direct support professional

qualified intellectual disabilities professional

clinical director

senior analyst

licensed clinical social worker

Individual Advocacy Group

IAG is an organization that is constantly evolving to meet the growing needs of the individuals it serves. I, personally started working for IAG in 2010, and I'm certain that someday, whenever I choose to retire, I will still be working at IAG. I. Love. My. Job. I don't think I can express that enough. Every single day I feel like my skills are challenged, acknowledged, and encouraged.

A Regional Director best described a typical day as, "a range of activities designed around the personal needs and interests of each individual. Examples of this include: creating artwork to be displayed in public galleries, utilizing adaptive music equipment to create unique sounds, exploring classic and contemporary works of literature, practicing relevant computer skills with assistive technology, and engaging in the life and physical sciences with experiments and group activities. Community involvement is always a high priority. Small groups of individuals are frequently offered the opportunity to visit and interact with local businesses, organizations, and public spaces." 

If you are looking for a career where no two days are alike, then IAG is right for you. If you are creative and truly want to influence the daily lives of individuals with special needs, then IAG is right for you. If you want your hard work and dedication to be acknowledged and rewarded, then IAG is right for you. IAG is a place where hard work and dedication are acknowledged. Where employees not only strengthen and build communities for individuals with disabilities but where employees become an extended family to each other. 

Within any organization, there will be those who are dissatisfied but it needs to be stressed that IAG is an organization where you will get what you give and no one is more appreciative of this than the individuals that IAG serves. IAG acknowledges and retains their hardworking employees and is extremely competitive in their wages compared to other agencies out there. Their CEO is extremely passionate about her role and the role each employee has in achieving IAG's mission to help individuals with special needs live full, self-directed lives with dignity and independence.

When I first started with IAG, the experience was decent, and things seemed organized. But after a few months, I noticed a decline in communication and scheduling. Management became difficult to reach, and at times they were dismissive or unprofessional when concerns were brought up. There were many days when houses that were supposed to be double-staffed had only one employee, creating stressful and unsafe working conditions.

The company is consistently short-staffed, which leads to constant calls and messages asking employees to work extra hours. I worked countless weekends, late nights, and long stretches to help them stay afloat, but when I finally asked for a day off due to burnout, they took away my overtime instead of acknowledging the effort I had put in. It often felt like they only noticed call-offs, not the hard work or the hours you dedicate. There should be better support and benefits for mental health days, especially in this line of work.

There were also moments when I felt singled out, and during one situation, staff were extremely rude to my wife. We reached out to the CEO for help but never received a response. In the end, that situation contributed to my decision to no longer work there.
I love this line of work, and one day I hope to make a real impact on the individuals I serve. However, the lack of support, communication issues, and limited appreciation from leadership made this particular job much harder than it needed to be. The clients were wonderful, but the management challenges overshadowed the experience.

A typical day the IAG Flexible Day Experience involves a range of activities designed around the personal needs and interests of each individual. Examples of this include: creating artwork to be displayed in public galleries, utilizing adaptive music equipment to create unique sounds, exploring classic and contemporary works of literature, practicing relevant computer skills with assistive technology, and engaging in the life and physical sciences with experiments and group activities. Community involvement is always a high priority. Small groups of individuals are frequently offered the opportunity to visit and interact with local businesses, organizations, and public spaces. The workplace culture is centered around the persons served with a high degree of care and compassion for their safety, well-being, and interests. The hardest part about this job is personalizing the experience in a setting composed of a wide variety of personalities, interests, and abilities. However, this can also be the most enjoyable part of the job. Working closely with each person to customize their program often brings common interests to the surface that are also shared by myself and other staff members.

This company has a wonderful mission with poor execution. This is, in large part, due to lackluster leadership stemming from the C suite and trickles down. Regional management is more interested in social politics, gossiping, and maintaining power by any means necessary than the well being of those in their care. This behavior is emboldened by the CEO and COO, in particular. There are inconsistent expectations and accountability measures that only apply to some. Accountability depends on whether or not you are liked by upper management. Workplace bullying. No structure. Lack of transparent communication and teamwork. Don't bother asking clarifying questions. You will either be met with annoyance or nothing and be expected to figure it out and then get obliterated when things are not done to standards that were not communicated in the first place. The CEO berates people on the phone for hours. Staff tell her what she wants to hear instead of the reality that she is overextending regions of staff for her unfeasible goals. Your employees should not be scared of you as a leader, but it seems as though that is the intention with the leadership. It's obscene and inappropriate behavior from someone with such great responsibility. The reputation this company has gained is beyond disappointing.  If you would like to maintain a healthy mental state, look elsewhere.

I LOVE this job!! I’ve worked for IAG for MANY years and have always felt appreciated and encouraged to grow with the company. I’ve learned so much from my colleagues as well as those we support. IAG provides me with the flexibility I need to be with my family and perform the task required by my job. This field is stressful, but you make the work experience that you want. The DSP shortage crisis makes coverage demands tough, but no one harasses you if you respond back that you can’t work. Management works shifts to prevent you from getting stuck and will make every effort to support you when personal matters pop up. I’ve always felt supported and could openly communicate with management. I like that they are willing to work shifts and don’t just sit in an office all day. IAG is well respected by the DD and MI community, this makes IAG an EXCELLENT learning opportunity. They truly appreciate staff and will encourage your growth within the company if you are seeking growth. Their care for persons in support is always the main priority. The negative comments are obviously from staff who didn’t hit the standards needed To work in this field! IAG has always been a company to fight the big fights for persons in support and for staff! 

A typical day at Individual Advocacy Group involves providing compassionate support to individuals with developmental disabilities. Each day brings a variety of tasks, from assisting with daily living activities to advocating for client needs and helping them lead more independent lives.

Working here has taught me a lot about patience, advocacy, and person-centered care. I’ve developed skills in communication, crisis management, and teamwork. Management is approachable and committed to both clients and staff, often checking in and offering training opportunities.

The culture is mission-driven and inclusive, focused on dignity and respect for every individual. The hardest part of the job can be navigating emotionally intense situations or managing multiple clients with complex needs, but the reward is in seeing real progress and joy in their lives.

The most enjoyable part is building trusting relationships with clients and knowing your work makes a lasting difference.

I have been with the agency for many years. I have worked in many different positions while employed and I have felt supported in all the roles that I have had. I feel like management has listened when I had concerns and when I needed to be off, there was always accommodations made. 
The people we support become family. They learn about you, and you learn about them and that makes the job more personal able than just a job. It makes you enjoy coming to work and interacting with others. I have made many relationships with the people we support. This includes: being their therapist, cracking jokes with them, and also having that bond to tell them things that others may not be able to.
I cannot tell you how many appreciation gifts we have received from the agency as well as some family members. This is job can be difficult at times but it's also very rewarding. We are compensated very well. The CEO travels throughout the state to different regions and visits with staff and hears their concerns. She talks with the people in support and even when she is not in the region, she talks with the regional directors daily to check in on them.

In general DSPs (and equivalent positions) are poorly paid.  It has been this way for as long as I can remember, and I have been doing this work for over 40 years.  It's part of our society's weakness that people who care for the most needy people are paid the least.  The low pay is a stressor and requires most people to hold more than one job.  The extra work hours are stressors especially for people who have families.  People who stay in this field are extremely caring and devoted for the most part.  One of my long standing efforts is to advocate for increased rate of pay for the people who spend the most time with the individuals.  The hardest part of my job is sometimes making the decision to release staff  I am personally fond of, but who don't work out. The best part of my job is seeing progress and growth in staff and individuals and hearing from individuals who left the program about how much they were helped by the caring efforts of staff.  

My typical work day was interacting with individuals with planning a outside the house and inside the house work day that included exercise, learning ( library ), and jobs search. Inside the house, meal preparation of nutritional value and making sure they took their medication.
I learned to be understanding individuals with disabilities. Some are more functional and some need more time, but be calm and patience .Management,
Like any job or field people want to advance, but at what cost. I felt that too much pressure was put on management to report and in many case falsely report staff for advancement.
Co-worker,
Many of my co-worker were pleasant and respect of the individual, yet some could be bullies and lacked empathy and patience for the individuals.
The hardest part of job was cleaning up waste that some individual would leave behind.
The most enjoyable part of the job was seeing the individuals become more independent.

This company (east moline region anyways)  reels you in by promoting a positive culture, diversity, and great communication. When you initially train at the office, you will see laughter, happiness, and you’ll feel so supported. 

When you work in the homes, your schedule will not be respected, they will move you around to convenience themselves. 

I have worked in this field for years and have NEVER witnessed such disrespect, and lack of compassion toward individuals. This location is honestly filled with the most bitter, negative, and disrespectful staff I have ever come across and they won’t be hesitant to tear you or the individuals down. Which is extremely disappointing because you hear great things about the other locations, the CEO is great I just don’t believe she is aware of how awful this location is. 

STEER CLEAR if you value a work life balance and your happiness

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Direct support professional 7 salaries reported	$19.93 per hour
Qualified intellectual disabilities professional 9 salaries reported	$65,000 per year
Clinical director 4 salaries reported	$78,750 per year
Senior analyst 6 salaries reported	$65,000 per year
Licensed clinical social worker 1 salary reported	$36.00 per hour

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