09/14/2026
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We have been talking so much lately about the renewed importance of ensuring New Yorkers with developmental disabilities are supported to live the most integrated and independent lives possible. And we simply cannot do that without the day-to-day commitment and passion of our Direct Support Professional workforce. Our DSPs are the vital link to our mission of helping people live richer lives. They show up every day with empathy, deep commitment, and grace, supporting people with developmental disabilities to live lives of their own choosing.
This week, we observe National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week and join together in heartfelt celebration of this vital workforce. While this week is important, it’s equally important for our direct support workforce to know that we appreciate them every single day of the year.
I invite everyone to join me in recognizing our extraordinary direct support workforce. If you cross paths with a DSP, please take a moment to thank them. Let them know just how vital their contributions are to the people they support, to families, to our local communities, and to our entire state.
To all the DSPs reading this message: your passion and dedication are a constant source of inspiration. Every single day, you make New York a better, more inclusive place for people with developmental disabilities. Your skill and hard work does not go unnoticed—we see you, we value you, and we celebrate you.
Wishing you a wonderful Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week! Please enjoy the celebrations and honor you have so thoroughly earned.
With warm regards and gratitude,
Willow Baer
Commissioner
________________________________________
To view this announcement in another language, visit the link at the bottom of this message and click on the translate button at the top to select your preferred language.
Pour consulter cette annonce dans une autre langue, visitez le lien au bas de ce message et cliquez sur le bouton « traduire » situé en haut de votre écran pour sélectionner la langue de votre choix.
Pou w wè anons sa a nan yon lòt lang, vizite lyen ki anba mesaj sa a epi klike sou bouton tradui ki anwo nan ekran w lan pou w chwazi lang ou pito a.
Чтобы просмотреть это объявление на другом языке, перейдите по ссылке внизу этого сообщения и нажмите на кнопку «перевод» в верхней части экрана, чтобы выбрать предпочитаемый язык.
Para ver este anuncio en otro idioma, visite el enlace que está la parte inferior de este mensaje y haga clic en el botón "traducir" en la parte superior de la pantalla para seleccionar el idioma de preferencia.
이 안내를 다른 언어로 보려면, 이 메시지 하단에 있는 링크를 방문하여 화면 상단의 번역(translate) 버튼을 클릭하고 선호하는 언어를 선택하십시오.
如需查看本公告的其他语言版本，请点击本消息底部的链接，然后点击屏幕上方的翻译按钮，并选择您的偏好语言。
Per visualizzare questo annuncio in un'altra lingua, visitate il link in fondo a questo messaggio e fate clic sul pulsante di traduzione nella parte superiore dello schermo per selezionare la lingua preferita
Aby wyświetlić to ogłoszenie w innym języku, odwiedź łącze znajdujące się w dolnej części tej wiadomości i kliknij przycisk tłumaczenia u góry ekranu w celu wybrania preferowanego języka.
এই ঘোষণাটি অন্য ভাষায় দেখতে, এই বার্তার নীচে দেওয়া লিঙ্কটিতে যান এবং আপনার পছন্দের ভাষা বেছে নিতে, স্ক্রিনের শীর্ষে থাকা “অনুবাদ করুন” বোতামে ক্লিক করুন৷
צו זען דעם מעלדן אין אַן אַנדערע שפּראַך
