During Direct Support Professional Recognition Week (September 8-14, 2019), we salute the more than 4.4 million[1] Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who provide services for individuals with disabilities and older adults. This is often challenging work that is not glamorous, well recognized, or highly paid. Nevertheless, it is work that helps individuals remain safe, healthy, and independent in their homes. The work of DSPs makes accessing basic civil rights possible, including going to school, getting a job, and participating in the community.
At Consumer Direct Care Network, our mission, vision, and values center on delivering excellent service so that individuals with disabilities and older adults can live the life they want. DSPs provide the front-line support needed to carry out these objectives. Consumer Direct Care Network honors the work of DSPs during this national week of recognition. Thank you to the DSP workforce!
During this week of recognition, we celebrate our DSP Appreciation Program and DSP of the Year Awards.
Direct Support Professional Appreciation Program
Five years ago, Consumer Direct Care Network started an appreciation program to recognize DSPs based on the number of hours worked. These service hours are categorized into six hours club tiers, ranging from 1,000-25,000 hours worked.
| Nationwide Hours Club Members |
| 1,000 Hour Club – 2,178 |
| 5,000 Hour Club – 736 |
| 10,000 Hour Club – 296 |
| 15,000 Hour Club – 143 |
| 20,000 Hour Club – 65 |
| 25,000 Hour Club – 27 |
We are honoring 3,445 club members this year. To all the hours club members, we recognize you and thank you for all you do. You make a difference daily!
Direct Support Professional of the Year Award
For the second year in a row, we invited participants to nominate their DSP for the DSP of the Year Award. This year, we received more than 200 outstanding nominations from individuals receiving services whose DSP goes above and beyond – those who make a difference every day. Our selection committee reviewed the nominations and selected five winners. Congratulations to our winners! Their extraordinary service represents the diverse care provided by DSPs across the country.
| DSP of the Year Winners | State |
| Josh Grade | Idaho |
| Abeba Wright | Idaho |
| Caitlin Vanden Bloomer | Wisconsin |
| Elizabeth Tracy | Nevada |
| Caridad A. Abatay | New Mexico |
During DSP Recognition Week, we will be sharing a story about one of the five DSP of the Year winners.
If you know a DSP who goes above and beyond, we’d love to hear about it and share their story of exceptionalism. Share your story here.
Once again, Consumer Direct Care Network would like to thank all Direct Support Professionals. We appreciate you as a trusted and valued member of the community.
[1] https://phinational.org/policy-research/workforce-data-center/