UCP marks DSP Recognition Week with call to support disability workforce

United Cerebral Palsy is celebrating Direct Support Professional Recognition Week Sept. 13-19, 2026, to spotlight the workforce that helps millions of people with disabilities live and participate in their communities. The group is also backing legislation aimed at strengthening the direct support pipeline and expanding access to home- and community-based services.

Why it matters: - Direct support professionals are a core part of the home- and community-based services system that helps people with disabilities live, work and participate in their communities. - UCP says the workforce is essential to independence, inclusion and access to everyday supports. - The recognition week also highlights a labor and policy issue: UCP is pushing for stronger workforce classification, better data and improved recruitment and retention.

What happened: - United Cerebral Palsy is joining organizations nationwide in celebrating Direct Support Professional Recognition Week from Sept. 13-19, 2026. - The campaign honors DSPs who provide day-to-day support for people with disabilities. - UCP and its international network of affiliates will mark the week by sharing impact stories, recognizing outstanding professionals and highlighting the relationships built through direct support. - UCP invited communities to send messages of gratitude and share stories that raise awareness of DSPs’ role.

The details: - DSPs help people with disabilities pursue education and employment, build relationships, access healthcare, participate in community life and reach personal goals. - Home- and community-based services can include daily living help, personal care, employment and job coaching, education, transportation, healthcare, skill-building, communication and assistive technology, and recreation. - UCP said DSPs perform complex, skilled work that is vital to the nation’s HCBS system. - The organization supports the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act and other legislation aimed at strengthening the direct support workforce and expanding HCBS access. - UCP said the profession still lacks consistent recognition and occupational classification that would help describe the work’s scope and complexity and improve workforce data. - Diane Wilush, interim president and CEO of UCP, said DSPs do far more than provide services and that the mission is not possible without the workforce. - Wilush also said every shared story helps shine a light on a profession that transforms lives every day.

Between the lines: - The timing of the campaign puts a spotlight on a workforce that often operates behind the scenes but is central to disability services. - UCP is using the recognition week to pair celebration with advocacy, signaling that public appreciation alone is not enough without policy and workforce changes. - The push for better classification suggests the sector wants stronger visibility in labor planning, funding and retention efforts.

What's next: - UCP will continue highlighting DSP stories and recognition efforts throughout the week. - Communities can follow UCP on social media and visit UCP.org for more information. - UCP’s advocacy for workforce-strengthening legislation is expected to continue beyond the awareness campaign.

The bottom line: - UCP is framing DSP Recognition Week as both a thank-you and a reminder that disability independence depends on a workforce that remains underrecognized but indispensable.