
THANK YOU to all of our Direct
Support Professionals (DSP’s) for all that you do! We
recognize all of your hard work and the skills necessary for
you to do your job. DSP's have the most impact on
the individuals we serve!
Core Competencies are the foundation of person-centered
supports for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities.
The competencies are broken down into seven goal areas
covering all aspects of the individual’s life, while also
including the professionalism of direct support ...
- Putting
People First
- Building and
Maintaining Positive Relationships
- Demonstrating
Professionalism
- Supporting
Good Health
- Supporting
Safety
- Having a Home
- Being Active
and Productive in Society
In an effort to continue this
recognition, we plan on spotlighting a Direct Support
Professional of the Month ... every month!
MAY 2023 DSP ...
Andy Drury

Andy is a very hard worker.
You can really see
how much true care there is between him and the
participants. He wasn’t even there to practice for
the talent show and he still stepped up and did a great job.
Thank you for putting a smile on everyone’s faces!
Core Competency: Building and Maintaining
Positive Relationships
APRIL 2023 DSP ...
Jasmine Powers

Jasmine is an amazing person with a huge heart and she is
very compassionate. She goes above and beyond for all of her
individuals she works with, takes the time to get to know
them, and they all think she is the bee’s knees! This helps
with not only learning about everyone but also makes each
person feel like they matter! Jasmine has a unique ability
to make everyone feel welcomed and wanted, as well as puts a
smile on everyone’s face. Way to go Jasmine!!!
Core Competency: Putting People First
MARCH 2023 DSP ...
Kristen Korman

Kristen was nominated by the Mother
of the individual in which she provides services to. “On
behalf of our son, his dad and I would like to nominate his
Respite support worker for DSP of the Month with DPAO. As
you can imagine, finding the right person to work with your
differently-abled child can be a bit of a challenge and at
times, super stressful. When Kristen began working with him
over a year ago, it became obvious very early in that she
was a perfect fit for our son. He would smile when Kristen
would enter the room, give her huge bear hugs, and request
that she be near him. As time has passed, we have taken note
of how reliable, flexible, caring, understanding, and
motivating she is. Kristen prepares ideas and activities to
do with him that are meaningful and that he may find fun and
exciting and takes it upon herself to work on ADL’s with him
in the comfort of his own home. We are grateful for the
support and guidance Kristen provides for our son and our
family as a whole." Congratulations Kristen on this
well deserved acknowledgment!!!
Core
Competency:
Putting People First
FEBRUARY 2023 DSP ...
Keagan Nowlin

We received a wonderful summary from
a parent to recognize Keagan. “She has worked with my son
for a year now and she has consistently gone above and
beyond to meet his needs. She actively works on his goals
daily, takes him to swim classes multiple times each week,
takes him into the community regularly, etc. The bond
they've built is heartwarming and it's great, as a parent of
a somewhat non-verbal child, to know he is loved and cared
for when they're together.” Thank you Keagan for all
you do!
Core
Competencies:
Putting People First, Being Active and Productive in Society
JANUARY 2023 DSP ...
Carolyn Fiaschetti

Carolyn was nominated by the
individual she works for. Carolyn is very helpful to him and
assists him with meeting many goals. She helps him with
skills to increase and maintain his independence by cooking
meals, cleaning his apartment, proper hygiene skills, etc.
And just as her individual said “She is awesome!” Thank you
Carolyn!
Core Competency: Having a Home Life
DECEMBER 2022 DSP ...
Ashley Garcia

Every day Ashley takes the time to
check in to ensure her individual is set, even if she is not
working with her that day! She is constantly researching
different events in the community to attend or to volunteer
at. She is her individual’s biggest cheerleader by
celebrating every win, whether if it’s paying for her own
coffee at Dunkin and counting the correct change, or frying
an egg by herself for the first time. Recently it was
supposed to be Ashley’s day off but her individual called
and told her about a volunteering opportunity she heard
about on the radio and said she would like to do it. Ashley
was so proud of her for wanting to take part so she changed
her schedule and they went to together and volunteered. She
is always going above and beyond for her individual and she
truly cares about what is best! Congrats Ashley!
Core Competencies:
Putting People First, Being Active and Productive in Society
NOVEMBER 2022 DSP ...
Ruth Loomis

Ruth has been a
devoted employee for decades! She cut the ribbon to open the
Lewis County Respite house and has been a one to one Direct
Support Professional in the past. She takes great care of
our individuals and they love her! Ruth deserves to be
recognized after so many years spent taking care of the
ID/DD individuals in Lewis County. Thank you for all that
you do Ruth!
Core Competency:
Putting People
First
SEPTEMBER 2022 DSP ...
Steffany Delaney

Steffany went above and beyond to care for her participant
while he was sick. She took his temperature, made sure he
was comfortable, reported any health details to his
guardian, and attended his physician appointments. She
provided encouragement and helped relieve some of the
anxiety that this he and his guardian were experiencing.
Steffany cared for her participant the entire time when his
other staff were ill with Covid and volunteered to stay with
him while the other staff were on quarantine. Steffany put
her participant before her own family and made sure that he
was able to stay in his own home by providing 24/7 care.
Thank you for your wonderful compassion Steffany!!!!!
Core Competency:
Putting People
First, Supporting Good Health, Supporting Safety
AUGUST 2022 DSP ...
Danielle Hutchison

Danielle has been a great asset to
DPAO! Not only is she a great team player, but she is kind
and compassionate and has a passion to teach. Although the
days are busy, Danielle takes the time to find out the
challenges the people we support face individually and
discovers the best way each of them learn and implements it
into their daily activities. She has a gift of capturing the
attention of our individuals and keeping them engaged.
Way to go Danielle!!!!!
Core Competencies: Putting People
First,
Building and
Maintaining Positive Relationships
JUNE 2022 DSP ...
Sierra
Bailey

Although Sierra has been working at
DPAO for a short time, she has really stepped up to the
plate to ensure the Short Term Respite program has continued
to thrive without a current coordinator. She also has agreed
to run all of the recreational activities for our
individuals. She is well liked by our participants and has
given them a sense of security while the program is going
through many changes. She never shies away from working out
of her comfort zone to ensure they are having fun. She is
witty, creative and always willing to lend a helping hand
when another program needs assistance. Awesome job
Sierra!!!!!
Core
Competencies: Putting
People First, Demonstrating Professionalism
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