DSP University

Participation in DSPU is voluntary. To be eligible, participants must be a DSP as defined below, and meet all requirements identified below.

DSPs are paid workers whose responsibilities include the following:

• Provide direct support & supervision to children and/or adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• Spend at least 50% of their hours doing direct support tasks.
• Assist individuals with IDD with learning new skills, guidance, and personal assistance.
• Help with maintaining a person’s health & safety and the upkeep of their home.
• Are funded by the regional center.

People who are not defined as a DSP, even if a portion of their work involves providing direct support, include:

• Staff (except Intermediate Care Facilities staff) paid through a source other than the regional center, like health insurance or a school district.
• Behavioral specialists, behavioral technicians, or behavioral clinicians (RBTs, BCBAs).
• Clinically licensed or certified staff (CNAs, nurses, therapists, social workers).
• Those who only provide transportation, home modification, and/or meal delivery services.
• Staff who are hired through a temporary personnel agency.
• Contract or 1099 workers.
• On-call or PRN workers.
• Administrative or supervisory staff, unless they spend 50% or more of their time doing direct support work.

EDGE is the learning management system that hosts DSP University trainings. This means you have to create an EDGE account to take DSPU Trainings. There are five easy STEPS for DSP’s to get started on the EDGE system:

1. Access the online EDGE enrollment form.
2. Complete the form, providing your personal information and your employer information.
• Requirement: DSP learners are required to use a personal email address when creating an account to ensure consistent access, even if they change employers.
3. One you submit your form, you will receive an email with your EDGE username & a temporary password to login
4. Change your temporary password to a password you want to keep for your EDGE Account
5. Congratulations!  You can now access DSPU Trainings

For Non-DSPs:

• For all other learners who are not DSPs, such as regional center staff, Department staff, providers, and community members, EDGE accounts can be created by completing the following: form
• Requirement: Regional center staff must use their official regional center email address when creating an account.

• DSPU will be hosted on our new online learning system, EDGE.
  • Shareable DSPU & EDGE General Info Flyer | Spanish (1 pg PDF)
• Recording: May 5, Webinar Overview of EDGE & DSPU (01:13:08)
• EDGE & DSPU Webinar FAQs | Spanish
• DSP University FAQs | Spanish
• DSP University Fact Sheet | Spanish
• DSP University Webinar: Community Members | Spanish
• DSP University Quick Reference Guide | Spanish
• Sample DSP University Initial Enrollment Form for DSPs | Spanish
• DSPU/EDGE Town Hall | Spanish

• Regional Center guidance can be found on the DDS Directives page & will be added here as it becomes available.