Every day across VOA Southeast, Direct Support Professionals help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live with greater independence, pursue their goals and participate fully in their communities.
During DSP Recognition Week 2026, we had the opportunity to celebrate the people who make that possible.
This year’s theme, “DSP: It’s a Work of Heart,” captured the spirit of the week and the work itself — work rooted in patience, compassion, consistency and meaningful relationships.
Celebrating DSP Recognition Week 2026
Every day across VOA Southeast, Direct Support Professionals help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live with greater independence, pursue their goals and participate fully in their communities.
During DSP Recognition Week 2026, we had the opportunity to celebrate the people who make that possible.
This year’s theme, “DSP: It’s a Work of Heart,” captured the spirit of the week and the work itself — work rooted in patience, compassion, consistency and meaningful relationships.
Throughout the week, teams across Alabama and Georgia celebrated DSPs with visits, cookouts, surprises, awards and plenty of photos. From “On the Road with Rob” to our annual DSP Selfie Contest, the week gave us a chance to recognize the people whose dedication is at the heart of our mission.
On the Road with Rob
VOA Southeast President and CEO Rob Rogers took DSP Recognition Week on the road, visiting programs and spending time with DSPs across our service area. VOA Southeast Chaplain James Jones joined several stops along the way.
The journey took the team from Scottsboro, Huntsville, Decatur and Hartselle to Cottondale, Montgomery, Mobile and communities in Georgia.
Along the way, we celebrated DSPs including Kenneth Moore and Bre Harden in Scottsboro; Jonathan Priest, Regina Jones and William “Trey” Potts in Huntsville and Decatur; and Michael Hereford in Hartselle.
In Georgia, Hope Thorpe was surprised with cupcakes delivered by Laura Doering, while in Cottondale, Elizabeth Sim and Samaya Williams were among those recognized.
The celebration continued in Mobile with Veronica Norwood, Andrea Pore, Adrianna Farris, Adlaide Nobles-Roberts, Jareka Montgomery, Ahmed Alabi, Nobertina Simmons and Alicia Timmons, along with DSP of the Year Jesse Agee.
In Montgomery, DSPs and team members gathered for a Region 4 barbecue celebrating James Powell, Jasmine Coops, Regina Freeman, Sonya Johnson, Alecia Dixon and DeShawn “Baby” Upshaw.
Throughout the week, we also recognized longtime team members including Nicole Caulton, Frankie Ross, Tigist Beka, Debra Lovett and Tiffany Washington.
Every stop looked a little different, but the message was the same: thank you.
Thank you for showing up. Thank you for building relationships. Thank you for encouraging independence. And thank you for the countless everyday moments that may never make a headline but make an enormous difference in the lives of the people we serve.
That is what makes this work a true work of heart.
The DSP Selfie Contest
Of course, DSP Recognition Week would not be complete without a little friendly competition. Our DSP Selfie Contest brought out plenty of creativity, personality and team spirit, and the competition was steep. This year, we recognized winners in two categories: Most Creative and Most Interactions.
Most Creative
One winning entry brought together Da’Zhuna Wilson, Kemyiah Jackson, Madriecka Ogletree, Shaniece Palmer and Terri Anderson for a group selfie that captured the fun and camaraderie of the week.
Our Community Enrichment Center team also earned Most Creative honors after combining a special breakfast with a photo session featuring the people they serve.
The photos reflected more than team spirit. They also captured the relationships and sense of connection that make DSP work so meaningful.
Most Interactions
The social media competition was just as strong.
Cheryl Dixon and Hope Thorpe took top honors in the Most Interactions category as friends, coworkers and supporters joined in the celebration through likes, comments and shares.
More important than the numbers was seeing so many people take part in recognizing the people who do this work every day.
Celebrating Our DSPs of the Year
DSP Recognition Week also gave us the opportunity to honor several team members whose service exemplifies the dedication and compassion of Direct Support Professionals across VOA Southeast.
We proudly recognized:
- Kierra Franklin — Region 1 DSP of the Year
- Jesse Agee — Region 3 DSP of the Year
- Cheryl Dixon — Region 4 DSP of the Year
- Allison Compton — Georgia DSP of the Year
Each represents something larger than an individual award.
They represent the hundreds of moments that happen every day between DSPs and the people they support.
A ride to an appointment. Encouragement toward a new goal. Help learning a new skill. A conversation after a difficult day. A celebration when someone accomplishes something they once thought was out of reach.
Those moments are what the week’s theme, “It’s a Work of Heart,” was really about.
More Than a Week of Recognition
DSP Recognition Week may last only a few days each September, but the work we celebrate continues throughout the year.
Direct Support Professionals are an essential part of VOA Southeast’s mission. They help the people we serve build skills, strengthen independence, participate in their communities and create lives shaped by their own goals and choices.
The visits, selfies, cookouts and awards gave us a fun way to say thank you. But behind every photo was something much more important: a person whose work matters deeply in the life of another person.
To every DSP across VOA Southeast, thank you for the difference you make every day — and for bringing your heart to the work you do.