Spotlight Series: 2016 Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, Day 1
Led by The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), many states and service providers across the country are recognizing this week, September 11th through 17th, as Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. Direct Support Professional Recognition Week is part of the ANCOR National Advocacy Campaign, whose mission is to enhance the lives of all individuals with disabilities who rely on long-term supports and services by obtaining the resources to recruit, train, and retain a highly qualified and sustainable workforce.
“DSP Recognition Week is one way we try to say, “thank you” to the people who turn the intentions of our laws and regulations written to provide opportunities for people with disabilities into actions,” said Barbara Merrill, CEO of ANCOR. “It’s also a very important reminder to our legislators and policymakers that this workforce is essential, and their wages and training deserve attention as states set rates for IDD services.”
Direct Support Professional Recognition Week is celebrated annually across the country to honor the tens of thousands of workers who enable individuals with intellectual, developmental, and other significant disabilities and their families to live healthy lives in their communities. At Arkansas Support Network, we rely on these committed and dedicated people every day to ensure hundreds of individuals with disabilities in Arkansas are able to live active lives in the communities they chose.
To celebrate DSP Recognition Week, we would like to recognize a few of the many invaluable support providers who make the work of ASN possible every day. Each day this week, we will introduce you to a few individuals who make a world of difference in the lives of the people they support, the teams they work on, and for all of us at ASN. These are the people responsible for carrying out the mission of our organization, and we are so grateful they have committed to doing so.
Without further ado, we are proud to introduce you to some of our finest:
Darlene Walker has worked for ASN for five years. During that time, she has provided supports to a number of individuals. Her teammates say that there isn’t anyone Darlene can’t work with. She provides quality supports to each person she’s assigned to, no matter what challenges she encounters, and she’s always willing to go above and beyond to support the individuals she serves.
Tiawana Mitchell began working for ASN less than a year ago in our newest office location in Camden. Her teammates praise her for the encouragement and care that she provides to every individual she supports, but they also acknowledge that she is just as inspirational to her coworkers and supervisors. Tiawana makes sure to send her team a motivational text daily and is always willing to fill shifts any time.
Jessica Whiteley has been an employee of ASN for a decade, and in that time, she has made supporting the individuals she serves to be active in their communities a priority. She takes initiative to try new techniques to improve the quality of individuals lives, and her team appreciates her for always being willing to go above and beyond whenever necessary.
These are just a few of the MVPs, most valuable professionals, at ASN. Join us each day this week as we recognize and honor others.