2018 DSP Week vol. 4 - Emilie Still

To celebrate Direct Support Professional (DSP) Week, each day we are highlighting a standout DSP employee from one of Imagine!’s several service departments.

Emilie Still works for Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source (CLS) department, which provides educational classes, job training, and supported employment for individuals with developmental disabilities. This department operates curriculum based classes at a staffed site, as well as community based activities in the local and sometimes regional area.

Emilie has a detail oriented, problem solving, and personable approach to her job, making her a role model veteran in the building. She leads a variety of classes with the purpose of teaching new skills and providing a fun atmosphere.  

Of the several classes, Emilie co-teaches Assistive Technology Cooking twice a week, which finds adaptive solutions for clients to cook their own meals. Emilie explains, “For example, a client who may not have the motor skills to chop up an onion, they can put it in the food processor and use an adaptive switch to turn the processor on and off. It’s cool to give them this opportunity, because most of the time their food is prepared for them.”

Emilie demonstrates an adaptive blender at an

Imagine! Foundation event to community members.

Among the CLS staff, there is a five person Assistive Technology (AT) team that finds innovative ways to incorporate technology into the classes, activities, and daily living for the clients. Emilie is a member of this small team, which explains her involvement in AT Cooking. “I’m not the most ‘techy’ person,” Emilie laughs, “but it has been fun to learn.”

Emilie has been at CLS for a total of four and a half years, taking a couple of breaks in that time to travel. After this much time working with this population, Emilie decided to pursue a master’s degree in Special Education. “I love my job and wanted more,” she said.

Emilie supports Micah during AT Cooking class.

“Emilie is constantly ensuring that the individuals we support receive the best customer service possible by being extremely detail oriented and always having a smile on her face,” said Tim West-Heiss, Assistant Program Manager at CLS. “She embodies the highest levels of integrity that I’ve seen and sets an example among her peers alike.”

Emilie strives to support the clients in every way possible and provides a learning atmosphere that will
changes lives for the better. Thank you, Emilie, for all you do and your hard work at Imagine!.