Full-Time

Direct Support Professional 1

Yai

Yai

51-200 employees

Special education school with integrated therapies

Compensation Overview

$16.50 - $18/hr

Queens, NY, USA

In Person

Category
Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (1)
Required Skills
CPR
First Aid

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Requirements
  • A high school diploma or GED is preferred.
  • Work or life experience in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field is a plus but is not mandatory for Direct Support Professional 1 positions.
  • A valid New York State driver's license may be required depending on the position.
  • A tuberculosis test is mandatory for most positions.
Responsibilities
  • Provide direct care services as needed, including counseling, training in activities of daily living, assistance with personal care, medical, dietary, social, sexual, recreational, financial, habilitative, and other needs within the program.
  • Ensure the health, safety, and wellness of the people supported.
  • Provide support with intimate care functions.
  • Build and maintain positive relationships.
  • Participate in the development of treatment plans.
  • Provide crisis intervention and management.
  • Complete mandatory training based on the program and position, including AMAP, CPR/First Aid, SCIP-R, and Defensive Driving, and apply the skills learned.
  • Meet, demonstrate, and model OPWDD Core Competencies.
  • Assist people supported in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities through teaching, self-advocacy, and emotional support.
  • Facilitate community integration, recreational activities, and socialization.
  • Complete documentation to ensure compliance and billing.
  • Train and present to a team.
  • Take on additional tasks outside basic Direct Support Professional work and complete job-related tasks as needed.

Yai's Manhattan Star Academy (MSA) is a private, non-profit day school within the YAI Network that serves students aged 3 to 21 with developmental disabilities. It combines academics with therapies (occupational, physical, speech, counseling) in a Montessori-inspired, developmentally based curriculum, using small classes and sensory-friendly facilities with technology to track progress. The school includes a transition and vocational program to prepare students for life after graduation. Its differentiators are the integrated therapeutic model, a specialized environment for neuro-developmental needs, and a continuous education path from early years through post-secondary readiness.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Seed

Total Funding

$330K

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2023

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • STAR supported six students in its first year, showing demand for transition services.
  • YAI expanded MSA’s Upper School, signaling ongoing enrollment and program investment.
  • Community internships and podcasts strengthen employability, communication, and family appeal.

What critics are saying

  • YAI warned 2026 Medicaid cuts and flat state budgets squeeze provider wages.
  • Ninety percent of disability providers reported staffing shortages in 2025, pressuring MSA staffing.
  • If Medicaid rates stay inadequate, YAI’s school and adult-services model strains financially.

What makes Yai unique

  • MSA serves ages 3-21 with integrated academics, therapies, and transition programming.
  • STAR launched in July 2025, adding person-centered vocational and community learning.
  • YAI’s Upper School at 150 Amsterdam Avenue expands capacity for older students.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

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