DSP Appreciation Month: Celebrating the Heart of InCommunity
Direct Support Professionals are at the heart of InCommunity.
Every day, DSPs show up with compassion, patience, creativity and purpose to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as they live, work, learn, grow and build meaningful lives in their communities.
Our mission is to support individuals with I/DD to live safe, healthy and joyful lives in their communities. We could not carry out that mission without the dedicated people who provide support day in and day out.
That is why, during DSP Appreciation Month, we are taking a moment to pause, reflect and say thank you to the majority of our workforce who make this mission possible.
The Heart of What We Do
Being a DSP is about so much more than completing a shift or a list of responsibilities. It is about relationships. It is about recognizing someone's strengths, encouraging independence, celebrating accomplishments and being there through both the everyday moments and the milestones.
DSPs help the individuals we support navigate daily routines, pursue personal goals, participate in their communities and experience the simple joys that make life meaningful.
They may be the person encouraging someone to try something independently for the first time. They may be the familiar face who brings comfort during a difficult moment. They may be the person making sure someone gets to their favorite restaurant, attends an appointment, enjoys a community outing or simply has a good day.
These moments matter.
And collectively, they represent the work that makes our mission come to life.
Celebrating DSP Appreciation Week
National DSP Recognition Week took place September 13–19, giving organizations across the country an opportunity to recognize the essential contributions of Direct Support Professionals.
At InCommunity, we celebrated the week with a special DSP Spirit Week, inviting our team to show their InCommunity spirit while celebrating the incredible DSPs who support the people we serve.
Throughout the week, we also spotlighted five outstanding finalists for InCommunity's 2026 DSP of the Year award. Each of these women represents the compassion, dedication and commitment that DSPs bring to their work every day.
Their stories are different, but they share a common thread: a genuine commitment to helping the individuals they support experience greater independence, connection, accomplishment and joy.
Lisa Wilson:
Leading with Purpose and Compassion
Lisa Wilson, Program Lead at BHC, has spent 10 years with InCommunity building meaningful relationships with the individuals she supports.
For Lisa, being a DSP is about purpose, relationships and helping people live their best lives.
“Being a DSP means so much more to me than just having a job. It means being there for individuals who depend on me for support, encouragement, patience, and understanding.”
Lisa finds joy in seeing individuals grow, accomplish things they may have once struggled with and knowing that she played a part in making their day better.
Her supervisor, Natania Griffin, describes Lisa as someone who consistently demonstrates person-centered service by taking the time to understand each individual and what works best for them.
Lisa's consistency, creativity and willingness to help have made her someone both individuals and staff can count on. Most importantly, she helps create an environment where people feel safe, understood and known.
Lisa's 10 years of service are a powerful example of what it means to build trust and meaningful relationships over time.
Thank you, Lisa, for a decade of compassion, dedication and purposeful service.
Wanda Johnson:
Celebrating Every Victory
For Wanda Johnson, the most rewarding part of being a DSP is celebrating the victories — both the big ones and the small ones.
“The smiles, claps, fist bumps, friendly waves, and joyful dancing are the most rewarding parts of being a DSP.”
Wanda takes pride in watching the individuals she supports grow, develop daily living skills and accomplish their goals. Her supervisor, Zaria Leggon, nominated Wanda because of the heart and dedication she brings to her role each day.
Wanda is known for going beyond the responsibilities of her shift, particularly when supporting individuals on weekends. She plans activities, outings and experiences that help the people she supports stay active, connected and engaged in their communities.
Her dependability and compassion help ensure that the individuals she supports are not simply cared for, but empowered to experience fulfilling lives.
Thank you, Wanda, for filling the everyday moments with connection, celebration and joy.
Debbie Williams:
Helping Others See What They Can Accomplish
For nearly 20 years, Debbie Williams has dedicated herself to supporting the people at the heart of InCommunity.
Her supervisor, Charles Hill, nominated Debbie for her professionalism, compassion, patience and unwavering commitment. Debbie has become a natural leader within her home — someone coworkers, families and individuals look to for guidance, support and advocacy.
When asked what being a DSP means to her, Debbie shared:
“Being able to be a voice for the people we serve. The smiles on the individual’s faces when I have been able to help them complete tasks that some may feel are small, but to them, it shows that they can accomplish anything.”
That perspective captures something so important about DSP work: every accomplishment matters.
Whether a goal seems big or small to someone else, a DSP understands what it means to the person achieving it. Debbie takes pride in helping individuals recognize their own abilities and encouraging them to see what they are capable of accomplishing.
Thank you, Debbie, for nearly two decades of advocacy, encouragement and dedication.
Precita Poston:
Supporting Independence Every Day
Precita Poston is someone her team at Barrington knows they can depend on.
Her supervisor, Zaria Leggon, nominated Precita for her consistent hard work, compassion, dedication and willingness to go above and beyond for the individuals she supports.
Precita takes pride in creating a safe, clean and supportive home while helping with everything from daily routines and meals to transportation and maintaining the home. She is also always willing to support her coworkers wherever she is needed.
But at the center of her work is a commitment to independence.
When asked what being a DSP means to her, Precita shared:
“Being a DSP means supporting others with patience, compassion, and respect while helping them live as independently as possible. My favorite part is seeing the progress people make and knowing that I played a part in helping them reach their goals.”
That commitment to independence is a powerful reflection of what person-centered support looks like in action.
Thank you, Precita, for helping the people you support recognize their progress, pursue their goals and see what they can accomplish.
Congratulations to Our 2026 DSP of the Year: Kisha Duran
After a week of celebrating DSPs, InCommunity brought the DSP Appreciation Week festivities to a close with a virtual mixer on Friday, September 18.
The evening was filled with music, games, connection and fun — and culminated in the announcement of InCommunity's 2026 DSP of the Year: Kisha Duran!
Kisha is more than an outstanding Direct Support Professional. She creates meaningful experiences, builds genuine relationships and helps the individuals she supports live full and joyful lives in their communities.
Her supervisor, Sara Jones, describes Kisha as hardworking, compassionate, charismatic and dedicated, with a fun and positive attitude that shines through in her work.
Kisha makes sure the individuals she supports have opportunities to enjoy the things that matter to them. Whether that means helping Carol enjoy getting her hair, nails and toes done and connecting with the friendly employees at her favorite salon, or making sure Larry gets out into the community for shopping, movies, his favorite restaurant, Fried Tomatoes, and even manicures and pedicures, Kisha looks for ways to turn support into meaningful experiences.
What sets Kisha apart is that she doesn't simply provide support — she creates opportunities for connection, independence, joy and accomplishment.
In Kisha's words:
“Being a DSP means more to me than just having a job; it means being someone the individuals I support can trust, depend on, and feel safe with.”
And her favorite part of the work?
“My favorite part is building genuine relationships and seeing their smiles when they accomplish something, no matter how small.”
Congratulations, Kisha, on being named InCommunity's 2026 DSP of the Year!
And thank you to Lisa, Wanda, Debbie, Precita and every DSP across InCommunity who brings compassion, commitment and purpose to this work every day.
To Every InCommunity DSP: Thank You
While DSP Appreciation Week may have ended on September 19, our appreciation for DSPs does not end with one week — or even one month.
We see the early mornings, the long days, the unexpected challenges, the celebrations, the encouragement and the countless moments of support that may never make it into a spotlight or an award nomination.
We see the difference you make.
You are the heart of our workforce. You are the people who turn our mission into action. And because of you, individuals with I/DD have greater opportunities to live safe, healthy and joyful lives in their communities.
To every DSP at InCommunity: thank you for showing up, speaking up, encouraging independence, building relationships and making a difference — one person, one goal and one day at a time.
We are grateful for you, and we are proud to celebrate you.