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Rhode Island Celebrates Direct Support Professionals

More than 400 people gathered Wednesday at the WaterFire Arts Center to celebrate the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who show up every day to support Rhode Islanders with disabilities.

The 38th annual DSP Celebration recognized Rhode Island’s 41 DSPs of the Year, along with several other award recipients. The celebration brought Rhode Island’s disability community together for a morning of appreciation, with remarks from CPNRI Executive Director Tina Spears and President Ray Memery, a bagpipe performance from Andrew Murphy and a song from Teddy Blair of Seven Hills.

The celebration also brought together several Rhode Island lawmakers, including House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski, who was recognized with the Governmental Service Award for his service to the disability community. Representative Caldwell, Representative Slater, Senator Valverde and Senator DiMario were in attendance as well.

CPNRI also thanks the federal lawmakers who took the time to send video messages recognizing DSPs and their work, including U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, Congressman Gabe Amo and Congressman Seth Magaziner.

During this year’s event, the 5th annual DSP Thank You Video debuted called The Letter You Deserve.

A high, wide view looks across a sunlit converted industrial hall with brick walls and tall factory windows, where hundreds of guests sit at round tables covered in navy cloths with flower centerpieces. On a black stage at the upper left, a speaker stands at a podium with several people nearby, a red carpet runs along the floor beside the stage, and a videographer films from a tripod on the right. Two guests using wheelchairs are seated among the tables in the foreground.
A singer in a gray plaid blazer, flat cap, and clear-framed glasses performs on stage, singing into a microphone while playing a black acoustic guitar. Behind him, a large screen displays his photo with the text Performance by Singer Teddy Blair, and leafy green plants frame the foreground.
Karissa Brown, a young woman with long dark curly hair, stands in front of a Community Provider Network of Rhode Island step-and-repeat backdrop, holding a framed certificate that reads Congratulations, DSP of the Year, 2026, Karissa Brown. She wears a black long-sleeve top, a navy floral skirt, gold bangles, and a name tag, and gives a calm, slight smile.
Edgar Ferrer, a man with a full gray beard, stands in front of a Community Provider Network of Rhode Island backdrop holding a framed certificate that reads Congratulations, DSP of the Year, 2026, Edgar Ferrer. He wears a black hoodie and pants, with glasses hooked on his collar and a name tag identifying him as a 2026 DSP of the Year from Whitmarsh House.
Shawn Picard, a smiling man with glasses and a salt-and-pepper beard, poses in front of a Community Provider Network of Rhode Island backdrop, pointing proudly at his framed certificate that reads Congratulations, DSP of the Year, 2026, Shawn Picard. He wears a black suit, blue plaid shirt, and black tie, with a name tag listing Justice Resource Institute.
Kemley Joseph, a smiling woman with her locs pulled up, stands in front of a Community Provider Network of Rhode Island backdrop, presenting her framed certificate that reads Congratulations, DSP of the Year, 2026, Kemley Joseph. She wears a sleeveless olive top, cream wide-leg pants, hoop earrings, and a delicate cross necklace.
A bagpiper in full Highland dress plays on stage, wearing a red and green tartan kilt, a black jacket, a black cap with a silver badge, and a fur sporran, with a green velvet bag and gold tassels on his pipes. Behind him, a large screen reads Celebrating DSPs, with Presented by Fogarty partly visible at the bottom.
About 40 honorees sit and stand in several rows for a group photo inside a brick-walled industrial hall, in front of a large gray roll-up door. Most smile at the camera while holding certificate folders and small navy gift bags with white tissue paper in their laps.
A packed room of guests rises to their feet in a standing ovation, clapping and cheering toward the stage, where several people stand near the podium. A large screen at the upper left reads Celebrating DSPs alongside the Community Provider Network of Rhode Island and Fogarty logos, and some guests hold up phones to capture the moment.
From a high vantage point, a large crowd seated at round navy-draped tables faces a black stage on the left, where a speaker addresses the room from a podium and a partial screen shows the Fogarty logo. Sunlight pours through tall industrial windows at the back of the hall, a red carpet runs beside the stage, and a camera operator films from the right side.
A man in a navy suit and blue striped tie stands at a wooden podium bearing the Community Provider Network of Rhode Island seal, looking out toward the audience. Behind him, a screen displays Governmental Service Award, nominated by CPNRI, and another man in glasses stands in the background.
A woman with long curly blonde hair and an orange blazer smiles warmly as she chats with a gray-haired man in a dark denim jacket, who is seen from behind. Soft sunlight streams through a tall window behind her, and a camera on a tripod is visible in the blurred background.
A woman with curly blonde hair, glasses, and an orange blazer speaks at a wooden podium bearing the Community Provider Network of Rhode Island seal, gesturing with one hand. A deep navy velvet curtain hangs behind her, and the backs of audience members' heads are softly blurred in the foreground.
Four smiling women pose shoulder to shoulder inside the brick-walled event hall. From left, they wear a light denim jacket, an orange-red blazer over a brown dress, a white jacket over a magenta blouse, and a dark gray dress with tortoiseshell glasses. Other guests mingle in the background.

Rhode Island’s 2026 DSPs of the Year

This year, 41 Direct Support Professionals were recognized for the difference they make in the lives of Rhode Islanders with disabilities. They were chosen from thousands of DSPs across the state.

  • Kristie Booth, AccessPoint RI
  • Heather Garris, Arc of Blackstone Valley
  • Rebecca Rudis, Avatar
  • Cynthia Maduagwuna, C.O.V.E. Center
  • Ezra Brown, Community Residences, Inc.
  • Marthe Uwiduhaye, Corliss Institute
  • Ibrahim Afolabi, Gateways to Change
  • Karissa Brown, J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center
  • Bernie Kelley, James L. Maher Center
  • Shawn Picard, Justice Resource Institute
  • Patricia Deleon-Blair, L.I.F.E., Inc.
  • Geri Aponowich, Looking Upwards
  • Janice Pereira, Opportunities Unlimited
  • Susan Fields, Perspectives Corporation
  • Christine Camara, ReFocus, Inc.
  • Nathaniel Allen, Seven Hills RI
  • Tammy Lee, The Fogarty Center
  • Donna Swanson, The Olean Center
  • Carol Schepsi, United Cerebral Palsy of RI
  • Irene Council Grant, West Bay RI
  • Edgar Ferrer, Whitmarsh House
  • Mike Carvalho, proABILITY/The Arc of Bristol County
  • James DiPietro, Spurwink 
  • Christine Salem, Children’s Friend
  • Kemley Joseph, Family Behavior Solutions
  • Noelle Wilburn, Family Service of Rhode Island
  • Cheyenne Labossiere, Meaningful Outcomes
  • Brittany Williams-Joyal, Momentum, Inc.
  • Pamela Richter, Northeast Family Services
  • Kimberly Torres, Ocean State Behavioral
  • Jerrialyne Wilson Toayen, The Autism Project
  • Myleeka Richardson, AccessPoint RI
  • Pamela Rosa, The Fogarty Center
  • Elizabeth Diamond, Groden Network
  • Jessica Clifford, J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center
  • Stephen Walsh, Looking Upwards
  • Beth Suedmeier, The Olean Center
  • Garyleena Barron, Perspectives Corporation
  • Lizbeth Santos, proABILITY/The Arc of Bristol County
  • Mandy Moran, Seven Hills RI
  • Jane Porter, United Cerebral Palsy of RI

We also recognized several special award winners who made an impact on the community including:

  • Employer of the Year: Ellen Gracyalny, Gracie’s Providence
  • Excellence in Service: Robert O’Brien, The Fogarty Center
  • Team Unity: Feast & Fettle, Spurwink
  • SLA Provider of the Year: Anthony Gargano, AccessPoint

The energy felt in the room was incredible. Together, we laughed and cried and celebrated the collective impact we have.

“Across every agency, every town and every shift, DSPs are the reason every person belongs in Rhode Island,” said Tina Spears, CPNRI Executive Director. “Through kindness and care, you touch thousands of lives across our state. Thank you for showing the world what compassion looks like.” 

Congratulations and thank you to all of this year’s honorees!

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