My name is Misty Miller, and I have worked in this field since 2007. I began as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at a young age, long before I understood the immense responsibility DSPs carry and the limited preparation provided to shoulder it. Over the years, I have supported hundreds of individuals with developmental disabilities—people whose lives, safety, and dignity depended on the competence of the staff around them.

Direct Support Professionals are the unsung heroes of the healthcare field. However, they are often overlooked and underappreciated despite their critical role in providing care and support to individuals with developmental disabilities. These professionals work tirelessly to ensure that their clients live fulfilling, dignified, and safe lives. They perform duties comparable to those of medical professionals, including administering medication, implementing behavioral management programs, and providing emergency medical assistance.

The recognition of DSPs as medical professionals goes beyond mere titles. It has tangible impacts on their working conditions, pay, and access to professional development opportunities. According to a report from the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, the turnover rate for DSPs is around 45%. One of the main reasons for this high turnover rate is low wages and lack of recognition.

Elevating their status to that of recognized medical professionals can help address these issues by providing better compensation and opening up avenues for further training and advancement. This, in turn, ensures a more stable workforce, which directly benefits the care recipients by enhancing the continuity and quality of care they receive.

Furthermore, recognizing DSPs as medical professionals aligns with the evolving understanding of developmental disabilities as medical conditions requiring specialized care. It acknowledges the specialized skills DSPs possess and the complex situations they handle daily.

I urge relevant authorities and governing bodies to take immediate action to recognize Direct Support Professionals as medical professionals nationwide. This recognition will not only validate their critical work but also bring about practical improvements for both the DSPs and those they serve.

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the backbone of care for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Every day, DSPs administer medications, monitor health conditions, respond to crises, and provide life-sustaining support.

Yet despite performing medically necessary tasks, DSPs are not recognized as healthcare professionals.

This lack of recognition has led to:

Critically low wages
High turnover rates
Staffing shortages that put vulnerable individuals at risk
 

Many DSP services are funded through Medicaid and overseen by agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, yet the workforce itself remains undervalued and under-supported.

We are calling for:

Formal recognition of DSPs as part of the healthcare workforce
Creation of advanced certification pathways (e.g., Clinical DSP designation)
Increased Medicaid reimbursement rates tied to DSP wages and training
Investment in workforce stabilization to protect those receiving care
 

DSPs are not “just caregivers”—they are essential to the health and safety of thousands.

It’s time our systems reflect that reality.

Please sign this petition to lend your voice in support of this essential change.