NEW CASTLE — Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore is celebrating “Direct Support Professional Week” by recognizing several Direct Support Professionals for extraordinary work in supporting people with disabilities. The DSPs were nominated by their supervisors from each program in Easterseals’ statewide locations in Delaware.

“We are so proud to recognize many of our DSPs who work tirelessly to provide exceptional services to the participants in our many programs. The work that our DSPs do is not only honorable, but critical to people with disabilities, seniors and their families,” Kenan Sklenar, Easterseals president/CEO, said in a prepared statement. “We have so many outstanding DSPs at Easterseals and it was difficult for our program supervisors to select just one. The DSPs being recognized were chosen because they treat each individual with dignity and respect and have gone above and beyond to ensure our participants work towards independence, master new skills and remain a part of our community.”

DSPs being recognized for the dedication and passion they bring to their work and the people with disabilities and seniors they support are: Jaclyn Deldeo-Tolbert (Supported Employment program in Dover); Jonda Price (Prevocational program in Newark); Jodi Crabtree (Adult Day Health program in New Castle); Esther Suberro, (Day Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Georgetown); Ebony Keaton (Adult Day Health program in Georgetown); Ariel Waters (Day Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in New Castle); Kelsey Hickman (Community Experience program in Georgetown); Melinda Robbins (Day Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Dover); and Simon Makalanga (Day Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in New Castle).

Direct Support Professional Recognition Week is a week held annually in September that honors the dedicated Direct Support Professional workforce and highlights the essential work done across the country to support people with disabilities so they can lead more independent lives.