Marina Sullivan, Author at Soter Blog

Just found out my loved one has an IDD. Here’s what to do first.

Finding out that your loved one has an intellectual or developmental disability can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. This guide is here to help you take the first steps with confidence and care: understanding the diagnosis, building your support circle, learning your rights, and knowing when to ask for help. At Soter, we believe every family deserves calm, clarity, and compassionate support.

10/03/2025

254

9 min read

Support

Your first week with a DSP: how to build trust from day one.

The first week with a new Direct Support Professional can feel like a big change: exciting, hopeful, and a little uncertain. This guide will help you build trust from day one through openness, clear communication, and small daily wins. Because when care starts with honesty and patience, your DSP quickly becomes more than support — they become part of the family.

10/03/2025

281

3 min read

Recruitment Support

Hiring a DSP doesn’t make you a bad person. Here’s why.

Hiring a Direct Support Professional doesn’t mean you’re stepping back, it means you care enough to build the right kind of support. Learn why asking for help isn’t weakness but love in action, and how a DSP can bring calm, structure, and connection to your family’s everyday life.

10/03/2025

294

3 min read

Caregiver Support

Preparing for Medicaid Changes: How Smart DD Agencies Are Turning Challenge into Competitive Advantage

Federal Medicaid changes in the next 24 months will reshape the developmental disability services landscape. It's time to create a strategy.

08/13/2025

3146

5 min read

Recruitment

DSP Interview Tips: Your Guide to Success

The DSP interview isn’t a test. It’s a conversation where you get to share why you care, how you help, and what kind of teammate you’ll be. Compassion, patience, and the willingness to learn — these are your superpowers. Let them shine.

06/20/2025

1824

5 min read

Caregiver

Small Hurts Bad: Understanding the Hidden Financial Impact of IDD Staffing Gaps

When 82 cents of every dollar goes directly to staff wages, even a single unfilled shift can trigger financial impacts that extend far beyond the obvious revenue loss.

08/06/2025

4321

7 min read

Recruitment

How $1 Pay Increase Transforms DSP Recruitment Success

DSP recruitment breakthrough: Market analysis reveals $1.50/hour increases move organizations from worst-to-best positioning. Transform hiring with data-driven strategies.

06/19/2025

2634

4 min read

Recruitment

Effective DSP Onboarding: Strategies That Improve Retention and Performance

Hiring the right DSP is only half the battle—keeping them starts with a better first week. Discover how structured, mission-driven onboarding can reduce turnover, boost performance, and turn new hires into long-term team members.

05/19/2025

1965

8 min read

Recruitment

How to Increase DSP Interview Show-Ups in the Developmental Disabilities Industry

Tired of DSPs missing their interviews? Here are a few simple ways to keep candidates engaged and showing up—without chasing them down.

04/15/2025

607

4 min read

Recruitment

Solving the Candidate Dropout Challenge: Building Communication, Clarity, and Realistic Expectations

Candidates often drop out due to unclear communication, mismatched expectations, or a hiring process that feels impersonal. Explore how transparency and engagement can help keep great applicants on board.

03/19/2025

435

4 min read

Recruitment

Let’s Start with Why: IDD is in Dire Need of a Technological Revolution

The I/DD sector is overdue for a technological transformation. Explore how embracing modern tools can enhance care quality, streamline operations, and empower both providers and individuals with disabilities.

01/29/2025

410

5 min read

Caregiver Recruitment Support

Tailoring Communication Strategies for Different Generations in Recruitment

Candidates ghosting you halfway through the hiring process? Explore clear, practical communication tips to keep them engaged from first touch to final hire.

01/25/2024

299

4 min read

Caregiver Recruitment Support

The Impact of User Experience on Lead Conversion Rates – Insights and Practical Tips for Developmental Disability Agencies

A seamless user experience directly impacts whether leads convert or bounce. Learn how thoughtful UX design can turn more visitors into customers by reducing friction and building trust.

08/29/2024

277

5 min read

Caregiver

The True Cost of DSP Recruitment: Beyond the Job Board Bills

Hiring DSPs can be costly and time-consuming until you implement smart ways to cut recruitment expenses while still attracting and retaining top talent.

12/10/2024

323

4 min read

Support

Marina Sullivan 14 posts

Marina Sullivan
14 posts