Jerry Smith, B.S.
Information Technology Professional
Jerry Smith is a media producer specializing in documentary film and interactive media projects supporting the community inclusion of people with disabilities. Since joining RTC/CL in 2000, he has produced and directed a number of award-winning films, including "We Watch the City: Stories in the Shadow of 9/11," a documentary about New Yorkers with disabilities who survived the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001; "Higher Ground," a documentary on people with disabilities in New Orleans and those who support them in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; "Finding Our Voice," a documentary on American Indian youth in Minnesota developing leadership skills through participatory and experiential education; and "Direct Support: A Realistic Job Preview," a video providing perspective direct support professionals information about job expectations so they can make informed choices. (Please visit http://rtc.umn.edu/rtcmedia for more information and work samples.) Jerry also works on the RTC educational websites Self-Advocacy Online and the College of Direct Support and presents multimedia lectures on the history of perceptions of disability.
Organization: Research and Training Center on Community Living
E-mail: (smith495@umn.edu)

• College of Direct Support: National Online Training Program for Direct Support Professionals
  The College of Direct Support (CDS) is a computer-assisted, competency-based, interactive multimedia training curriculum for direc... (More)
  
  
• QualityMall.org
  Quality Mall is a web site that gathers and disseminates information related to or useful in promoting the quality of life for per... (More)
  
  
• Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of a Model Community Quality Assurance System Designed, Managed and Staffed by Community Members
  Beginning in 1996, a group of community “stakeholders” in SE Minnesota began to explore community initiatives to improve services.... (More)
  
  
• Self-Advocacy Online: Research and Development to Bridge the “Digital Divide”
  This research and development project will employ systematic analysis of specific web-based technology and learning strategies to ... (More)
  
  
• The Experiences of Direct Support Professionals during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and Aftermath
  In 2006, the University of Minnesota was asked to conduct a series of interviews and focus groups with staff from two programs of ... (More)
  
  
• Active Support Interventions and Their Effect on Increased Participation of Persons with Severe Impairments
  Active Support (AS) is an organizational intervention to enable direct support professionals (DSPs) in community settings to effec... (More)
  
  

Direct Support: A Realistic Job Preview (RJP) (brochure) (PDF) - An RJP is a recruitment strategy used to give potential employees detailed and balanced information about job expectations, the employer, and the worksite, so they can make an informed decision about accepting a job offer from the employer. This professionally produced 22-minute video illustrates the real, everyday work of direct support professionals.; File Size: 97 KB

•

Diversity Workgroup Environmental Scan (PDF) - The purpose of this environmental scan is to find out what local (Minneapolis/St. Paul ) metro area organizations and selected state agencies are doing around the topic of diversity, both inside and outside their respective organizations. (2009); File Size: 1.75 MB

•

An Independent Assessment of the Region 10 Quality Assurance Commission (PDF) - Beginning in 1995, a group of community stakeholders in Southeast Minnesota began to explore community initiatives to improve services. One of these initiatives received Legislative authority and funding to plan, design, and implement a new outcome-based quality assurance system for community services. This plan created and granted the “Region 10 Quality Assurance Commission” the authority to serve as the regional quality assurance and licensing entity for Region 10 counties wishing to implement a program of outcome-based quality assessment. This independent evaluation was initiated by The Commission and conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL). (2008); File Size: 1.81 MB

•	Quality Mall - Quality Mall is a web site that gathers and disseminates information related to or useful in promoting the quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities. It especially focuses on promising person-centered practices and innovations.

College of Direct Support - The College of Direct Support (CDS) is a computer-assisted, competency-based, interactive multimedia training curriculum for direct support professionals in community settings.

NOTE: To view/download PDF files, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader® installed on your computer. You can download a copy of the Reader here