Direct Support DSP Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (1–10)

Question 1

What is the central idea of person-centered support?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

The person's own preferences, strengths, and goals direct the support they receive. Person-centered support places the individual at the center of planning; their voice, choices, and aspirations guide the services, rather than the system or staff deciding for them.

Question 2

A person-centered plan is BEST described as a document that:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Reflects the person's goals, preferences, and the supports needed to reach them. A person-centered plan is built with the individual and captures what is important TO them and FOR them, including goals and the supports to achieve them.

Question 3

A DSP best honors a person's right to make choices by:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Offering real options and respecting the decision the person makes. Supporting choice means presenting genuine options in an accessible way and honoring the person's decision, even when it differs from the DSP's preference.

Question 4

The principle of 'dignity of risk' means that people supported have the right to:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Make choices that involve reasonable risk, just as anyone else does. Dignity of risk recognizes that growth and self-determination involve taking ordinary risks; over-protection denies people the experiences that everyone uses to learn and grow.

Question 5

In person-centered thinking, 'important TO' a person refers to:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

What matters to the person from their own point of view, such as relationships and routines. 'Important TO' captures what makes a person's life meaningful from their perspective; 'important FOR' covers health and safety. Good plans balance both.

Question 6

A person you support says she wants to find a part-time job. The MOST person-centered response is to:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Help her explore her interests and connect with employment supports. Supporting self-determined goals means helping the person explore options and access resources to pursue what they want, rather than discouraging the goal.

Question 7

A strengths-based approach focuses primarily on:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

The person's abilities, interests, and capacities to build on. Strengths-based support identifies and builds on a person's gifts and capabilities, which fosters confidence and more durable progress than a deficit focus.

Question 8

Self-determination for a person with a disability mainly means:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

The person controls and directs their own life as much as possible. Self-determination is the right and ability to make choices and exercise control over one's own life, with support as needed.

Question 9

Providing culturally responsive support means a DSP should:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Learn about and respect each person's culture, language, and traditions. Culturally responsive support honors each person's individual cultural identity, values, and communication needs rather than applying one-size-fits-all assumptions.

Question 10

Community inclusion is BEST supported when a DSP:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Helps the person take part in the same community settings everyone else uses. Inclusion means people participate in typical community life—stores, places of worship, clubs, workplaces—alongside community members without disabilities.

Direct Support DSP Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (1–10)

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