direct support professional

direct support manager

assistant director

administrative assistant

accounts payable specialist

AIM Services, Inc.

The training program does not prepare you for the actual work load. The compensation is not nearly high enough for the level of individual personal care, daily violence you endure, and the overall BS you need to deal with on a daily level. 

The managers (if the house you work in even has one), are only available when you've "messed up" in any way. They claim to have a large support system in place so you never feel alone or overwhelmed, but if you try to call anyone for help, they guilt you for bothering them, and sometimes, don't even answer at all. If there is a manager in the house, they don't actually help, they usually just stand around and watch everyone struggle. 

They give you plenty of "Paid Time Off", but you're almost never allowed to use it, due to under staffing and it doesn't even roll over into the next year if you are unable to use it. The company just gets to keep them.  A supervisor can call you minutes before your shift ends, even after a twelve hour shift and tell you that you need to stay until they get someone to come in and relieve you, and that can mean hours, and if you tell them you are unable to stay, they will threaten to report you to the state for neglect.

People literally have falsified documentation, putting people's lives at risk, and the company does nothing about it, because they don't want to lose more people than they already do every day. I wanted this job to be rewarding and I wanted to help people, but this is not the place for it. We are not helping people live their best lives, AIM Services Inc. trains you to help them die their worst deaths, and everyone involved deserves better. The individuals are the only thing about this job that is even remotely close to being worth it. They deserve the world, and this company fails them every single day. This is a job that requires an intense amount of caring, and most of the DSPs there, do not care at all. If you lose an individual, they tell you to try "and care less so it doesn't affect you".

The CEO of the company even has her own special needs daughter taken care of by a different company.

As a DSP you certainly will not earn a lot... But there is an opportunity to make more by working overtime, night shifts, on weekends, or holidays. 

Management often leaves you on your own to figure things out and make you take on additional responsibilities. It seems like they don't value input from their DSPs even though they are the ones, in fact, spending time with the individuals and the ones who see their struggles or accomplishments in a day. 

The hardest part of the job is when individuals occasionally have behavioral challenges. I've had someone threaten to kill me, throw a chair at me, I've been kicked, slapped, and had someone go #2 on the floor. Those are the moments when you think that $13.25 is NOT worth the risk/hassle. If you are able to deal with this, you will eventually over time develop good relationships with the individuals. It seems like they sometimes "test" you. Unfortunately, management is not very upfront about this and they will put a lid on it. I was horrified when I learned from coworkers that they had experienced getting their teeth knocked out, broken bones, concussions, etc and they had been asked by higher-ups to not talk about it... In training they will say "such and such is a GREAT house to work at" but really... there is risk involved, and nobody wants to talk about those stressors or prepare you for it. 

But the individuals DO have good moments and it is so rewarding to support them to achieve their goals. Reach out to the behaviorists too! They are some of the nicest people in this company, period.

Lastly, overall it is a decent entry-level job. They offer decent health insurance, the training is paid, and you will get to know some really cool coworkers. Just lay low with management and you will be fine. And pick up extra hours to make the ends meet.

I just began my job at AIM and was excited to work with the developmentally disabled and traumatic brain injury population. I have worked in this field for years. I was a special education teacher in Philadelphia. When I moved back to NY, I worked for capital Region BOCES as a special education teaching assistant for several years. I also volunteered at Belvedere day program in  Albany, making art with the people in the program.
My experience so far with AIM has been disappointing. I was hired to work in a house that I was told in my interview would be open by May 1st. It has not opened as of yet & no one knows when it will. In the mean time I have been given an alternate schedule that has me driving to and from my assigned locations 2+hrs a day. This schedule has been changed many times and I have been used to cover where needed. I did not sign on as a floating employee as I myself have a TBI and irregularity/change to my schedule is not conducive to me & causes great anxiety. I have also noticed many disturbing things happening at AIM. I see people both in the houses & at day program sitting around, not involved in activities while the individuals who have behavioral issues are being tended to. There are no attempts or actions taken to modify their behavior because of AIM's policy of not stopping behaviors but rather dealing with the outcomes. Many of the employees spend more time on their cell phones than they do with the people they are working with. It saddens me to see this.

They start off every new employee as do all agencies like AIM: They certainly blow hard when it comes to the inspirational speeches about independence and how the structure within the agency isn’t a hierarchy... that we are all working for the same person, the individual. But it doesn’t take long to learn how quick most people are to start flexing their authority and remind you who is in charge. Then you get the lectures on making sure you take time for yourself and your social and personal life; meanwhile, you aren’t able to take any time off because no one can cover your shifts.  And god forbid you get sick and you try to take a sick day. They will guilt you into coming in and working even though they tell you in training to stay home and avoid spreading sickness.  Biggest bunch of hypocrites you’ll meet. They do have benefits, but they aren’t very good.  Best part of the job is getting to know the individuals you serve. It is rewarding in that sense, especially when you and your teammates may be the only people who seem to “care” for some of the individuals as many have family who never visit. It’s a job. If you can deal with the typical negative attributes of any crooked business where there are favorites and nepotism and hypocrisy, then go for it. The only other challenge you’ll face is a schedule that is mentally/emotionally and physically exhausting.  Good luck!

The people in the residential houses would literally take the shirt off their back for you if you need it. Working residential isn’t for the faint of heart, it takes a lot out of you but it is so worth it to see the smiles on the faces of the individuals you support. With that being said, upper management is not very understanding and plays clear favorites with staff. If you work for them, they’ll work for you and that would be fine if everyone actually put in the same effort to the job. Some people work 90 hour weeks and aren’t recognized for it beyond a “hey, thanks for doing this shift would you be able to do these other 4 too?” The amount of things we have to deal with on a daily basis aren’t too bad, but the pay isn’t as high as it could be. Depending on the house, you have to endure behaviors that can potentially involve personal injury and sometimes that can last all day. When you’re sick, they act like you only need at most a day to recover despite the signs posted all over that say not to show up if you are. Overall, this is a great place to work only because of the staff directly around you and the individuals you will meet and support, but if you’re looking for somewhere easy this is not the place for you. 

Working at AIM was easily one of the worst years of my life. There isnt nearly enough staff for the amount of consumers that are supported. However, the "office" uses their managers as staff, mandating them to work any positions not filled, sometimes up to 70 hours per week, but only pay them their salaried 40 hours. The classroom training is great. Lacey does amazing on that part. Once you get into the homes though, that's another story. Staff are so stressed, they take short cuts to get their jobs done, therefore the individuals living there are the ones to suffer. It's also nearly impossible to get approved for time off if you're a manager. Unless you're a program director, you are treated poorly and very unfairly compensated. The directors are fake and will lie to your face. The turn over rate is out of this world, multiple emails daily communicating which staff no longer work for the agency. They don't care who works at any given home, staff are just numbers and bodies. There were several circumstances at a 12 bed home having only 1 or 2 familiar staff on shift. There are much better agencies out there to work for. My advice is to stay far away from AIM!

If ur related to anyone or friends with higher ups  there you will  get the good pay n position n grow with the place other than that you'll never grow with the company ,, also b4 signing any paper work read it very carefully they rush you to sign a lot of paper work but remember by law you got 24 hrs to sign so read them carefully they lie to you n check ur pay check every time and it all STEMS from the main office , my 3 boss's I had were a bunch of no it all's who no nothing for the department they are trying to run , they waste much money cause they don't know how to set up a system of stock that you need any money they may get by funds from any gov is ur tax dollars they are wasting they even had to mortgage some houses to make pay roll they are very grimmy there houses have some bad code violations going on there , so heed this warning if not good luck but when you quit you will remember all I have said here they also lied to me about my starting pay n there breaking many state n federal laws you have to work 45 hours b4 you get any over time they say they pay 4 ur lunch time but look at ur pay stub n they automatically clock you out you don't get 40 hrs only 35.5

Since working at AIM I have received multiple advancement opportunities as well as fair pay and raises.  AIM has an employee recognition committee that puts a lot of effort into making employees feel recognized for their hard work.  Aim has a work environment that centers around supporting people and there are lots of sincere shows of appreciation for the hard work of each employee.  AIM is not an agency driven by regulations and the bottom line.  There is responsible management of these aspects but the work environment feels good to be a part of because the focus is on the people supported.  Like any organization in this field,  there are ongoing challenges to maintain staffing ratios and provide the best services possible.  However, AIM administration has had success with thoughtful approaches to minimize these issues and focus on driving the best outcomes for people.

The job can have its ups in the form of positive relationships, days where you feel like it is meaningful work, and times when coworkers feel like family.  However, there are more days where the work is dangerous, relationships can feel mostly stressful, and management is not supportive.  Speaking of management, in my personal experience and those of others I worked closely with; office/management staff surely will do their best to hold you accountable for everything including their own mistakes.  The favoritism is noticeable; if you are liked they will do their best to keep you around, if you are disliked expect them to search for reasons to get rid of you.  Added note, I felt very supported by my residential management staff, it is office management and HR that myself and others seemed to have problems with.  The company will praise their "person centered" philosophy until it no longer suits them or seems so irrational they can no longer support it.  Overall, this company does "okay" for this field of work that is for some but definitely not for most

Over all most people were helpful. Unfortunately my boss was not, everything I did was wrong, even if I did what I was told. I asked for help many times and when she didn’t have any more ideas she blamed me for it not working. I was new to the field and not use to the problems I encountered, for my “shadow/training” she sent me to follow an individual who lived alone and could drive (most do not) it seemed nothing like it actually was. She tried writing me up for something  ridiculous and I refused to sign and it and went to HR and unfortunately they couldn’t really do anything, my word against hers . She didn’t like reaching out to other departments in the office to ask for advice on certain individuals I was having trouble taking out. She enjoyed giving me jobs I didn’t want and said I didn’t feel comfortable doing.  I wasn’t the only one she ran off, I herd there was many more and unfortunately it didn’t hurt any one but the individuals

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Direct support professional 4 salaries reported	$24.50 per hour
Direct support manager 4 salaries reported	$25.00 per hour
Assistant director 1 salary reported	$35.00 per hour
Administrative assistant 3 salaries reported	$23.00 per hour
Accounts payable specialist 2 salaries reported	$27.00 per hour

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