Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Kathleen Ryan

Huntingdon Valley,PA

Summary

Compassionate and dedicated Direct Support Professional with a proven track record at OneWell, enhancing client independence through tailored care plans and effective crisis intervention. Skilled in client documentation and empathetic support, I foster positive relationships and promote community integration, ensuring clients achieve their personal goals and improve their overall well-being.

Results-driven support professional prepared for impactful roles in direct care environments. Proven ability to enhance clients' quality of life through tailored support and effective daily management. Known for strong collaboration and adaptability, ensuring seamless team operations and consistent quality outcomes.

Experienced with providing comprehensive care and support to diverse client populations. Utilizes effective communication and interpersonal skills to foster positive relationships. Track record of maintaining safe and supportive environment tailored to individual needs.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work History

Direct Support Professional

OneWell
05.2022 - Current
  • Maintained clean, safe, and well-organized patient environment.
  • Documented progress notes thoroughly to track client achievements, concerns, or changes in behavior patterns that may need attention from the interdisciplinary team.
  • Assisted clients with daily living needs to maintain self-esteem and general wellness.
  • Assisted with crisis intervention to de-escalate challenging behavior and maintain peaceful encounters.
  • Enhanced quality of life for individuals with disabilities by providing compassionate and consistent direct support.
  • Supported clients with personal care tasks, ensuring their dignity and privacy were maintained at all times.
  • Assisted clients in achieving personal goals through tailored care plans and daily skill-building activities.
  • Provided ongoing communication between clients, families, and other service providers to enhance overall care coordination efforts.
  • Assisted disabled clients to support independence and well-being.
  • Monitored clients to assess and report physical and behavioral changes to supervisors.
  • Encouraged and supported clients to participate in recreational and leisure activities to promote social interactions and reduce loneliness.
  • Addressed emergency situations calmly and effectively, prioritizing the safety of both clients and staff members involved.
  • Promoted physical well-being by supporting clients in engaging in regular exercise routines or therapeutic activities suited to their abilities.
  • Transported clients to medical and dental appointments to provide support.
  • Monitored progress and documented patient health status changes to keep care team updated.
  • Improved client self-sufficiency through teaching essential skills such as meal preparation, housekeeping, and financial management.
  • Implemented individualized behavior management plans, reducing incidents of challenging behaviors within the residence.
  • Adapted support approaches based on individual client preferences, fostering increased trust and rapport over time.
  • Served as a reliable point of contact for family members, maintaining open lines of communication about client progress and addressing any concerns promptly.
  • Implemented behavior management plans to address challenging behaviors, promoting safe environment for all.
  • Coordinated with families and other caregivers, ensuring cohesive approach to client support.
  • Assisted with personal care tasks, respecting clients' dignity and promoting self-reliance.
  • Liaised with healthcare professionals to coordinate care, ensuring comprehensive support for clients.
  • Adapted activities and support strategies to meet changing needs of clients, demonstrating flexibility and creativity.
  • Supported clients in managing their finances and personal administration, fostering greater independence.
  • Managed crisis situations effectively, maintaining calm and ensuring safety of clients and staff.
  • Developed strong rapport with clients, facilitating trust-based relationship for effective support.
  • Conducted daily documentation of clients' progress and incidents, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records.
  • Improved clients' daily living skills with hands-on teaching and encouragement, promoting independence.
  • Encouraged healthy lifestyles through nutritional planning and physical activities, improving clients' overall well-being.
  • Transported clients to and from medical appointments with safety and efficiency.
  • Monitored clients' overall health and well-being and noted significant changes.

Special Education Teacher

School District of Philadelphia
08.2003 - Current
  • Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
  • Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
  • Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
  • Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
  • Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
  • Improved student behavior management by implementing consistent routines, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement strategies.
  • Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
  • Evaluated student progress regularly using various assessment methods, ensuring accurate measurement of skill development and areas requiring additional support.
  • Provided targeted instructional support to struggling learners, identifying specific areas for improvement and designing effective intervention plans.
  • Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support for students with special needs.
  • Coordinated with general education teachers to develop accommodations or modifications necessary for successful inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classrooms.
  • Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
  • Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
  • Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
  • Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
  • Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
  • Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
  • Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
  • Enhanced students'' communication skills by implementing group activities and collaborative projects.
  • Streamlined classroom processes by integrating technology tools such as interactive whiteboards and assistive devices designed for students with disabilities.
  • Encouraged students to take ownership of learning by providing choices.
  • Encouraged parent and guardian involvement in educational process, enhancing home-school connection and supporting student achievement.
  • Fostered positive learning environment, reducing classroom disruptions through effective behavior management strategies.
  • Developed and executed behavioral intervention plans, leading to decrease in disruptive behaviors and increase in classroom participation.
  • Enhanced communication skills in non-verbal students through integration of alternative and augmentative communication systems.
  • Implemented individualized education plans for students with diverse learning needs, ensuring personalized support.
  • Improved reading comprehension among students with learning disabilities by designing and delivering targeted literacy activities.
  • Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet varied needs of students, enhancing educational accessibility.
  • Conducted assessments to identify students' strengths and areas for improvement, informing instructional strategies.
  • Integrated social skills training into curriculum, facilitating improved peer interactions and social integration.
  • Utilized data from student assessments to tailor instruction, resulting in more effective learning outcomes.
  • Created culturally responsive classroom environment, acknowledging and celebrating diversity among students.
  • Advocated for rights and needs of students with special education requirements, ensuring access to appropriate resources and accommodations.
  • Facilitated small group instruction to address individual learning needs.
  • Implemented behavior modification techniques to improve student social and academic performance.
  • Monitored student performance to evaluate effectiveness of instructional strategies.
  • Conducted assessments of students to determine individual needs.
  • Planned daily activities to keep students engaged and on track with learning goals.
  • Maintained accurate records of student progress and attendance.
  • Designed individual education plans to encourage student growth according to different learning abilities and needs.
  • Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems.
  • Developed Individual Education Plans for students with special needs.

Direct Support Professional

JEVS Human Services
01.2008 - 02.2011
  • Monitored medication administration, maintaining accurate records to ensure client safety and compliance with prescribed treatment plans.
  • Maintained a safe and inclusive environment by addressing behavioral challenges with patience and understanding.
  • Facilitated social outings and community integration activities, promoting inclusion and positive experiences for clients.
  • Assessed clients'' needs on an ongoing basis, making adjustments to support plans as necessary to ensure optimal outcomes.
  • Advocated for clients'' rights within the broader community, raising awareness about issues affecting those with disabilities.
  • Established strong relationships with local community resources to connect clients with additional supports as needed.
  • Facilitated community integration for clients, enriching their social networks and life experiences.
  • Provided emotional and practical support to individuals, fostering positive and supportive living environment.
  • Advocated for clients' needs and rights in various settings, enhancing their quality of life.
  • Assisted with daily living activities, running errands, and household chores.
  • Cooked meals and assisted patients with eating tasks to support healthy nutrition.
  • Assisted patients with bathing, grooming, dressing, and oral hygiene care both in private residences and facilities.
  • Laundered items, changed sheets and made bed to keep patients' bedroom clean.
  • Maintained clean, safe, and well-organized patient environment.
  • Assisted clients with daily living needs to maintain self-esteem and general wellness.
  • Transported clients to medical and dental appointments to provide support.

Substitute Teacher

Montgomery County IU
08.2000 - 08.2003
  • Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
  • Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
  • Developed strong rapport with students through consistent encouragement and support, fostering a positive learning atmosphere conducive to academic growth.
  • Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
  • Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
  • Maintained day-to-day classroom management and discipline to promote learning initiatives.
  • Enhanced classroom management by implementing positive reinforcement strategies and maintaining clear expectations for behavior.
  • Boosted student engagement with interactive lessons, incorporating real-world examples and hands-on activities.
  • Promoted a collaborative learning environment through group projects and peer-to-peer activities, fostering teamwork and communication skills.
  • Increased student comprehension by utilizing differentiated instruction methods tailored to individual learning styles.
  • Maintained detailed records of student attendance, assignments, and progress for seamless transition back to regular teachers.
  • Fostered student curiosity and love for learning by presenting material in engaging and relatable ways.
  • Enhanced student engagement by implementing interactive teaching methods.
  • Supported implementation of school-wide initiatives aimed at improving academic achievement and student well-being.
  • Improved learning outcomes with tailored instruction for diverse student needs.
  • Provided substitute teaching services across multiple grade levels and subjects, maintaining educational continuity in absence of regular teachers.

Education

Master of Arts - Special Education

Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA
05-2011

Bachelor of Science - Elementary And Special Education

Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA
05-2002

Bachelor of Arts - Speech, Language And Hearing Science

Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
05-1992

Skills

  • Effective time management
  • Emergency response skills
  • Positive behavior intervention
  • Client relations management
  • Empathetic support
  • Positive behavior reinforcement
  • Client documentation
  • Housekeeping tasks
  • Health and safety requirements
  • Direct patient care
  • Transportation
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client transportation
  • ADL support
  • Social skills development
  • Recreational activities
  • Progress documentation
  • Community integration
  • Nutrition
  • Nutrition support

Timeline

Direct Support Professional

OneWell
05.2022 - Current

Direct Support Professional

JEVS Human Services
01.2008 - 02.2011

Special Education Teacher

School District of Philadelphia
08.2003 - Current

Substitute Teacher

Montgomery County IU
08.2000 - 08.2003

Master of Arts - Special Education

Holy Family University

Bachelor of Science - Elementary And Special Education

Gwynedd Mercy University

Bachelor of Arts - Speech, Language And Hearing Science

Temple University

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