YAI salutes its Direct Support Professionals. As part of National DSP Recognition Week, we will share profiles of some of our valued employees. They represent all our DSPs in their commitment and dedication to the people YAI supports.

Meet Susan Zelenski

Susan Zelenski, Direct Support Professional (DSP), embraces a holistic approach to health and wellness, which she is happy to share with everyone at YAI’s Astoria Day Services.

“In our field, there’s a lot of focus on diagnosis and person-centered planning,” Susan says. “I jumped at the chance to explore all the different things we can do daily to improve lives.”

Making Healthy Habit Fun

Her idea of hosting an annual Most Colorful Salad Contest is in its third year. The contest coincides with national salad week, during the last  week of July, and encourages people to make salads using a variety of colorful and healthy fruits and vegetables. “It’s a fun way to get the people we support excited about salad,” she says. “It has to be visually appealing and contain healthy ingredients.”

She brings that creativity to all aspects of her work at Astoria.

Susan sets the tone first thing in the morning, running aromatherapy, meditation and yoga groups to help people in the program relax and reduce any stress they may be experiencing. This enables them to have a more productive day.

And Don't Forget About Staff

She also shares articles with the rest of the Astoria team on stress reduction and other topics to build cameraderie.

She has introduced her colleagues to natural juices. Team members contribute toward the purchase of organic fruits and juices, which Susan brings in for staff to sample. It reinforces healthy eating habits. Susan is planning to work with the team to develop a healthy eating curriculum.

Sharing her time between a pre-vocational group and others in the day program keeps Susan energized. “It’s nice to see some of the people we support really close to being ready for employment,” she says. But she finds working with others on managing stress and basic skill-building just as rewarding.

“The best part of my job is getting to know the people we support and learn what makes them tick,” says Susan, who has been with YAI for four years. “We’re helping people live the fullest, most fulfilling life possible.”

Do you have what it takes to bring YAI's mission to life? Visit our careers section.