Elevating the Direct Support Profession
BJ Stasio (left) receives the 2025 Dave Hingsburger Humanitarian Award from John Raffaele (right), Director of Educational Services at the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), during NADSP's ELEVATE Conference in September 2025. The Institute on Community Integration, a longtime partner of NADSP, sponsored the conference.
Hundreds of direct support professionals (DSPs) from across the United States gathered in Buffalo, New York, September 8–10 for the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) ELEVATE Conference, which coincided with National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. The conference celebrated, educated, and empowered the people at the heart of disability services: the DSPs who make inclusion and independence possible for millions of Americans with disabilities.
The Institute on Community Integration (ICI), a longtime partner of NADSP and co-publisher of Frontline Initiative, sponsored this year’s event. ICI is a national leader in elevating the direct support workforce through research, training, and storytelling that honors the essential role DSPs play in community life.
“Participating in ELEVATE 2025 was more than professional collaboration; it was a reaffirmation of the Institute’s 40-year commitment to improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by strengthening the workforce that supports them,” ICI Director Amy Hewitt said. “Each session, story, and partnership from Buffalo moves the field one step closer to the recognition and respect that direct support professionals deserve.”
Throughout the three-day conference, ICI staff contributed to sessions, panels, and research activities designed to strengthen the field. Julie Kramme and Chet Tschetter led an interactive presentation on Frontline Initiative, the online magazine and podcast that amplifies DSP voices and connects them to best practices and national conversations. Participants explored how the publication can be used for staff development, learned how to contribute articles, and helped shape future topics.
In partnership with NADSP, Jerry Smith interviewed 19 DSPs for a national awareness campaign showcasing the meaning and impact of direct support work. Smith also moderated two lively panels, “Elevating the Direct Support Workforce Through Collaborative Advocacy” and “A Direct Support Professional’s Unique Role in Supporting People in Self-Direction.” Both sessions highlighted the power of collaboration among DSPs, self-advocates, and families to advance inclusive lives and strengthen person-centered systems of support.
Hewitt and colleagues from both organizations led focus groups on a revised NADSP Code of Ethics , designed to guide DSPs in real-world decision-making. DSPs and frontline supervisors from across the country discussed ethical scenarios and offered feedback that will help finalize the updated code, an essential tool for professionalizing the field and grounding it in shared values.
From workshops on technology and trauma-informed care to sessions on leadership, professional boundaries, and wellbeing, the conference reflected the complexity and importance of direct support. The awards ceremony recognized outstanding leadership in advocacy and humanitarian service, honoring Bonnie Jean Brookes and BJ Stasio for their contributions.
Keynotes throughout the conference reminded attendees why their work matters. Photographer Rick Guidotti’s POSITIVE EXPOSURE: The Spirit of Difference challenged cultural notions of beauty, while self-advocate Whit Downing shared how DSPs helped her find her voice and pursue her goals. Dr. Monica McCall closed the conference with an inspiring message: “You are the leaders we’ve been looking for.”