Two young women walking through a wooded trail, baking cookies together in a kitchen, and a collage of a heart made of colorful hands and a close-up of cookies baking.

Jordan found a job, a sister, and made an IMPACT.

Three women sitting on a brown leather couch in a living room, smiling at the camera. The woman on the right has glasses on her head and is wearing a purple jacket. The woman in the middle has glasses and is wearing a fleece jacket, and the woman on the left has long blonde hair and is wearing a plaid shirt.

When Jordan Knips started as a Direct Support Professional,

she had no idea how meaningfully it would change her life. Three years later, Jordan believes it was one of the smartest decisions she ever made.

“I started college going after a business degree, and with no idea of what I really wanted to do.

After working for IMPACT as a DSP, I realized that my future career path must involve service. I changed paths, and now my degree is Radiological Science, with the goal of becoming an MRI technologist.

As a DSP, she was paired with a wonderful girl named Elena, diagnosed with autism, and over the years the two have become like sisters.

“I work with Elena about two and a half hours a day during the school year, and roughly six hours a day, five days a week during the summer. We cook, go bowling, take in a movie, or head to Barnes & Noble, Elena’s favorite store.”

Jordan says being a DSP has been the perfect job while attending college - fun, meaningful, and totally flexible.

“I truly recommend it to anyone!”

Two girls in a kitchen holding baked cookies, with a plate of more cookies on the counter in front of them.