Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)

What Do Direct Support Professionals Do?

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play an important role in the workforce and economy by providing essential support and services to people with disabilities of all ages.

As skilled professionals, DSPs help disabled individuals to engage in their communities. For example, DSPs may work as job development staff to assist in finding or customizing jobs, as job coaches who provide hands-on support directly at the workplace, and as in-home support providing assistance with activities of daily living (transferring, dressing, cleaning, cooking, feeding, toileting etc…).

Recruitment of DSPs and LNAs via the New Hampshire College and University Systems

Colby-Sawyer College

Platform: Bulletin Board

Colby-Sawyer College has a bulletin board for outside student job listings, which families and individuals can access. Please send the information to Caryn Wright (caryn.wright@colby-sawyer.edu) as a printable attachment. She will post the position on the bulletin board.

  1. Name and contact information (email address, if you are comfortable, add your telephone number)
  2. Job Title
  3. Job Description
  4. Job Requirements
  5. State Date/End Date (depending on if you have an end date)
  6. Hours per week (if hours could be shared)
  7. Pay rate per hour

Dartmouth College

Platform: JobX

http://dartgo.org/studentjobs.

  1. Click on off-Campus Employers
  2. Click on Request Access to the Site and select External Employer from the dropdown menu.
  3. Click on Go to next step to proceed to the form
    • a. Complete and submit the online form to request an approved login
    • b. A red asterisk indicates the required fields
    • c. Private employers will be listed by the name provided (e.g., Peter Parker or Lois Lane)
  4. Read and complete the Confidentiality Agreement section
  5. Click Submit to complete your request.

You will receive an email within 2 business days stating that you have been approved to use their system. Please keep this email; it will contain your login credentials.

(Please be aware that Dartmouth College also uses Handshake. Families should post jobs using JobX as Handshake requires the case manager to post the job.)

Franklin Pierce University

Platform: Handshake

https://app.joinhandshake.com/

Families with openings for DSPs, LNAs, or Respite can utilize the Handshake platform with assistance from the Area Agency. The case manager plays a crucial role in this process, as they are responsible for setting up the account and creating a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Case managers should visit https://app.joinhandshake.com/ to advertise the position.

Great Bay Community College

Platform: College Central

https://www.collegecentral.com

College Central is a platform that families can use with assistance from the Area Agency. However, College Central has posting fees. One post for 30 days costs $199.00, and one post for 60 days costs $398.00.

Families with DSPs, LNAs, or Respite openings can use College Central with the Area Agency to set up an account and create a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Keene State University

Copy and paste the following link into your browser for part-time job listings. This will direct you to the site where you can advertise your position.

Website: https://forms.office.com/r/DXzuCTfMsi 

Fill out the Part-Time Position Form/Submit Job Opportunities for Keene State University Students.

  1. First and Last Name
  2. Email Address 
  3. Local Address
  4. Job Title to Appear in Job Posting: Direct Support Professional 
  5. Job Description and Qualifications: Provide a detailed overview of what you’d like the student to do). Some examples are below.
  6. Start Date 
  7. End Date
  8. Hours Per Week  
  9. Pay Rate Per Hour: Explain the rate you will be paying. Be sure to include mileage reimbursement and other funding if available.
  10. How would you like students to apply? Explain your expectations. For example, a Student should email (your email address) with a resume and contact information to be considered.

Lakes Region Community College

Platform: College Central

Website: https://www.collegecentral.com

College Central is a platform that families can use with assistance from the Area Agency. However, College Central has posting fees. One post for 30 days costs $199.00, and one post for 60 days costs $398.00.

Families with DSPs, LNAs, or Respite openings can use College Central with the Area Agency to set up an account and create a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Manchester Community College

Platform: College Central

Website: https://www.collegecentral.com

College Central is a platform that families can use with assistance from the Area Agency. However, College Central has posting fees. One post for 30 days costs $199.00, and one post for 60 days costs $398.00.

Families with DSPs, LNAs, or Respite openings can use College Central with the Area Agency to set up an account and create a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Nashua Community College

Platform: College Central

Website: https://www.collegecentral.com

College Central is a platform that families can use with assistance from the Area Agency. However, College Central has posting fees. One post for 30 days costs $199.00, and one post for 60 days costs $398.00.

Families with DSPs, LNAs, or Respite openings can use College Central with the Area Agency to set up an account and create a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

New England College

Platform: Bulletin Boards

New England College has physical bulletin boards where families can post positions on campus. To do this, you must go to the campus and post on the bulletin board. The college does not keep track of the bulletin boards, so regularly checking and updating your posting is essential. The primary bulletin board is inside the Simon Center ( 98 Bridge Street) by the mailboxes.

New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI)

Platform: College Central

Website: https://www.collegecentral.com

College Central is a platform that families can use with assistance from the Area Agency. However, College Central has posting fees. One post for 30 days costs $199.00, and one post for 60 days costs $398.00.

Families with DSPs, LNAs, or Respite openings can use College Central with the Area Agency to set up an account and create a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Plymouth State College

Bulletin Boards

Plymouth State College has bulletin boards where families can post positions on campus. You must physically go to the campus to post on the bulletin board. The college does not keep track of the bulletin boards, so regularly checking and updating your posting is essential.

Rivier University

Platform: Handshake

Website: https://app.joinhandshake.com/

Families with openings for DSPs, LNAs, or Respite can utilize the Handshake platform with assistance from the Area Agency. The case manager plays a crucial role in this process, as they are responsible for setting up the account and creating a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Case managers should visit https://app.joinhandshake.com/ to advertise the position.

Saint Anselm College

Platform: Handshake

Website: https://app.joinhandshake.com/

Families with openings for DSPs, LNAs, or Respite can utilize the Handshake platform with assistance from the Area Agency. The case manager plays a crucial role in this process, as they are responsible for setting up the account and creating a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Case managers should visit https://app.joinhandshake.com/ to advertise the position.

Southern NH University (SNHU)

Platform: Handshake

Website: https://app.joinhandshake.com/

Families with openings for DSPs, LNAs, or Respite can utilize the Handshake platform with assistance from the Area Agency. The case manager plays a crucial role in this process, as they are responsible for setting up the account and creating a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Case managers should visit https://app.joinhandshake.com/ to advertise the position.

University of New Hampshire (UNH)

Platform: Handshake

Website: https://app.joinhandshake.com/

Families with openings for DSPs, LNAs, or Respite can utilize the Handshake platform with assistance from the Area Agency. The case manager plays a crucial role in this process, as they are responsible for setting up the account and creating a job listing. Families must provide the case manager with a detailed job description, including specific skills, minimum requirements, expected responsibilities, and pay scale. The colleges will require payment through the Area Agency.

Case managers should visit https://app.joinhandshake.com/ to advertise the position.

White Mountain Community College

Platform: Bulletin Board

Website: N/A

White Mountains Community College has a physical bulletin board for outside student job listings, which families and individuals should access. Please send the following information to Ronni-Jean Marois, rmarois@ccsnh.edu and she will post it:

  1. Name and contact information (email address, if you are comfortable, add your telephone number)
  2. Job Title (LNA or Nursing Student)
  3. Job Description

Related Resources


External Resources

UNH Institute on Disability: Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Academy

NH Council on Developmental Disabilities: https://www.nhcdd.nh.gov/


About DRCNH

Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers for people with disabilities across New Hampshire. DRC is the federally designated protection and advocacy agency for New Hampshire and has authority under federal law to conduct investigations in cases of probable abuse or neglect.


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