As we celebrate Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week, I want to speak to you not only as Makom’s chief of programs, but as someone who started my own career as a DSP.

I know firsthand that being a DSP is about so much more than having a job. It is about people, relationships, trust, and being there for someone in the moments that matter. When I was a DSP, I learned that some of the most meaningful moments were often  those that could have been overlooked. Take, for example, helping someone reach a goal, encouraging someone to try something new, sharing a laugh, listening when someone needs to talk, or simply being there. Those moments may seem small, but they can mean everything to the person we support.

Over the years, I have seen DSPs become trusted friends, advocates, teachers, and cheerleaders. I have watched DSPs celebrate someone’s accomplishments as if they were their own. I have seen the patience, creativity, compassion, and dedication that DSPs bring to their work every day. That is what makes this work so special.

As I look back on my journey from DSP to chief of programs, I realize how much those early experiences shaped who I am today. Being a DSP taught me to see the person first, to listen, respect individual choices, recognize strengths, and never underestimate what a person can achieve when they have the right support. Today, I have the privilege of leading our programs department, but I never forget where my journey began. I carry those lessons with me each and every day.

To our Makom DSPs: thank you.

Thank you for showing up. Thank you for your patience and compassion. Thank you for celebrating the big victories and the small ones. Thank you for supporting people in living the lives they choose and for believing in them, sometimes even when they may not yet believe in themselves.

Most of all, thank you for the relationships you build. You may not always see the impact of what you do, but I want you to know that you make a difference. The time you give, the trust you build, and the kindness you show become part of someone’s story. I am proud to have started as a DSP, and I am incredibly proud to stand alongside you today.

Happy DSP Week! Thank you for all that you do, and for all that you mean to the people we support.