Direct Support Direct Support Professional Professional Recognition Recognition Week Week Sunday, Sept. Sunday, Sept. 13 13 –– Saturday, Saturday, Sept. Sept. 19 19
thank you thank you dsps! dsps! Thank you Thank you to to all all the the DSPs DSPs that that support support AJ AJ and and the the boys boys at at House House 26. 26. AJ is AJ is about about to to age age out, out, so so his his time time at at Seaspray Seaspray is is wrapping wrapping up up soon. soon. We are We are thankful thankful for for all all that that you you have have done done for for him him over over the the past past 44 years. He’s years. He’s so so much much more more independent independent with with his his daily daily living living skills, skills, he’s he’s happy, and happy, and while while the the journey journey isn’t isn’t an an easy easy one one and and often often goes goes underunderappreciated, your appreciated, your efforts efforts and and dedication dedication are are making making aa huge huge difference. difference. Thank you Thank you for for caring, caring, for for showing showing up, up, for for your your patience patience and and positive positive atttitudes, and atttitudes, and for for sticking sticking with with this this very very difficult difficult job. job. You You deserve deserve the the best in best in life, life, way way more more than than any any words words can can describe, describe, but but please please know know you are you are appreciated! appreciated!
-Al & -Al & Alex Alex Capra, Capra, AJ's AJ's Parents Parents
thank you thank you dsps! dsps! Thank you Thank you to to all all the the beautiful beautiful woman woman who who take take such such good good care care of of Avery Avery and and all all the the girls at girls at JP. JP. They They go go above above and and beyond beyond to to make make sure sure she she has has everything everything she she needs. needs. She is She is so so loved loved there there — — it it is is aa big big family family & & we we are are so so grateful grateful to to be be aa part part of of it! it! You ladies You ladies are are an an absolute absolute gift gift & & we we are are so so grateful grateful to to have have you you in in our our lives. lives.
-Jessica & -Jessica & Mike Mike Del Del Percio, Percio, Avery's Avery's Parents Parents
thank you thank you dsps! dsps! The DSPs The DSPs at at Noah's Noah's house house put put in in 110% 110% every every day day to to make make Noah's Noah's life better. life better. We are We are incredibly incredibly lucky lucky to to have have DSPs DSPs that that work work so so hard hard to to care care for for our children. our children. Thank Thank you you doesn't doesn't even even come come close close to to covering covering it! it! They They are our are our children's children's life life lines. lines. We We would would all all be be lost lost without without them! them!
-Kerrie Blumberg, -Kerrie Blumberg, Noah's Noah's Mom Mom
thank you thank you dsps! dsps! Brian moved Brian moved into into CRP, CRP, House House 30 30 in in October, October, 2025. 2025. As As we we approach approach the the 1st anniversary 1st anniversary of of his his move move in, in, there there are are honestly honestly no no words words to to describe describe the amazing the amazing staff staff that that have have not not only only supported supported Brian Brian but but our our whole whole family. Steve family. Steve and and Mellony Mellony have have created created aa home home for for our our boys boys that that is is filled filled with love, with love, encouragement, encouragement, high high expectations, expectations, patience patience and and compassion. compassion. Every House Every House 30 30 staff staff member member embodies embodies these these attributes attributes and and helps helps our our boys thrive. boys thrive. We We are are beyond beyond grateful grateful for for all all the the love love and and care!! care!! You You are are all all the BEST!! the BEST!!
-Karen Pacella, -Karen Pacella, Brian's Brian's Mom Mom
thank you thank you dsps! dsps! Michael has Michael has been been so so blessed blessed by by the the DSPs DSPs in in House House 30, 30, and and at at Broadfield Place. Broadfield Place. That That is is an an understatement understatement of of gigantic gigantic proportions! proportions! II consider consider them them my my family. family. There are There are too too many many excellent excellent DSPs DSPs to to enumerate, enumerate, so so II will will focus focus on on one who one who worked worked with with Michael Michael in in the the CRP, CRP, and and recently recently came came to to visit visit Michael in Michael in his his adult adult house. house. Jayden was Jayden was primarily primarily with with Michael Michael his his first first two two years years at at the the children’s residence. children’s residence. The The level level of of connection connection between between these these two two young young men is men is aa thing thing of of beauty. beauty. Jayden Jayden made made what what was was the the most most difficult difficult decision of decision of my my parenthood, parenthood, turn turn out out to to be be an an excellent excellent outcome outcome for for Michael. He Michael. He taught taught Michael Michael life life skills, skills, but but more more importantly, importantly, he he showed Michael showed Michael love, love, and and aa sense sense of of belonging. belonging. That That is is priceless! priceless!
-Linda Mancuso, -Linda Mancuso, Michael's Michael's Mom Mom
thank you thank you dsps! dsps! From the From the moment moment Miles Miles moved moved in, in, his his dedicated dedicated staff staff made sure made sure to to learn learn everything everything about about him him — — his his needs, needs, his his interests, what interests, what makes makes him him tick. tick. As As aa result, result, we've we've seen seen Miles grow Miles grow and and mature mature in in so so many many areas. areas. The The work work our our DSPs do DSPs do is is difficult. difficult. It It takes takes aa very very special special and and dedicated individual dedicated individual to to meet meet the the needs needs of of so so many many different people, different people, yet yet our our staff staff makes makes it it look look lo ok easy easy — — adjusting their adjusting their approach approach for for each each of of the the boys boys in in the the house, always house, always tuning tuning in in to to what what that that particular particular person person needs in needs in that that moment. moment. Thank Thank you you to to our our wonderful wonderful staff staff for all for all your your hard hard work. work. We We appreciate appreciate you you so so much. much.
-Robyn and -Robyn and Brandon Brandon Semilof, Semilof, Miles' Miles' Parents Parents
Meet the Meet the DSPs DSPs of of the the crp crp Matthew Colin Matthew Colin ,, Direct Direct Support Support Professional Professional Children’s Residential Children’s Residential program, program, Seaspray Seaspray Drive Drive Matthew has worked as a DSP for a year and a half. He has always enjoyed helping others. Previously, Matthew worked in the healthcare industry. At the Children’s Residential Program, Matthew is proud to be there every day because the young men count on him for support. “It’s been amazing to see their growth and the way they interact with the community and their peers,” Matthew said.
Meet the Meet the DSPs DSPs of of the the crp crp Ashley Benoit, Ashley Benoit, Direct Direct Support Support Professional Professional Children’s Residential Children’s Residential program, program, Seaspray Seaspray Drive Drive For the past six years, Ashley Benoit has been a reliable presence for the young men at the Seaspray residence. Before joining the Children’s Residential Program (CRP), she worked with adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. “I’d say they taught me patience, and they taught me to look at life differently,” Ashley said. Ashley likes that every day at the CRP is different, whether it’s a simple walk or a meetup with the Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America at a trampoline park. “Every day is just a new day, and just to see the boys grow and see what they look forward to, it makes every day great,” Ashley said.
Meet the Meet the DSPs DSPs of of the the crp crp Matthew Orelus, Matthew Orelus, Direct Direct Support Support Professional Professional Children’s Residential Children’s Residential program, program, Seaspray Seaspray Drive Drive Matthew Orelus has worked as a Direct Support Professional for seven years. He finds it inspiring to help people reach their goals. “At the Children’s Residential Program, I learned a lot about compassion and being more open, learning more about myself and the people around me,” Matthew said. “I also find that compassionate side to help others more.” Matthew says the best part of his day as a DSP at the Seaspray residence is taking the young men to school and listening to music with them. He is always happy to take them to appointments and enjoys talking with their parents.
Meet the Meet the DSPs DSPs of of the the crp crp Gladys Bell, Gladys Bell, Direct Direct Support Support Professional Professional Children’s Residential Children’s Residential program, program, Seaspray Seaspray Drive Drive Gladys Bell works as a Direct Support Professional at the Seaspray residence and has been supporting the young men there for nine months. Before coming to New York from North Carolina, she was a DSP helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). “I’ve always loved working with people with disabilities and being able to help and support them,” Gladys said. “It really feels like a family working with the CRP group.” Every day, Gladys enjoys making a real difference in the lives of the young men. She likes joining them for Rec and taking part in activities that help them learn and grow.
Meet the Meet the DSPs DSPs of of the the crp crp Marjorie Guerrier, Marjorie Guerrier, Medical Medical Direct Direct Support Support Professional Professional Children’s Residential Children’s Residential program, program, Johnson Johnson Place Place Marjorie Guerrier has been a Medical Direct Support Professional at Johnson Place since 2019. She also has experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Marjorie decided to join Johnson Place after a relative told her about all the wonderful things happening there. Marjorie has four children and three grandchildren. At Johnson Place, the young women see her as a mother figure and call her “Mama Marj.” She supports them in many ways, whether at home, during activities, or at medical appointments. “I learned so much about these kids,” Marjorie said. “They’re very smart, and you can teach them, and they can teach you.”
Meet the Meet the DSPs DSPs of of the the crp crp Solidad François Solidad François Louis, Louis, Direct Direct Support Support Professional Professional Children’s Residential Children’s Residential program, program, Johnson Johnson Place Place Solidad has worked as a DSP at Johnson Place for three years and cares deeply for the six girls who live there. “I love the girls,” Solidad said. “I love all these people.” Along with helping the young women learn and grow, Solidad works well with her coworkers. “My favorite part of the job is when we work together as a team,” Solidad said. “I love that because in Johnson Place, we work together like a team.”
DSP Week DSP Week Celebrations! Celebrations!
Direct support Direct support professionals, professionals, We appreciate We appreciate all all you you do! do!