ANCOR Names John Frederick Direct Support Professional of the Year

SPRINGFIELD — The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) recently recognized John Frederick of New England Business Associates in Springfield as the 2015 Direct Support Professional of the Year for Massachusetts.

“We at New England Business Associates are proud of John. “The award shows the dedication Frederick has to support people with disabilities and reflects the quality of services provided by New England Business Associates,” said Jeannine Pavlak, executive director.

The award was presented at the 2015 ANCOR Annual Conference, “Ignite!” in Arlington, Va. Direct support professionals (DSPs) — also referred to as caregivers, personal assistants, and direct-care or home-care aides — provide a rich mosaic of daily support services for the many Americans with disabilities. DSPs are integral in helping people with disabilities participate in their communities and lead full and independent lives.

Since 2007, ANCOR has honored exceptional DSPs with the Direct Support Professional Recognition Award for exemplary work in furthering community inclusion and full participation for the many Americans living with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities.

“The work that DSPs do is so important, not just to the people with disabilities they serve, but also to the social and economic lives of their communities,” said Chris Sparks, president of ANCOR. “DSPs like John deserve recognition for the difficult but inspiring work they do every day.”

ANCOR’s Direct Support Professional Recognition Award is given to those who personify the values of ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign, which works to ensure a well-trained and sustainable direct-support workforce. Nominees are judged on the work they’ve done to build social networks, substantive community participation, and advocating for the people they serve.

New England Business Associates is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve quality of life for individuals with disabilities through integrated employment and community involvement. Through its 32 years of service, NEBA has maintained an employment rate at or above 85{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5}, serving more than 400 individuals annually.