NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) - People with a heart for helping others might find their calling later this month at a career fair hosted by the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. 

Businesses that provide services for people with developmental disabilities will be looking for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). TuscBDD Community Relations Specialist Kerri Silverthorn says there is a high demand for people to help individuals with meal preparation, transportation, personal care and other tasks that help individuals live as independently as possible.

“Over the last year, we’ve noticed a lot of need for DSPs. There’s a shortage across the state. It’s not just locally but it is definitely across the state. It’s something that we just don’t have enough of, and so we hope to get some people out there and get them hired,” she says. 

She says it takes a special kind of person to be a DSP.

“It has to be somebody who has a kind heart and wants to work with people with disabilities, someone who’s patient, and also somebody who’s graduated from high school or has a GED. They also would need to pass a drug test and a background check,” she says.

The career fair will be August 21st from 10 am to 2 pm at the Tuscora Park Dining Hall in New Philadelphia. Job seekers should bring their Social Security card, driver’s license or state id and references. Silverthorn says some companies may be hiring on the spot.

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