An impartial committee will select the honorees, and each winner will receive a monetary award. Winners will be announced during national Direct Support Professionals Week, September 7-13. We are seeking nominations from people we support, family members, guardians, community members, and staff.  

To qualify for a People Inc. DSP of the Year Award, employees must meet the following criteria: 

• Be employed full- or part-time by People Inc. for at least six months.
• Spend 85 to 100% of their time in a direct support role (cannot be a supervisor).
• Be in good standing.
• Be in compliance with all required trainings by July 14, 2025.
• Work in one of the eligible job titles below. 

Submit a nomination online through Monday, July 14. For each nomination you will be asked to relate specific ways that the nominee lives the agency values and the effects those actions had on the life of the person (or people) supported. The narrative should demonstrate how the nominee performed above and beyond normal job duties. To protect the confidentiality of the people supported, use initials only and no other identifying information. For questions, contact Michael Atticus O’Shea at 716.817.7471. 

For offline nominations, just call our Advocacy Department phone line at 716.629.3630 and leave a message with your name and a number so we can return your call to help assist with the nomination process. You can also email shanell.davis@people-inc.org and ask for assistance.    

Staff with the following job titles are eligible to be nominated:

Behavior GH Team Leader		Behavior GH Team Leader/Medical Liaison		Behavior Technician
Developmental Specialist		Direct Support Intern		DSP – Agency Supported
DSP – Assistant		DSP – Day Services Cert*		DSP – Day Services Non-Cert*
DSP – Per Diem*		DSP – Residential		DSP – Respite
DSP Blended		Employment Specialist		Lead Employment Specialist
Life Coach		LPN Medical Liaison		Personal Development Mentor
Program Support Specialist		Self Determination Assist		Self-Directed Caregiver*
Team Leader		Team Leader/Medical Liaison		Team Leader – Day & Emp Svc*
Traveling DSP		Traveling DSP – Community		Traveling DSP – Day & Emp*
Traveling DSP – Respite*		*New job titles for 2025