Our Stories

During hurricanes Katrina and Rita, direct support professionals (DSPs) stayed on the job to heroically and successfully relocate people with disabilities. In New Orleans, despite their own personal hardships, the DSPs from the Volunteers of America safely assisted all their consumers out of the city to higher ground. This video, Higher Ground, is dedicated to them.

As part of the You Need to Know Me initiative, ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign has accumulated personal stories from the direct support workforce, most recently through ANCOR’s 2008 Direct Support Professional of the Year contest which yielded a national honoree, 39 state honorees and nearly three hundred honorable mentions. 

The stories of the 2008 state honorees are below or you can view an overview of the 2008 contest here (PDF file).

	Arizona – Tracey Preszler Arkansas – Jerry Stout California – Rita Castro Colorado – Kris Duncan Connecticut – Kim Brown Delaware – Rhonda Patrick Florida – Susan Kaminski Georgia – Sylvia Flockhart Illinois – Janice Reese Indiana – Daisey Diggins Iowa – Pete Faust Kansas – Andrea McMurray Kentucky – Glenys Buchner Louisiana –Bryan Bordelon Maine – Joyce and MahlonWillis Maryland –Saundra McKnight Massachusetts – April Stout Michigan –Pamela Cameron Minnesota – Tammy Delfun Missouri – Kevin Barrett	Montana – Ladonna Yates Nebraska – Betty Leners New Jersey – OwenWoolley New York – Jessica Elam New York – Mickey LaCoppala North Carolina – Larry Revels Ohio – Debbie Shrode Oklahoma – Katherine Jordan Oregon – Aaron McMillan Pennsylvania – Tia DeFlavia South Dakota – Kelly Keiser Tennesse – Lashanda Pillow Texas – John Seesholtz Utah – Justin Gibson Vermont – Tammie Clifford Virginia – Kathy Roseberry Washington – Allen Smith West Virginia– Shari Rome Rogers Wyoming – Joann Candaleria

Unsung Hero Award

Deborah Anderson Volunteers of America Community Living Services Metairie, LA Deborah Anderson genuinely loves the people she serves. She demonstrates her affection by taking them on family outings and protecting them as if they were her own.

During Hurricane Katrina, Deborah and her family lost everything: their home, car, clothes and personal belongings. Managing to relocate to a new home in Texas, Deborah and her family were living expense free. Yet, unable to leave her consumers behind to fend for themselves, Deborah chose to return to New Orleans. For the next three months, Deborah’s car was her home as she worked determinedly to make sure that her consumers were settled and received the care that they needed.

Deborah’s actions helped the helpless, instilled hope and served as a voice for those otherwise left behind. She is the heart of faith and inspiration—a true unsung hero.

Mike Garcia
Catholic Community Services / Community Living Program
Tucson, AZ

Mike Garcia is a humble guy. He shouldn’t be. He possesses an exemplary ability to recognize another person’s immediate needs and then figures out a way to organize and systematize accommodations and help them realize success.  These qualities have earned him opportunities to move from being a direct support professional (DSP) into administrative positions.  However, Mike’s heart lies with the people he serves.  He politely turns down offers of advancement believing that his strengths and purpose in life are to work with individuals directly and to advocate for their needs at all times. He has been doing just this for an amazing 15 years.

A born innovator, Mike created and teaches a training method called the Community Living Program (CLP) Boot Camp.  In the boot camp, he cross trains staff on necessary consumer services and the specific skills required to support each individual. This program gives people better services and graduates from the CLP Boot Camp receive the title of DSP3 and an increase in their hourly wages.  

Mike’s dedication and creativity not only brings out the best in his colleagues, but also in the individuals he serves. His work and sincere camaraderie creates rewarding behavioral changes.  Mike’s honed instincts enabled him to quickly identify a person’s serious situation that was resolved by surgery.  Mike’s commitment to this person did not end at the hospital door.  When the doctors wanted the individual to go to a rehabilitation facility, Mike said, “No, he wants and needs to come home and we can do it.”  And, they did! Mike arranged everything in advance and utilizing the CLP Boot Camp method, this individual recovered at home and far quicker than expected.

In addition to his dedication and creativity, Mike exhibits friendship with his consumers by volunteering his personal time to help them achieve their dreams.  Mike once camped out overnight at Best Buy to purchase a computer at the annual post Thanksgiving  “Black Friday.” Among his other self-less actions, Mike has kept night vigil over a frightened person undergoing a sleep apnea test and he spent his own time locating a grant and filling out the paperwork to successfully obtain $2,500 for a person’s dental needs.