Meet Ashley Benoit, a Direct Support Professional at the Children’s Residential Program
Ashley Benoit supports the young men residing at the Children’s Residential Program (CRP) as a Direct Support Professional (DSP).
Ashley has a background in special childhood education and has worked with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) throughout her career. Last December, Ashley began working at the CRP and fell in love with her work there.
“I learn from the boys and they learn from me,” said Ashley. “Sometimes they just need the reassurance that everything is going to be okay.”
For Ashley, the aspect of the work that stands out most is the young men’s attention to her well-being.
“I can walk in and they’ll say, ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘What happened? Why are you mad?’ and I’m like, ‘How do you know that?’ Just the awareness,” said Ashley.
By spending time with the young men she supports, Ashley has learned to communicate with non-verbal cues to address their needs.
“Spending time with them, being there daily, just watching them, holding their hands, observing them,” said Ashley. “The same way our stomach might hurt, but we can vocalize that our stomach is hurting, sometimes they can’t.”
When asked what her favorite memory of working at the CRP has been so far, Ashley said that every day has been a good memory for her, especially when she hears that the young men have been looking forward to her arrival all day.
“It’s a great job, you see growth,” said Ashley. “Sometimes working as a DSP, not only are you seeing growth in the boys, you’re seeing growth with yourself.”