Sharing the Care

Direct Support Professionals (DSP) deliver excellent care every day. Consumer Direct Care Network (CDCN) wants to bring awareness to their amazing work!

DSPs have many job titles including caregivers, personal attendants, and program participants, but the services they provide vary widely. Their responsibilities focus on supporting people with disabilities to participate fully in their communities. DSPs may offer transportation, provide employment support, assist with daily living needs, or advocate for employees in the workplace.

Sharing the Care is year-long effort to celebrate DSPs. Throughout the year, we will promote simple ways to show appreciation for the care they give. With your help, we can recognize DSPs as the community heroes they are!

The Amazing Traits of Direct Support Professionals

What makes your DSP stand out from the crowd?

Thank you for telling us what makes your DSP amazing. It only takes a few minutes to share what makes them special.

To showcase the submissions, we will create a DSP Amazing Traits word cloud like the one below. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this collaborative project in the past, and to everyone who shared the Amazing Traits of their DSP again this year.

Check out our past DSP Amazing Traits word cloud.

Check out our past DSP Amazing Traits word cloud. Image

The DSP Hero Showcase

The DSP Hero Showcase highlights extraordinary DSPs throughout our communities. We asked our clients to share what makes their DSP a hero and received many wonderful entries. Below are some of the submissions from previous years.

Watch for the 2025 DSP Hero Showcase coming in December. We look forward to recognizing even more Direct Support Professionals!

Wonder Woman
Arizona

What makes your DSP a hero in your community?
My DSP is always there when I need her. I’m very afraid to fall because I have broken several bones. My DSP is patient with me, protects me, and makes my life fun at times, which is hard to do because of my mobility. She takes me to lunch and to the library, which I love.

How does your DSP improve your quality of life?
She takes me to places like lunch and the library. Sometimes we go to a movie.

Mrs. Incredible
Nevada

What makes your DSP a hero in your community?
My DSP not only worked in education for nearly 30 years, but when she retired, she came to my rescue. She worked as a teacher for 15 years at an at-risk school, then she was a vice principal for 11 years. She came out of retirement to help me and has been my caregiver for more than a year. She is super awesome at making sure all my needs are met and the household duties are up to the standard of living I had prior to getting sick. I have high standards for myself, so my DSP goes above and beyond both for the house and me.

How does your DSP improve your quality of life?
If I didn’t have my DSP, I would be in a skilled nursing facility. She fills the gaps that my home nursing team is unable to fill. With her, my house is clean, dishes are washed, my body is clean, my hair is brushed, my face exfoliated, and I am dressed and ready for my day. With her, I have transfer help by my side when I need it. I could not ask for a better DSP.

Unstoppable, Above and Beyond
Washington D.C.

What makes your DSP a hero in your community?
My DSP is awesome. She goes above and beyond every day. No matter how she feels, she comes to work with a smile on her face. My DSP is a very hard worker. She listens to me. This young lady has been outstanding. Even when her shift is over, she will still stay and finish up her work. She puts the work in to make sure I have everything that I need no matter how long it takes her to get it done. It is a great pleasure to have this young lady working with me.  She cherishes every moment that she is at work. This is not just a job to her, but it is a passion she shares deep in her heart.

How does your DSP improve your quality of life?
My DSP makes sure I am always okay and understand everything that is going on. She reads everything to me and explains it to me as she goes along. She makes it so easy for me to feel safe and comfortable with the information she gives me when it comes to my health or business matters. She is even teaching me how to do some things on my own, which is fun to do.


CDCN is committed to recognizing DSPs and the vital work they do within their communities. Sharing the Care is one way we can show DSPs our appreciation for their work.