Taking care of another person can be a tough yet highly rewarding job. Whether it is looking after a child, an elderly relative, or an individual with a disability, working to improve the quality of life for others requires dedication. November is National Caregivers Month, and some of the most dedicated caregivers work for Enable's Self Directed Personal Services (SDPS).
SDPS is a personal assistance program administered through Onondaga County that allows participants to hire, train, supervise and dismiss their own assistants if necessary. Enable acts as a fiscal intermediary, facilitating the hiring process and payroll. Nearly 300 participants are enrolled in the program and approximately 400 people are employed as personal assistants. The program serves individuals of all ages with all types of disabilities, from children with congenital disabilities to older adults who have had a stroke.
Jennifer Woodburn, program director of SDPS, said that Enable's personal assistants go above and beyond to care for their participants. "They are very devoted to their work and bend over backwards to improve the quality of life of their participants," she said. "Some of our staff members have been with their participants for over a decade."
A shining example of this commitment is Kirby Minnick, who began working as an assistant in 1995 for her late brother, who had multiple sclerosis. As she began to work with other participants, a staff member suggested she interview with Agnes McCray. The two instantly formed a bond and have been together ever since.
"We're family now," said Kirby. "I hope that all couplings between aides and participants can flower into what we have." Kirby said she enjoys the individualization she can provide for Agnes, and that she learns from her every day. "I'm not just a number on a clock with a boss who doesn't know my name," she said. "Whether I realize at the time or not, I'm getting help too. Our relationship is built on respect for each other."
Agnes said that she was drawn to SDPS because of that foundation of respect. In this program, she is viewed as a person first, not as a person with a disability. "Kirby and my other assistants are not just people who come to my house every day," she said. "It's so much more. Providing assistance is not an easy thing to
do, and I have to be comfortable with my staff."
Agnes has been enrolled in SDPS since its inception in 1992. She was looking for something to better suit her active lifestyle than the traditionally offered programs. She feels this program was a break from the past because it allowed participants to have a voice in the system, rather than the system telling them what to do.
"In the early days we were all tough and determined that we were going to make this program work, and it does take everyone to make it work," she said. "The importance placed on everyone working together sets it apart and shows real growth."
For more information about SDPS, please contact Jennifer Woodburn at (315) 410-3326.
