Nebraska Association of Service Providers highlights the Top 10 Direct Support Professionals during Direct Support Professionals week. The winners will receive a plaque, Visa gift card, and in-person recognition at the ACP Fall Conference. Jorge Coronilla from Apace Formerly Region V Services was one of the top 10 winners. Here is his story.

“I would like to take you on a journey of the adventures of working with a DSP named Jorge. When I first met Jorge, I was impressed by his laid-back personality and the drive he exhibits when helping the people we support. His dedication to helping individuals achieve their desired outcomes is most admirable.

Let’s start this journey when Jorge began supporting an individual who only wanted male staff. This individual is staffed one-on-one and can be challenging. I saw from day one how Jorge put everything he had into helping this individual grow into who he is today. Initially, E would not get out of bed in the morning. Jorge really had to dig deep and come up with different ways to provide the support E needed. Jorge explored a wide variety of choices with E. E was enjoying the attention and the fact that Jorge was not giving up was even more entertaining for E. Every once in a while, E would let Jorge think he was making progress by getting up but there was absolutely no way Jorge was talking him into changing his clothes. Instead, E would put more clothes over the clothes he had on and then look at Jorge as if to say, “My clothes are different now what?” This went on for weeks. Jorge often felt he was making some progress…but then two days later he’d be right back where he started with E refusing to get out of bed, refusing to change his clothes, and definitely not even close to taking a shower. Jorge just kept showing up day after day. I think E started to like Jorge showing up and I think he could tell Jorge really cared about him.

E started to slowly do some of the things when Jorge asked for participation. Jorge just kept trying and listening to the different ways E communicated to him. E would often give Jorge a smirk here and there letting Jorge know he was hearing what he had to say. E would not do much talking and when he did it was almost like in a whisper. The only time I have witnessed Jorge shocked is when one day E yelled at him in a very loud deep voice when he was displeased. Jorge knew then E was starting to voice his opinions – not the ones he was looking for, but hey it was definitely a great start! E started trusting Jorge little by little and E started to slowly participate. He started taking showers, and even though he kept his clothes on when he showered it was progress. Jorge provided E with different scents of soap as this was also something E struggled with, and the day he finally liked a certain scent and used the soap was definitely a joyous event. Jorge made sure E knew how pleased he was and helped him celebrate several months of milestones met! E’s hygiene slowly started to improve as he continued to take showers, continued to use the soap he liked, and he started to do other hygiene tasks such as putting on deodorant. Jorge kept celebrating the steps of progress with E and slowly E came out of his shell.

The E today is a different person than the first day Jorge started working with him. Jorge has totally turned his life around and E is now starting to enjoy life. I look at E now and I can see how he looks forward to spending time with Jorge. E has brought challenge and humor into Jorges’s world and Jorge has brought caring, patience, learning how to trust, and to know what genuine affection looks like. I know there is much more between the two of them as I know together, they have both grown on this journey, but they did it together and it was amazing to watch and to be able to say…I know how one DSP in a million can help an individual overcome so many obstacles and to look forward to the life that lays ahead of him. E never could make a choice or would never tell Jorge what he wanted his day to look like. That has all changed now. E tells Jorge where he wants to go, what he wants his day to look like and who can be included in his day and who he doesn’t want to be around.

I know I can confidently say Jorge Coronilla is one in a million. A DSP who has made a positive impact for an individual we support. Jorge Coronilla is one of the most deserving to receive outstanding support person recognition. Thank you Jorge for everything you do for the people we support, and I know you will continue to do! I’m looking forward to seeing the new adventures you and E will have together, and all the new experiences E will have with you!”