Free Webinars Every DSP Should Watch

As a Direct Support Professional (DSP), continuous learning isn't just about fulfilling annual credit hour requirements—it is about sharpening your skills, staying updated on person-centered practices, and delivering high-quality care that empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism.

Whether you are a newly hired DSP building your foundational hours or an experienced support specialist looking to expand your expertise, high-quality, free professional development webinars are readily accessible online.

Here is a curated round-up of essential, 100% free webinars and online learning resources that every DSP should add to their watchlist this Training Tuesday.

1. The Revised NADSP Code of Ethics Webinar

• Host Platform: National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)

• Key Topics: Ethical decision-making, person-centered support, advocacy, and professional boundaries.

• Why It’s a Must-Watch: The NADSP Code of Ethics serves as the moral compass for direct support practice. NADSP offers free webinars breaking down the tenets of the Code of Ethics—focusing on practical scenarios DSPs face daily in residential, in-home, and community settings. Understanding these core ethical standards ensures that support is provided with respect, dignity, and unwavering commitment to client rights.

2. Community Participation Support (CPS) Training Series

• Host Platform: MyODP (Pennsylvania Training Partnership)

• Key Topics: Community integration techniques, person-centered planning, and real-world skill-building.

• Why It’s a Must-Watch: Community Participation Support (CPS) is essential for helping neurodivergent adults step beyond the home and engage meaningfully with their local communities. MyODP’s free CPS training modules walk DSPs through structured ways to facilitate community access, practice safe navigation, and support self-advocacy during local outings.

3. Technology First & Supporting Assistive Tech

• Host Platform: NADSP "Let's Talk" Series

• Key Topics: Assistive technology (AT), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and digital independence.

• Why It’s a Must-Watch: Technology is revolutionizing how individuals with IDD navigate everyday tasks, communicate preferences, and maintain autonomy. This webinar series explores how DSPs can seamlessly integrate assistive tech—ranging from speech-generating devices and smart home automation to visual schedule apps—into a resident's daily routine.

4. Promoting Staff Wellbeing Through Trauma-Informed Care

• Host Platform: Relias / ANCOR

• Key Topics: Trauma-informed support, emotional regulation, caregiver self-care, and burnout prevention.

• Why It’s a Must-Watch: Caregiving is deeply rewarding work, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. Understanding trauma-informed care helps DSPs recognize subtle behavioral signs of past trauma in clients while providing tools for managing workplace stress. Learning how to build a "predictable sanctuary" benefits both the support specialist and the individuals receiving care.

5. Person-Centered Support & Informed Decision-Making

• Host Platform: Open Future Learning / DirectCourse

• Key Topics: Presuming competence, supported decision-making, and person-centered active support.

• Why It’s a Must-Watch: True advocacy starts with moving away from "doing for" a client and moving toward "supporting with". Webinars focused on informed decision-making teach DSPs how to break down complex choices into manageable options, giving individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities the space and scaffolding needed to make their own choices.