Sycamore — Angela's Portfolio

The “Ecosystem” theme selected for the organization’s entire training program (which will be used as we revise additional courses). For example, the HCSP Foundations Companion Course is named “The Forest Floor”, annual trainings are named “The Seasons”, and specialized trainings are “The Resources”.

Snapshot

I designed and authored a comprehensive, multi-module training program for a Developmental Disability Agency (DDA), addressing critical knowledge gaps in direct support, client advocacy, and regulatory compliance that emerged as a result of a statewide administrative rule change. Combining a PowerPoint presentation deck, a Facilitator Guide, a Learner Workbook, and a custom English Language Learner (ELL) Guide, the curriculum translates complex administrative regulations into actionable, high-impact instruction. Built around Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and a custom plain-language framework, the materials leverage adult learning theory, scaffolded learning, real-world scenario sandboxes, and behavioral scripts to empower diverse learners. Every asset strictly aligns with IAC Rule 460, CARF standards, and WCAG digital accessibility guidelines.

Challenge: A statewide administrative rule change created critical compliance gaps across agencies, requiring a need to rapidly develop a new direct support training program.

Audience: Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) including job coaches, behavioral interventionists, van drivers, and direct support workers. Many of these individuals are English Language Learners who require clear, highly scannable, low-cognitive-load instruction to navigate complex compliance rules in the workplace.

Strategy: Applied a multi-tiered Instructional Design strategy centered on accessibility, performance support, and compliance mapping. This included a UDL-focused, four-part synchronized curriculum offering multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression. I engineered a custom ELL guide and used language anchored at a 6th to 8th grade reading level, structured sentence frames, plain-English definitions, and active-voice guidance to lower the language barrier for non-native English speakers. The course also includes contrastive modeling, behavioral performance support, and narrative case studies.

Impact: Empowered new support professionals to confidently bridge the gap between abstract state regulations and daily shift execution - standardizing documentation, eliminating compliance errors, protecting client autonomy, and establishing an accessibly, agency-wide training standard. Created a scalable, high-value intellectual property asset that enables the host agency to generate ongoing revenue by licensing the complete training framework to other DDAs navigating these same new compliance mandates.

Process

Curriculum Audit & Gap Analysis

I formally reviewed and documented the state’s HCSP Foundations course, as this program needed to serve as a companion to the new state course.

HCSP Foundations Certification Notes

Design: System-wide Program Theme

I presented four nature-themed ideas to the team (the organization’s name has a nature-theme):

1) Roots and Leaves (the point person’s original idea)

2) The Grove

3) The Sapling to Canopy Journey

4) The Ecosystem

Design: Strategies

Based on the audience and learning goals, I proposed the following:

1) Make it visual

2) Create theme-related characters or icons that can be used as Anchors for repeated concepts and topics

3) Present Certification Course review topics as infographics that include the anchors

4) Include clients in training (to align with CARF’s Feedback and Input requirements)

Brand Integration & CX Alignment

Since an onboarding process is only as good as the CX surrounding it, I ensured alignment of the visual identity across every client touchpoint. This involved designing new brand assets, including logos that honored the parent organization, a fully SEO and GEO optimized website, business cards, and social media accounts. The customer’s journey now feels unified and trustworthy from the moment they discover the business to the moment they complete onboarding.