enVision Community Living hosted a special appreciation event Friday at the Mennonite Heritage Village to celebrate the work of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who support people living with intellectual disabilities. The gathering was part of DSP Recognition Week and brought together staff, managers, and community members to recognize the impact DSPs have in the lives of the people they serve. ‘Hooray to all of our direct support professionals’ Jeannette DeLong, Executive Director at enVision, has worked in the field for decades and said it was important to pause and recognize the dedication of DSPs. “Like many people, I sort of fell into the work,” DeLong said. “And what keeps me here is people. I feel like I have a very personal passion for social justice and for people being treated equally and people being given equal opportunities in this community and in society in general.” DeLong began her career as a direct support professional and said one of the most meaningful parts of the work is seeing the lasting impact of relationships. “There’s one gentleman who I met 25 years ago… to be able to go into a setting where he is and for him to recognize me and be joyful about knowing me and meeting me, it’s just encouraging to know that I have had some impact on his life for multiple decades,” she said. She added her appreciation to everyone currently in the role. “I just want to say hooray to all of our direct support professionals. enVision has some phenomenal people who work here… and for the dedication and commitment that our DSPs have to people they serve is just outstanding.” Supporting people to reach their full potential Several DSPs shared their personal experiences during the celebration, reflecting on the impact their work has on the lives of others. Osayi Emokaro has been a DSP for five years and said his motivation comes from wanting everyone to have a fair chance at success. “Everybody, no matter the circumstances of your birth or your station, should have equal opportunity to at least achieve their goals and reach their full potential,” Emokaro said. “Some people need help, so I thought I could be in a position to at least make that come true.” He recalled helping someone who was once unable to be in a crowd gain the confidence to get a driver’s licence and join community life. “That self-confidence is there because he felt supported,” Emokaro said. He noted another situation where he was approached by a family member of someone being supported and given words of gratitude and appreciation. “That’s one of the good things that gives me the chills and makes the job worth staying in.” Creating community and inclusion Manager Jude Vaz, who also does DSP work, said creating an inclusive and respectful environment benefits both staff and the people supported. “When you treat people with inclusion and with respect, and creating that value, not only for people we serve but also for our staff and colleagues, that helps create that bond and helps them work better,” Vaz said. “The most amazing thing is while doing that, you can see that the people we serve feel the positive atmosphere at work or in their own homes.” Vaz added that the welcoming spirit he first noticed when he moved to Steinbach 12 years ago is something he now sees reflected at enVision. Longtime DSP receives provincial award Sean Knight, who has worked with enVision for nearly 19 years, was also recognized during the event as a recent recipient of the DSP Distinction Award from the Alliance of Direct Support Professionals in Manitoba. Knight said he was drawn to the work because of his personal connections to people with disabilities, including his uncle who lived in an enVision home. “As I grew up, one of the guys, a neighbor of mine, was a person who had disabilities, and I was around it. My parents were blind, so I saw that they got a lot of help from the community,” Knight said. “I think that kind of influenced me a lot.” He said a recent conversation with the mother of someone he supported, who has since passed away, reminded him why the work matters. “She told me that she and her husband had been thinking about us and that they really appreciate what we do. And yeah, that meant a lot,” Knight said. Communications associate Louise Carriere explained the award is presented annually to DSPs across Manitoba who are nominated by their organizations for their excellence and positive influence. She said Knight’s positive attitude inspired one of the people he supports to pursue his own interests and express himself through meaningful tattoo designs. Knight said it was an honour to be recognized for his work. Carriere added, having two DSPs from enVision chosen this year was a point of pride. Walking alongside others DeLong said she hopes the event left staff feeling celebrated and reminded of the importance of their roles. “They’re so willing to just keep walking alongside people, whether it’s good times or whether it’s challenging times,” she said. “We are just so proud to have them working with us.” -With files from Laura Turner.