During Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week, we salute the 4,500,000+[1] direct support professionals (DSP) who provide the services needed for individuals with disabilities and older adults to maintain independence at home and in the community. This is often challenging work that is not glamorous, recognized, or highly paid. Nevertheless, it is this work that provides individuals to access life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 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.
Four years ago, we started an appreciation program to recognize DSPs based on the number of hours worked. These service hours are categorized into six tiers called hour clubs, which range from 1,000-25,000 hours worked. In the four years this program has operated, we have welcomed 14,819 DSPs into the hour clubs with a personalized letter and small gift; this means 14,819 recognitions and opportunities for us to thank hardworking and dedicated DSPs.
Table 1. Number of DSPs in each hour club category per state
| State | 1k Hour Club | 5k Hour Club | 10k Hour Club | 15k Hour Club | 20k Hour Club | 25k Hour Club |
| Alaska | 778 | 262 | 103 | 60 | 41 | 22 |
| Arizona | 939 | 361 | 115 | 31 | 7 | 0 |
| Florida | 1428 | 264 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Idaho | 1587 | 639 | 313 | 133 | 36 | 7 |
| Michigan | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Montana | 623 | 243 | 139 | 78 | 26 | 10 |
| New Mexico | 1028 | 494 | 265 | 101 | 30 | 8 |
| Nevada | 404 | 162 | 52 | 22 | 9 | 1 |
| Texas | 1455 | 253 | 52 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| Washington DC | 672 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 960 | 315 | 120 | 47 | 18 | 5 |
| Totals | 9884 | 3039 | 1184 | 487 | 171 | 54 |
This year we added “DSP of the Year” awards to the appreciation program and invited participants to nominate their DSP for the award. We received 220 nominations from individuals receiving services who wrote about how much they admire and appreciate their DSP’s above-and-beyond service. Our selection committee reviewed the nominations over the course of a couple weeks in order to select four winners. We awarded the winners with a $150 bonus and a congratulatory poster.
Table 2. DSP of the Year award winners
| DSP of the Year winners | City | State |
| Johnny Cartwright | Anchorage | AK |
| Macy Henze | Boise | ID |
| Dale Libengood | Tucson | AZ |
| Rafael Lara Reyes | Plant City | FL |
To all direct support professionals, we are inspired by you. Thank you for the service you provide, the values you display, and the professionalism you embody. We appreciate you as a DSP and a trusted and valued member of the community. Best wishes.
Respectfully,
Your Consumer Direct Care Network Team
[1] https://phinational.org/policy-research/workforce-data-center/