Phyllis: Phyllis: The Life and Calling of Direct Support Professionals

In this episode of Never Fade Away, host Kate Siahaan-Rigg speaks with Phyllis, a direct support professional and coordinator at LADD in Cincinnati who has spent more than four decades working alongside people with developmental disabilities.

Through Phyllis’s story, we hear not only the evolution of a career—but the evolution of an entire field. She shares vivid stories from the field—moments of humor, challenge, and hard-earned wisdom—including early gaps in training, encounters with exploitation, and the critical role of today’s abuse registry in protecting vulnerable individuals.

The conversation also confronts the painful history of institutionalization, as Phyllis reflects on visiting the former Orient State Institute—an experience that revealed the stark contrast between segregation and the community-based model LADD continues to build today

From her early days learning hands-on care in specially designed accessible homes, to helping individuals navigate public transportation, employment, and independent living, Phyllis reframes what this work truly is: not caregiving, but coaching, teaching, and advocating for full participation in society.

This episode explores:

•  The real role of a Direct Support Professional (DSP) 
•  How disability services have evolved over 45 years 
•  The legacy of institutional care and why it matters today 
•  Advocacy, independence, and community integration 
•  Why respect—not pity—is the foundation of this work 

About LADD:
LADD empowers adults with developmental disabilities to live, work, and connect. Through housing, employment, and advocacy programs, LADD supports individuals in building independent, meaningful lives within their communities.

Transcript

Phyllis (00:02)
There's a sheer ignorance around people with disabilities because if you don't learn it when you're in school Then you don't know and you're and you don't understand it. It drives me crazy when people say you you're such an angel No, I'm not an angel You know, yeah, and I do love what I do I'm like no, I'm not a caregiver. I'm a coach. I'm a teacher. This is what we do We're not here to to to to spoon feed people and do their laundry and clean for them though

They are viable individuals, human beings who have jobs, who contribute to them. They pay taxes, they go out and they work, they take transportation, they relax, they entertain with their friends, they're in their family. So I think that people don't know. They just see you with a person with a disability and because they haven't been educated, they just think automatically that you're a caretaker and that's what you do.

Hey, hey, I've got a story for you Right here today and some history too Never fade away Listen to what I say, story's here to stay Never fade away Never fade away ⁓

Kate (01:21)
This is Never Fade Away, an oral history project centering untold stories by and about people with developmental disabilities in Ohio. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the storytellers and not necessarily endorsed or representative of the producers.

I am your NeuroSpicy host, Kate Siahan-Rigg, and this podcast is brought to you by LADD, a Cincinnati-based organization grounded in the belief that all people have ability and value. LADD empowers adults with developmental disabilities to live, work, and connect. Here are some of their stories.

Phyllis (02:04)
Never fade away, listen what I say, story's here to stay. Never fade away.

Kate (02:15)
In

this week's episode, I'm so happy to be talking with Phyllis, a gifted direct support professional and coordinator who works with Ladd in Cincinnati. Phyllis has been serving people with disabilities for over 45 years. And so as she tells her story, she's also telling us what it takes to answer a calling like hers with energy, empathy, and creativity. Okay, you ready, Phyllis?

Phyllis (02:45)
Thank you.

Kate (02:46)
for joining

us today on Never Fade Away Untold Stories of Developmental Disability. And you have a very special story to tell us from a DSP's point of view and a coordinator's point of view now. Can you tell me a little bit about how long you worked for LADD and what you do there?

Phyllis (03:05)
I've worked for Lev for, it'll be 40 years in December. I came December ⁓ 30th and ⁓ I was working at Stepping Stones with my friend and kind of moonlighting at Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing. And ⁓ my friend said, Phyllis, know, my friend is working at this place on Fitzgerald Park and I think you'll love it. And I was like, ⁓

Okay, well then, you know, if you think I'll love it and you know me, I'll just go put in an application.

Kate (03:40)
Now, before Phyllis began working at LADD, she had a job at Stepping Stones, which is a Cincinnati-based organization that since 1963 has been providing day programs for adults with disabilities. And those programs included things like life skills training, recreational activities, and community involvement.

40 years ago, wow, so you're having a kind of an anniversary at the 50th anniversary almost too.

Phyllis (04:07)
Almost here.

Kate (04:09)
When you first started out, what was your day-to-day, you know, what were your tasks like? What did you do?

Phyllis (04:16)
So 45 years ago when I first started, it was just Victory Parkway. There was only Victory Parkway. And the director at that time, the CEO was an occupational therapist. And she designed all of the homes. Before she was the CEO, she designed all the homes and they asked if she could be the director. And so because of that directorship, we were able to learn so many things. Like I can tell you every alternative tool that somebody will need to write, to eat with, you know, transferring.

all of that stuff because you know it came from you know an expert in the field you know she had her masters and so in the very beginning you know I started as a DSP in the house and then so I've had like so many jobs while I've been at Ladd. I've had the opportunity to do so many things while I've been at Ladd so when people say oh you've been here for 45 years I'm like yeah but not in the same position I've had the the opportunity to grow and do workshops and design

program in forms and ⁓ develop leadership skills along with teaching leadership skills. For me, is not ⁓ a destination, it's a journey. So I think people think they have to hip hop and skitch cop against different places and different jobs, but I've had all of that genre right here at LADD. ⁓

Kate (05:40)
interesting

about what you're saying about ⁓ how the original CEO was, did you say an occupational therapist?

Phyllis (05:49)
Yeah, she had her master's in OT.

Kate (05:52)
And so

she designed, tell me about like, so she designed this house when you, for people who don't know Ladd, you know, there's people listening from all over the world. What is this house? Like what is this house that you stepped into that she designed?

Phyllis (06:03)
Well, the house on Victory Parkway, there are three homes. And so she made everything level. She had two sides. She the stove that was level for people in wheelchairs. She literally designed it for people that had disabilities. So it didn't matter if they were a walker, if they were on crutches, or they were on cane, or she designed the houses. So on one side, was for people that were ambulatory, and on one side, it was for people that were non-ambulatory. So it was two sinks and...

and two of everything literally in the kitchen. And then in the bathrooms, you know, the roll in showers and we had some of the showers that the door opened up. They're changed now. Cause you know, could open the door and the water would go everywhere. But now, you know, they're designed a little bit different. So, you know, the systems grow as people, as people grow.

Kate (06:46)
And when you stepped into this job, mean, were you aware that this was a very innovative and kind of new idea or were you just like stepping in like that?

Phyllis (06:57)
Um, I think because I worked at stepping stones, I was introduced to it. So, you know, people coming for a day program is completely different than people living in a place because living in a place and you're teaching everything you're teaching how to wash your hair and how to maintain some kind of a routine for, uh, daily life skills, um, how to catch the bus, you know, bus training people to all the places in the community that they want to go. Um, I remember bus training a lady out in, um,

in Northgate and then I misread the bus schedule because I used to drive and then we were stuck because we missed the bus, but it was okay. Cause you know, they came to get us. So, you know, it's a, just a learning opportunity. know, I, a bus train somebody downtown and this man put, ⁓ put his hand on, ⁓ the individuals. said, no, don't touch him. And I didn't realize that he was, he was deterring me from looking at what he was really doing. instead of him.

touching him, thought it was the watch, but he actually took his wallet. And so, you know, you learn so much. So we paid his way back home and had to get all of his documents all over again. So people are just so clever. mean, there's so much stuff now. Now they have the little wallets that you can put in different parks, like not the big, thick wallets in your back of your pants. So, know, technology has moved, you know, innovation, things have moved.

Kate (08:19)
Well, that's interesting because I was going to ask you how, I mean, I know you're a coordinator now, but you still oversee a lot of DSPs and you're in the field. How has being a DSP changed, like in terms of your actual duties from 45 years ago till today?

Phyllis (08:36)
you know, a few things, one that comes to mind is a very important one. And that is, ⁓ the abuse registering. There was not an abuse registry. So you can imagine things that could go on. You know, I think this field, this field had a lot of predators and, ⁓ you know, people that want to, ⁓ take advantage of people who they think, you know, don't have the opportunity to protect or to advocate for themselves.

So I am thankful that there's an abuse registry now so that people, ⁓ if things happen, they could put it in the system and they can go someplace else and get a job someplace else because people don't know what they've done.

Kate (09:16)
So have you ever reported anybody?

Phyllis (09:21)
Have I reported anybody? think that ⁓ I gave people the opportunity to report themselves.

Kate (09:31)
That's

a very nice way of putting it.

Phyllis (09:33)
Yeah,

you know, the one guy that came home, he took a guy out and he came back and he was blasted. He was, he was so drunk. He was so intoxicated. And I said, okay, you've got two choices. I can tell them or you can tell them. So he told them, you know, that when he had done and, know, and that's always the best way to do it.

Kate (09:50)
What did he do? He took the person he was carrying for to a bar and they got tanked

Phyllis (09:54)
Yeah, he was until he was drinking and driving and I mean the laws are much more stiff now But you know again, you know as things change the laws change but still drinking and driving with an individual You know He took him to a bar and he wasn't supposed to take him to a privacy in some place else and they ended up in the bar listening to music and He just kept drinking and he came back and he was so intoxicated

Kate (10:16)
Both of them or the person who was serving?

Phyllis (10:19)
the person, the person, not, not, not the person serving the staff person that was driving the car. Yeah. So I said, yeah, you've got a choice. You can tell them where I'll tell them. he told you it was a really nice guy. So, I mean, so much stuff i mean I reported other stuff. I don't know if you believe how long we might want cut it.

Kate (10:40)
Well, I think it's more interesting the idea that there is an abuse registry now for everybody, right? And I mean, before there was an abuse registry, what recourse did individuals have or what recourse did you guys have?

Phyllis (10:56)
literally you would report it to the Hamilton County Board of  D. D. And then you would have the service facilitator that would advocate for that person. Of course, you know, you can call the police on them. You can have things like that, but that didn't prevent them from going someplace else. Now there because of the abuse registry that will, if somebody will look them up or they try to apply for another job, their name's going to pop up.

Kate (11:16)
I mean, I think it's really great actually, and I don't think it's something that we want to cut because it's a serious thing that you do. You're taking someone's life and you're enhancing it and you're taking it into your hands, you know. How would you describe like the calling, like what I'm talking about? Like what do think your job is both sort of physically what you do, but also sort of emotional?

Phyllis (11:38)
that's a challenge because, ⁓ it's challenging question. When I first started, you know, we worked, I worked with a lot of people with wheelchairs, like manual wheelchairs. So I didn't physically know how strong I was like, I had muscles. You know, now most people have electric wheelchairs. You don't, you know, see a whole lot of people with manual chairs, but you know, just transferring. mean, you know, one guy that came, I love LADD because they worked with so many people, people that were brain injured, you know, even though, you know,

We had the challenge to try to work with people. ⁓ We may not have been able to do it well because of the diversity and all of the things and a lot of the training wasn't out there. didn't really deny a lot of people unless they would come for a trial visit and we would try to work with them. And if we could, we couldn't work with them. But I think lab could in every effort to try to work with it and serve every individual that has ever applied to land.

Kate (12:34)
And how do you feel about your job? Like what ties you to it?

Phyllis (12:38)
Well, I my job and I think what keeps me here is, you know, it keeps me humble, you know, and I love what Muhammad Ali said, you know, he said, service is the rent you paid for your room and board on earth. And I love that. You know, when I was younger, I used to want to be a nun, which is so funny. So I think this is my calling. I used want to be a nun and then I met my husband. was like, okay, well, I guess that was how else can I serve?

So here I am 45 years later, you know, at LADD and you know, and I, and I managed to on the weekend at another program called the Renaissance program, which is similar to this one. So I've had like all those off-granties. So people think even though I've been at LADD, I've had like all these off-granties and other opportunities and things that I've done. So I kind of know my niche. I, this is where I need to be. I love the, the teaching, the engagement of the fellowship with the parents and the individuals and and the staff.

and I am not an upper administration person. It's not that I can't do it, I just prefer not to do it because that's not where my gift is. My gift is working up, and I think it keeps me humble. I think it's important to stay humble because you don't think that you're above everybody else. You don't have that God, that God affectation Here's my title, here's who am, and that to me is not important.

What to me, what keeps me humble is working ⁓ with the ⁓ individuals we serve, which is important to me.

Kate (14:09)
So for the purposes of, you know, again, the listening audience and people who don't know you or Ladd very well, how would you sort of, if someone has said to you, Phyllis, what do you do? How would you describe that? What would you say?

Phyllis (14:25)
What would I do? I would say that I'm a coach, I'm a teacher, you know, ⁓ I am a supporter. I mean, you're so many, you know, we wear so many different hats. So ⁓ I think that I am a teacher. love ⁓ designing programs for people. love, you know, if there's something they can do or someplace they want to go, I love that whole interaction of, hey, let's see if we can do this. Let's see, they want to volunteer and work with animals or they want to...

work at this place, or they want to do this, or they want to sing in the choir. I love that part of helping each person connect into the community so they can live their best life.

Kate (15:05)
Can you give me some examples of things you've designed to enable people to do things they wanted? ⁓

Phyllis (15:10)
Well, I've designed a lot of forms to help people be able to manage your money a little bit better. But I, ⁓ I love that, you know, I had a group of ⁓ two ladies that would go out to do the everybody counts program and the everybody counts program is not in the schools. should be in the schools because that program actually taught people ⁓ about people with disabilities. So kids at a younger age, you go in and second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth grade, they don't have that anymore. And I think that there's a sheer ignorance.

around people with disabilities because if you don't learn it when you're in school, then you don't know and you don't understand it. It drives me crazy when people say, ⁓ you're such an angel. No, I'm not an angel. You know what? Yeah, and I do love what I do, but you know, people, I think they're ignorant in regards to people with disabilities, which is really unfortunate. So when I took the ladies out, they would show, I'm just like you, I have a disability. But yeah, I have a job.

and I love art and I dance and I can play music. And so I think that gave them a real opportunity to get the people to know them. And then years ago, we had a committee that would go to the University of Cincinnati and talk to the groups at Xavier University. And they would have the opportunity in the special education program, they would have the opportunity to talk to the students before they became special education teachers, which I think was really important.

Kate (16:37)
I

has there been anybody that you've worked with that had a lot of impact on you?

Phyllis (16:42)
I most of the people, everybody teaches you something. Everybody teaches you something. I remember years ago when I was talking about donation and the CEO at that time said, why do you donate there? And I was like, because I'm helping. he said, the person said, well, you need to really figure out where your money's going. Because he says sometimes the money is going to ⁓ the administration.

And it's not really going to where, you know, it needs to go. So, you know, that was a, that was a lesson learned. And then also I think that, you know, in the beginning, you know, you know, how people take people out and, know, to raise money. And then they're sitting in front of buildings and sell candy to raise money. And then the person was like, no, you don't do that. That's exploiting it. So things you don't think things you think are really good things. And then you were like, then you realize, my gosh, that's horrible.

I've been very fortunate because, you know, in the beginning I was able to go visit an Orient. So I was able to see the atrocity of, you know Orient and what went on there. A lot of people in this field have not had that opportunity. can see it on video.

Kate (17:53)
We talk about Orient in some of other episodes, but just to catch you up, the Orient State Institute began in 1898 as the Ohio Institution for the Education of the Idiotic and Imbecile Youth. Yep, that's what it was called. It later became known as the Columbus State School and finally the Orient State Institute. So in the 60s and 70s, reports...

started emerging about the terrible conditions suffered by people living there. were like shackled to beds, there were filthy linens, extremely unhygienic rooms, and multiple cover-ups when folks came around to inspect it. It was later upgraded and remodeled to be an intake facility for state prisons. So think about that. They upgraded it. They made it better to be part of the prison system. Yeah.

How did you end up there? How did you get in?

Phyllis (18:48)
Well, because the art director again, who was an occupational therapist, we, what she said is anybody want to go for a tour? was like, sure, I want to go. And so, and I was so glad that I went because I worked with a parent who was telling me that she, you know, back in the day, I'm calling it back in the day, but a lot of the doctors with till their, their families, they're, never going to have a normal life, put them in an institution. So one of the families that I worked with, she said that she put her

daughter in the institution because when she would come home, her husband and daughter would be sitting on the couch saying, look at her, look at what she's, she's, she's with that person, that person. Okay. The person with the disability who went down syndrome on her mother's hip And so she, she said, okay, I need to make a choice. I'm going to go ahead and put her in orient and I'm going to, know, so can take care of my husband and my other daughter. Well, when she went to visit, she could not, she just cried. It's just such a sad, sad story. But, ⁓ so it wind up she,

loved her daughter with a disability and so it broke her family up.

Kate (19:49)
because she brought her back out of the institution, you're saying. What did you see? Do you remember what you saw when you were at Orient?

Phyllis (19:56)
It was an atrocity. was sad. was horrific. Well, because I think when you see people who don't have clothes on and you see slats in the floor where people are using the bathroom and then they can just rinse it down with water. ⁓ People tied down. Little babies just in cribs along the walls. It's sad. ⁓

Kate (20:22)
Was it overcrowded?

Phyllis (20:25)
I think when we went it wasn't overcrowded. think you know anytime somebody's coming in visually to see something things change.

Kate (20:32)
It's funny that they must have cleaned it up and yet what you saw was crazy.

Phyllis (20:37)
Yes, I mean, was nothing on the floor we could see, but when you think about the drain panels in the floor to just rinse it down and you know. So yeah, I'm sure they changed and they led you to rooms that they wanted you to see.

Kate (20:53)
What was in those rooms? What were in the rooms that what were in the rooms that they wanted you to see?

Phyllis (20:55)
I'm sorry.

think the people were in the rooms, but they were still, was still, I think the mindset they didn't know not to tie people up, you know, because then people would do head banging and they didn't know what else to do. I mean, you know, then they didn't know what else to do. You know, now you can't restrain somebody. There's so many different rules and regulations from back then until now. So you'd see people tied up because they didn't want them running or screaming or banging their head or hitting somebody. So now there's so many different things that you can do.

Kate (21:31)
So after you saw that, did you kind of feel a sort of renewed passion for the work at Ladd?

Phyllis (21:36)
I already had a passion for, just thought I was there for the people that were there. Because the people that left never probably had that experience, you know? I mean, we did get some people from Orient and they could tell you, I mean, we do still serve one person that was in Orient, maybe more, but one lady in particular ⁓ that went to Orient, she can just tell you those stories because she lived it. So me visiting and seeing it is completely different than living it.

Kate (22:03)
Here, Phyllis is referring to Lynn, who's one of the people served by LADD, who actually, I think, was one of the first residents at their Victory Parkway location. You can look also for her episode on Never Fade Away. She has her own episode where she talks about her life and experiences at the notorious Orient State Institution that we talked about before and how it affected the rest of her life. So were you working at LADD when they passed the ADA?

Phyllis (22:34)
⁓ I don't think so, no.

Kate (22:37)
So, okay.

Phyllis (22:38)
I'm familiar with the ADA. I'm concerned about that and things being reversed with the community, with the current administration, because, you know, we want to empower, we want to be inclusive. And that they would consider that DEI now. it's, you know, diversity, equity and inclusion. And it's just about giving people humility and including them and encouraging them. so, yeah, I learned about, I learned about the program, but it was, I think it was created like a little bit before.

before I started, you know, just engaging in this field.

Kate (23:14)
We're talking about what's going on where people are starting to take away DEI measures and stuff, but in the broader community, do you think your work is valued?

Phyllis (23:24)
I don't think people really understand this. No, I don't. I think people say it's something that has to be done, but I think you show value in what you pay people. Well, you know, I mean, that's all debatable, you know, depending on what you want to make, because people think everything is in what you make, but people have to have a survivable income. A lot of people that work in this field, work two jobs just to make ends meet, and, you know, things are going up every day.

So, no, do I think they're valued? I think in some senses, I think LADD values their employee. They try to do as much as they can to value their employee. But I think overall, I don't know. just think people think, well, it's your job and you should do it. Well, you you have to think about they're taking time from their life to come take care of your child when they're leaving their child and their husband at home. So that's huge. And I think people don't think about that. think, well, this is your job and you need to do it. That's true.

But you know, respect comes across the board. And I think that when people can appreciate what you do, and it doesn't matter if you were a garbage collector, you still need to respect people. Well, here's how I hear.

Kate (24:33)
as

a non-garbage collector.

Phyllis (24:35)
Yeah,

Garbage Collector, if you were a janitor, it doesn't matter. think you have to respect people at all levels. And I think that this field, I'm not for sure that people respect, again, they'll go back to say, oh, you're a little angel because they feel like they can't, it's not about that. It's about humility. It's about passion. It's about love. It's about caring. It's about treating somebody like a human being.

Kate (24:59)
Do you think that people even know what you guys do?

Phyllis (25:02)
Are aware?

I-I don't, I don't... I-I don't, I- Will you think they-

Kate (25:06)
What do you think they think you do?

Phyllis (25:10)
I think they think that I'm a caregiver. And it's so funny because when you're interviewing, they're like, oh, I can't do that. I'm not a caregiver. And I'm like, no, I'm not a caregiver. I'm a coach. I'm a teacher. This is what we do. We're not here to spoon feed people and do their laundry and clean for them. No.

They are viable individuals, human beings who have jobs, who contribute to, they pay taxes, they go out and they work, they take transportation, they relax, they entertain with their friends, they're in their family. So I think that people don't know, they just see you with a person with a disability and because they haven't been educated, they just think automatically that you're a caretaker and that's what you do.

Kate (25:52)
Yeah, that's very well put. So what's your advice to people who might feel inspired to make this work their career?

Phyllis (26:02)
I think that for me, it's hard to speak for other people because you don't know people's path. You don't know their journey. This is a journey for me because every day I'm working with individuals directly to help them advocate for themselves in the community, with their parents, with their friends, you know, just so they can live more noble lives. And to me, that's the most important thing that I could do.

Kate (26:26)
I just have a few more questions for you, Phyllis, before we're done. First of all, there any, but is there any individuals that you've worked with that you've had some fun adventures with or like things that you can remember that are like cool things that you've done or achieved together?

Phyllis (26:39)
You know, just going to workshops with, uh, you know, other coworkers out in the community, the coworkers that the coworkers have always surrounded me, you know, over the 45 years, I still have friendships with a lot of them as they transitioned in and out of. that that's important, you know, traveling on the community wherever we go. It's just been, um, an adventure, um, just, you know, going to China or even just going to Indiana or Chicago or New York or DC, you know, it's been a journey. And so, yeah, lots of.

fun and a lot of fun and just an emotional journey when you're learning about other people, you when you travel with people, you see a different version and a different side of them.

Kate (27:22)
like there's like a little community then of like DSPs and people who work in your field like you do you have do you feel like there's a community of people who work in your field?

Phyllis (27:33)
I feel it is a community and I think when you make that connection you the people Currently that the people at Timberlane. They are community. I mean the the staff here Yeah, they work in other locations, but they work here. They've been here so long You know, I have another person that's been here just as long as this location has been here So it's not that she has to because she's another job, but she does because it's a connection of community

Kate (28:00)
Okay, so let's just talk to finish up. Let's talk a little bit about LADD, okay? What are some of the changes and improvements and innovations you've seen over the years at LADD? That might have made an impression on you.

Phyllis (28:15)
I think, you know, going to the schools and talking to special education, ⁓ potential teachers, the empowerment committee, I think that LADD has been very progressive in building programs so people can advocate for themselves and not only within the agency, but then outside of the agency. So when they're going outside of the agency to advocate for themselves and for their peers, that's amazing. I don't know if there's a whole lot of programs that are doing that.

Kate (28:43)
the Empowerment

Committee.

Phyllis (28:45)
The Empowerment Committee is a group that was created to find things in the community or things that are going on that need to be changed or discussed or bring awareness to. like the porta potty, the individuals on the Empowerment Committee brought that to the Cincinnati and Cincinnati decided, this is a great idea. We never thought about that. So sometimes when you're in

When you live that life, you can see things that other people don't see.

Kate (29:19)
What

was idea of the porta potty? What was that idea?

Phyllis (29:22)
Well, the idea was, you know, people with disabilities don't always have some place to go to the bathroom. So they're not accessible. So, you know, you might have the port-a-lots, but the port-a-lots weren't always accessible. They weren't accessible for people in wheelchairs. So they brought that to the Cincinnati council and they agreed with them. And so they were acknowledged for bringing that to their awareness. And then they approved it for...

They created, they passed a bill that they would have so many different porta potties at different events throughout the Cincinnati area and they created an infrastructure to be able to provide the porta potties for people with disabilities and wheelchairs.

Kate (30:03)
everybody

on the empowerment committee there's somebody with a disability right everybody

Phyllis (30:08)
Yes, most of them are, yeah. you know, there's a, there's, some guides, but ⁓ basically the information comes from the, the adults with disabilities.

Kate (30:16)
And what would you say the soul of LADD is all about?

Phyllis (30:25)
The soul of LADD, to me it's about love and caring, education, integration, moving forward. Because when I think about the first, when I think about LADD in the beginning, when you had a handful of parents who just wanted the best for their children to help them live equitable lives in the community, and then you move forward, and it's the same thing. So I think that the guy is...

family and all the first board members were really a blessing because I think that if that hadn't occurred, if they hadn't thought to use their dollars to be able to help other people, then that wouldn't exist. So I think that in itself is an amazing story.

Kate (31:10)
And my last question for you is, you know, you've been there on the front lines for 45 years. Do you think that people with developmental disabilities have more opportunities now and are included more than when you started?

Phyllis (31:30)
I think they have more opportunities in employment, ⁓ which is a big thing, but I think that there's a long way to go. I think they have opportunities in working at the grocery store, working in janitorial opportunities, working in restaurants, cleaning the bathrooms or just cleaning off the tables. But I think that people with disabilities have so much more to give, but I think that they're limited because that's what

the only thing people think they're capable of.

Kate (32:02)
Well, what do you wish for them, like, you know, moving forward? Because you're not going to be there forever, but what would your wish be that you put in the world for them?

Phyllis (32:10)
What would I wish for them? I wish that people would just open their eyes and accept them for who they are and don't limit them because of what you see. Because everything that you see may not be what you see, you know? I wish that they would just not... If you can hire people without seeing them, I think that that would make a difference. ⁓ And you don't look at people right away. You know how they say you judge people in the first couple of seconds? I think that's what happens a lot with people with disability. They don't know.

and allegedly cow intelligence than they are, what they can provide or what gifts they can bring to the table because they limit them by what they see in front of them, which is really unfortunate.

Kate (32:49)
How much longer are you gonna stay at LADD? How much longer do we have you?

Phyllis (32:54)
I don't know because it's not it's not a it's for me. It's not a destination. It's a journey. So when it's my time to go, I'll know, you know, so you just have to put all those things in place. You put those things in place, you know, and make sure that the parents and the people because since I've been in this position is transition. So now you have the parents that are eight that have aged. So you're going to have a whole nother set. So it's not just about the individuals. It's about, you know, you're caring for the family, so, you know, not

That's not my job, but you know, just to help, I don't mean to say it's not my job, but just helping families navigate. Their children are going to have to navigate their lives, their parents' lives, and their sibling with a disability. So their whole lives are going to change. And so, you know, I want to be there to help them with that journey. I'm not going to be here forever, but I think that's important is our lives change. It's going to change dramatically, and I don't think they understand. They won't understand until it happens to them.

Kate (33:52)
Well, we're going to re-release this ⁓ episode during DSP appreciation month. So is there anything you want to say to the wider community of your fellow DSPs since you have the mic right now?

Phyllis (34:06)
⁓ I think I would just say, you know, open your eyes so you could see. I think a lot of times we just jump into jobs and we just, we're just doing, we're just doing. But I think just open your eyes so you could really see what's going on and just, you know, open your eyes to opportunity. And so you get to see people and learn people and know people for who they really are. And don't just look at them, look at them as a person with a disability, but look at them like a human being, somebody that's loving and caring.

and it's capable, just like you are. I think if we, I love that saying, know, walk a mile in my shoes, a moccasins, because I think it's so important. If you can identify with them, then you can understand them a little bit better and say, yeah, they're just like me.

Kate (34:56)
Thank you, Phyllis, so much for sharing some of your stories and your perspectives with us. I think it's really great. I can't wait to see you in Cincinnati.

Phyllis (35:06)
Okay, well thank you and you take care. Okay, bye.

⁓

Living with a disability, the story of us, the story of me.

Never fade away. Never fade away.