DSP Ambassador Program

Designed to enhance the ability of direct support professionals to speak up, speak out, and tell their stories about the vital role they play in the communities they serve, the DSP Ambassador program will invite a cohort of DSPs from around the country to participate in an eight-month intensive training program.

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For decades, underinvestment in Medicaid-funded supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) has been the root of an ongoing crisis in recruitment and retention of direct support professionals (DSP). Low wages make it exceedingly difficult for community-based I/DD service providers to compete against businesses in other hourly wage industries for qualified workers. In turn, too few people with I/DD are able to access the services that enable their inclusion in the community.

Although some progress has been made in recent years to raise wages and stem the tide of rising turnover rates, much of that progress has been made possible by pandemic-era programs that have either ended or will soon come to a close. Furthermore, the direct support workforce stands to endure catastrophic harm if lawmakers at the federal level are successful in passing sweeping cuts to the federal Medicaid program.

In light of these challenges, the direct support workforce demands more visibility now than ever before. That is why ANCOR is piloting a new DSP Ambassador program. Designed to enhance the ability of direct support professionals to speak up, speak out, and tell their stories about the vital role they play in the communities they serve, the DSP Ambassador program will invite a cohort of DSPs from around the country to participate in an eight-month intensive training program.

Participants in the DSP Ambassador program will enjoy access to a series of trainings that aim to position them as more effective spokespeople when engaging with the press, lawmakers and members of the community. Spokesperson development training will be supplemented with additional professional development opportunities. In turn, ANCOR will call on DSPs to share their stories and add their perspective to outreach to the media and lawmakers when advocating on behalf of the direct support workforce.

• We are seeking applications from DSPs who are passionate about working in this field and advocating to strengthen the direct support workforce. Therefore, there is no minimum number of years of experience required, but applicants should have enough experience in the field that they have developed a perspective on the challenges facing DSPs. Additionally, applicants would ideally see themselves staying in this field in the foreseeable future, either in a direct support role or in another role working in service of a community-based provider organization.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate institutional support for their participation in the program by furnishing a letter of support from their agency’s executive director/chief executive officer or their designee.
• Applicants must be available to attend ANCOR’s 2025 Policy Summit & Hill Day (an optional DSP Ambassador networking reception will take place on the evening of Sunday, September 7; required in-person training, Policy Summit activities and advocacy visits on Capitol Hill will take place Monday, September 8, and Tuesday, September 9).

There is no cost to apply for the program, but selected participants’ organizations will be required to pay a program fee ($250 for ANCOR member organizations; $450 for non-members). This fee helps to defray the cost of hosting the in-person DSP Ambassador training in September 2025, as well as honoraria for guest speakers who will deliver training to selected applicants.

Selected participants will be expected to:

• Participate in all scheduled training and activities (a comprehensive schedule will be provided during the virtual orientation).
• Be willing and available to share their perspectives as a DSP when the opportunity arises, including by working with ANCOR to respond to inquiries from press.
• Leverage what they learn in the program to raise the profile of the important work carried out by direct support professionals.

May 28-July 3, 2025
Application Window Open

Note: Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis until the application deadline; in the event of strong demand, the cohort may be filled before the application deadline has passed.

By mid-July 2025
Applicants Notified of Application Status

Mid-August 2025
Virtual Orientation Session

September 7-9
DSP Ambassador Convening at ANCOR’s 2025 Policy Summit & Hill Day

November 2025, January 2026, March 2026
Virtual Training Sessions

April 21-23, 2026
DSP Ambassador Recognition at ANCOR Connect ’26 (Boston, MA)

In addition to some basic information about the applicant, applicants must furnish a letter of support from their employer’s CEO/Executive Director or the CEO/Executive Director’s designee.

Letters of support must not exceed one page in length and must speak to the organization’s willingness to support the applicant’s participation in the DSP Ambassador program, including willingness to cover associated costs (program fee [$250 for ANCOR member organizations; $450 for non-members] + travel expenses to attend 2025 Policy Summit & Hill Day) and to ensure the applicant’s work schedule can accommodate required activities (to include participation in the 2025 Policy Summit & Hill Day, as well as four virtual meetings/trainings).

Letters of support and all other required information must be submitted to ANCOR via using the application form linked below no later than 11:59 pm PDT on Thursday, July 3, 2025. If you have questions about the program or how to apply, please email Sean Luechtefeld.

Apply Now!