Every day, Direct Support Professionals (DSP) make a meaningful impact through their compassion and commitment. We are thankful for their time, commitment and dedication to Bancroft’s mission and to our individuals who they support every day. This year, we’re proud to recognize a few of these outstanding DSPs.
Read about 4 of our outstanding DSPs below, and what inspires the work they do every day, in their own words!
Meet Janae
A DSP at Bancroft’s Jacob Schaefer Center for 3+ years
Janae recently graduated from Level III of Bancroft’s DSP Certification Program through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals. This nationally accredited program works to professionalize the role of the DSP, building confidence and fostering leadership skills.
What is your favorite part of being a DSP? Seeing firsthand the difference I make in the lives of the individuals I support. Watching them achieve their goals, build new skills, and become more independent is incredibly rewarding. Being able to help someone succeed, no matter how big or small the accomplishment, is what makes this work so meaningful to me.
What are some essential qualities of a DSP? Compassion, patience, advocacy, and a strong understanding of person-centered support. A great DSP should always be willing to learn, grow, and continue improving the quality of support they provide.
What is your proudest moment on the job? I am proud to have received a Maggie [Bancroft] Award just two years into my career as a DSP. Being recognized at that point in my journey showed me that the effort I put into supporting individuals, growing in my role, and making a positive impact truly mattered. Those moments motivate me to continue learning, improving, and giving my best every day.
Meet Jaidon
A DSP at The Bancroft School for 2 years
Over the course of his two years at Bancroft, Jaidon has built a solid foundation of trust and support with our Bancroft School students. He shares some of his favorite things about being a DSP, and what keeps him inspired and motivated!
What inspired you to become a DSP? What inspired me was just being able to come in and leave a lasting impact on the students. You know, this world isn’t always nice to them, so I feel like being here, advocating for them, having that impact is what really inspired me.
What is your favorite part about being a DSP? My favorite part, I feel like, is being able to be present every single day to build relationships with the kids and their parents.
Being able to just take care of them on a daily basis and seeing them grow right in front of your eyes! Especially when they begin and you’re seeing them go through that phases because they have behaviors or difficult moments, it’s just being able to see them through that, and then move on and graduate, or go to day programs and everything, that’s the best part.
What are some things you have learned from your role? It’s something I used to struggle with but this role has taught me patience. Being able to have that compassion for them and just knowing that you’re leaving that impact and they trust you.
I would also say I’m always learning from my peers, my co-workers, the behavior analysts – just being able to just listen to them, the in-service days, taking notes from that has taught me so much. I feel like I learn from everybody that’s around me.
What is one of your proudest moments at Bancroft? In my first year I built a relationship with one of my kids, and he graduated this summer. Sometimes students remember you but it’s like hit or miss, but he always remembers me so that feels good to know I had that impact.
Meet Doreen
A DSP at The Lindens for 1 year
Doreen is the kind of DSP who brings positivity, compassion and care to everything she does. In just one year at Bancroft, she has become an important part of her team and the lives of the people she supports.
What inspired you to become a DSP? Growing up in Ghana, I witnessed how individuals with IDD were often misunderstood, stigmatized, and neglected due to cultural beliefs and inadequate support systems. These experiences inspired my interest in psychology and strengthened my commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals.
To me, being a DSP is more than a job, it is an opportunity to advocate for those who are often overlooked, support their goals, and contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate community.
What is your favorite part about being a DSP? My favorite part of being a Direct Support Professional is building meaningful relationships with the individuals I support and helping them grow in confidence and independence. Every day is different, and seeing someone learn a new skill, reach a goal, or take pride in an accomplishment makes the work incredibly rewarding.
What are some things you have learned from your role? Being a DSP has taught me that every individual is unique and deserves dignity, respect, patience, and empathy. I’ve learned that effective support means empowering people to make their own choices, build confidence, and become more independent. Most importantly, I’ve seen how kindness, encouragement, and consistency can make a meaningful difference.
Meet Kiomi
A DSP at Bancroft’s group homes for 1+ year
A year and a half ago, Kiomi Tapsoba had never worked in human services. After about 10 years in sales at Macy’s, she was looking for work that felt more meaningful. A friend referred her to Bancroft, and today, Kiomi is a Senior Program Associate supporting four women at one of Bancroft’s adult group homes.
Her days include everything from medical appointments and grocery shopping to birthday parties, restaurants, and trips to Dorney Park. Kiomi, a self-described “girl’s girl,” also shares her love of fashion with the women she supports, helping them shop for birthday outfits, taking their pictures, and making a big deal of their special days.
Small Things, Lasting Impact
“Small things really have a lasting impact here,” Kiomi says. “Just showing up, being consistent, showing up with compassion, listening to them.”
One of the women Kiomi supports has diabetes. When Kiomi noticed the condition of her toenails, she was concerned and took her to a podiatrist. She was told the problem wasn’t unusual for someone with diabetes, but the podiatrist offered no solution.
Kiomi could have left it there, but she didn’t. She knew the condition bothered the woman, who wouldn’t wear sandals or other open-toed shoes because of it.
“She said she wanted pretty toes,” Kiomi says.
With her father’s permission, Kiomi kept looking for options. They found a new podiatrist, talked with a dermatologist, tried laser treatments, and started medication. Slowly, her toes began to clear.
A few weeks ago, Kiomi and her co-workers hosted a luau with some nearby group homes. For the first time since Kiomi had known her, the woman came outside wearing sandals.
“When she put on those sandals and came outside with her dress on and everybody said how nice she looked, I could cry,” Kiomi says. “I know that’s something so small, but it meant a lot to her. That was a happy moment for me.”
This year, Kiomi received the NJACP Hero Award, recognizing Direct Support Professionals and the difference they make in the lives of the individuals they support. The recognition was unexpected, but especially meaningful to Kiomi because an individual she supports had recognized her for it.
“You don’t realize the impact you’re going to have on people. You don’t realize how much you mean to them. They can tell when you care,” she says. “Show up consistently, and listen without judgement. Lead with compassion because everybody deserves respect.”
