| Janice Morton, Program Counselor, Nominated For DirectCourse 2015 DSP Award!
The DirectCourse 2015
Direct Support Professional Award is given to someone who demonstrates the National Alliance for Direct Support
Professionals (NADSP) Competency “Participant Empowerment”. He or she enhances
the ability of the participant to lead a self-determining life by providing the
support and information necessary to build self-esteem, and assertiveness; and
to make decisions.
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Janice Morton, Program Counselor for Marrakech, used to be a
Manager at one of the agency’s group homes, but found that she missed what she
loved the most; the day to day support, encouragement and mentoring she was able
to give the individuals she supported in order for them to become their own
advocates. She also missed the smiles on their faces when they felt that
empowerment. So, for the last seven years,
she has been working as a DSP (Direct Support Professional) for two gentlemen
in their apartment in New Haven. One of
her goals with them is to help them “direct their own lives”, in her words, and
one of the ways she nurtures that is to bring them to Marrakech’s monthly Self
Advocacy Group and encourages them to speak for themselves about things that
are important to them.
About four years ago, one of the gentlemen told
Janice that he was tired from working at his job at the local grocery store and
wanted to travel. He said he wanted to go somewhere fun, where there are lots
of lights and action. Instead of taking on the attitude that this may be an
impossible dream, Janice encouraged him, letting him know that he had every
right to want, and to achieve that dream. She told him that it would take a lot
of hard work, but that he could do it and she would support him. Janice told him
he would have to speak to the right people for approval, and helped him to do
that. When he received approval, he told Janice, “I’m going to go, and you’re
going to go with me”!
Janice figured that the best way to empower
people is to give them the chance to be as independent as possible, encouraging
them look at all of the options and then helping them narrow things down from
there. With that in mind, she suggested he go to the travel agency and get brochures
of all the places he would like to go. After doing that, she assisted him in
narrowing the choices down to ten, and then three; based on the activities
available, cost and how much money he thought he could save in that time period.
After narrowing it down to three, he chose a final destination.
During the year, when he didn't feel like going
to work and wanted to take a day off, she was there to remind him about his
goal and to encourage him to take charge and be responsible. With her support,
he was able to reach his goal and realize his dream of a vacation in New
Orleans! The smile on his face told
Janice she had done the right thing. It has now become something of a tradition
for him, and over the years he has saved enough money, planned and been on
vacation to Las Vegas, as well as Myrtle Beach, NC!
When asked what her favorite part of the job is,
Janice answered, “It’s all about the guys and what makes them happy. I do what
I do because it’s who I am. When they are happy, I am happy”.
Janice is
known throughout Marrakech as someone who always puts her guys first. She works
two jobs, six days a week. On her day off however, she often spends it doing
things to help support Marrakech consumers, such as attending their Special
Olympics sporting events. She knows it make them happy to see her there to
watch them. Heather LaTorra, Marrakech CEO
says about Janice’s relationship with her consumers, “She’s not just like family to them, she IS their
family”. We are proud to have Janice as
a part of the Marrakech family and congratulate her on this nomination!
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