Elevating the quality of services for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities through professional development.
About The True Professional
-
Our Mission & Philosophy
The True Professional (“TTP”), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, improves the quality of services to adults with IDD by providing professional development and consulting to residential providers. Our Philosophy is embodied in our proprietary Pillars of Excellence.
-
Our Team
Our multidisciplinary team is comprised of experts from diverse professional backgrounds with a shared focus on elevating the quality of services for adults with IDD. The TTP team is uniquely qualified to develop and deliver our first of its kind program.
-
Our Story
TTP was founded by Ellen Zimiles, a prominent businessperson and attorney with extensive leadership and entrepreneurial experience, based on the challenges she experienced finding high-quality residential services for her family members.
Our 2025 Report is here—see how we are transforming the quality of support for adults with IDD.
Our Program
TTP delivers a data-driven, three-prong approach to elevate service quality for adults with IDD.
TTP has developed quantitative and qualitative metrics to measure, assess, and continuously improve residential service quality.
-
TTP offers a series of courses:
based on TTP’s proprietary Five Pillars of Excellence in Service Delivery
to professionally develop stakeholders at all levels of a residential provider
delivered through a combination of intensive, in-person workshops and bespoke learning content delivered via 1Huddle, a mobile learning app
Courses can be combined with consulting services to maximize benefits and address individual client needs.
-
TTP has developed a framework for an ESO function, which:
creates the infrastructure and tools within providers to continuously promote excellence
ensures that service quality improvements are regularly assessed and actively sustained
supports frontline staff and management in their continuous professional development
TTP customizes this function and provides hands-on implementation support for client providers.
-
TTP has partnered with NEXT for AUTISM, residential providers, and universities to recruit and develop undergraduate and graduate students to work as Direct Support Professionals ("DSPs"), as part of the NEXT for AUTISM FELLOWS work-based scholarship program. The aim of this partnership is to encourage more DSPs to enter the workforce while introducing the rewards of a new career opportunity.
