NADSP E-Badge Earner of the Month: Mary Ellen Bills

by Nicole Dama | Jul 9, 2025 | News

Congratulations to Mary Ellen Bills who has been selected as the July 2025 NADSP E-Badge Academy Earner of the Month. We are recognizing Mary Ellen for her excellent ‘Communication Modes’ E-Badge submission. This badge represents a Direct Support Professionals’ work in using positive and respectful verbal, non-verbal and written communication a way that can be understood by the individual, and actively listens and responds to them in a respectful, caring manner.This badge is part of the Communication CMS Core Competency. It also aligns with the NADSP Competency Area of Communication.

Mary Ellen works as a Residential Program Specialist at Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional/Intake Coordinator at the Mary Cariola Center in New York. The vision of the Mary Cariola Center is to set the standard in innovations that unlock lifelong potential for people with complex disabilities.

Mary Ellen’s Experiences With The NADSP E-Badge Academy

The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) recently asked Mary Ellen about her experiences with the NADSP E-Badge Academy. The questions covered how she carries out her work as a direct support professional (DSP), the skillsets she demonstrates on a daily basis, the impact that the E-Badge Academy has had on their professional recognition, and how they get credit for competency.

Mary Ellen is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) Microcredentials for NYS Direct Support Professionals program. The program is a partnership between the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and SUNY to suppport the academic and career success of DSPs across New York State as well as individuals interested in joining the profession. This limited-time grant program funds college coursework and national certification.

Describe the story you shared in carrying out that competency:

I was able to facilitate communicative exchanges between a young man and his new care manager at their first meeting with one another. It was a meaningful connection and very important to the young man I supported. This information was helpful for the care manager to have when facilitating his Life Plan meeting a short time later. Taking the extra steps to help each one communicate with one another was important in building their relationship.

Why is this competency so important to DSPs?

This competency is important to DSP’s because it supported the young mans desire to be heard and understood. It allowed his voice to be respected.

Have you used this competency in your work?

When supporting individuals directly, I ensure I have an understanding of their individual communication techniques. This information is essential in supporting the health, safety and overall wellness of the person supported both in the home and in the community.

How can other DSPs replicate your practices?

Using the NADSP Code of Ethics in daily practice is a wonderful way to ensure you are supporting individuals to lead self-directed lives in the promotion of their individualized pursuits.

Reflecting on the tenets and applying them to our everyday work helps to provide strong foundation and guidance. With this particular competency, I was mindful of the importance of Person-Centered Supports and our guidance to honor those who cannot speak by seeking ways to understand them. Through this tenet, I was able to help support having this young mans voice heard. It was additionally a strong representation of advocacy and respect.

How does the NADSP E-Badge Academy benefit your agency?

The NADSP E-Badge Academy provides strong support to help validate the importance of the profession while recognizing the hard work of DSP’s. It is a formal way in which knowledge and skills sets can be built while earning certifications. It helps teach and ensure the highest quality of support.

How does NADSP E-Badge Academy benefit the people you support?

The NADSP E-Badge Academy ensures staff are providing superior best practice measures in their day to day support of individuals through the submission of testimonials related to a variety of topic that are presented in daily work.

What does the future hold for your involvement in the NADSP E-Badge Academy?

I hope to continue acquiring skills and knowledge to better support others through my involvement in the NADSP E-Badge Academy. My personal growth and professional development are ongoing.

How has NADSP E-Badge Academy affected your professional image?

I feel more skilled and more confident in every decision I make. Through the NADSP E-Badge Academy, I have gained additional tools to help better the lives of the people I support.

The validation of earning badges aligns with my course work through SUNY Empire State University. Through this process, I am able to further my continuing education and grow even more as a professional.

There is always room to grow and learn. I have been supporting people with disabilities for nearly 35 years. Every day, I seek to make a positive impact and demonstrate professional work ethics that will help to bring about the best possible outcomes. Being a part of this learning experience has been instrumental in my own continuous personal growth and development.

Well Wishes from SUNY

“We are so proud of Mary Ellen and her accomplishments in earning the DSP-1 certification through the micro credential program at Empire State University. We look forward to continued celebration as she completes her DSP-2 certification at the end of the summer. I also want to thank our incredibly supportive and talented faculty in the School of Human Services who developed the curriculum, teach, mentor, and coach our students in achieving their personal and professional goals.”

– Desalyn De-Souza, PhD
Dean of the School of Human Services, Empire State University

The NADSP E-Badge Academy

The NADSP E-Badge Academy offers Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Frontline Supervisors (FLSs) the ability to earn national certification through stackable electronic badges. These badges demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and values that these professionals utilize every day, recognizing the professional development that might otherwise go unacknowledged. Through the NADSP E-Badge Academy, DSPs and FLSs are acknowledged for the experience and education that they bring to the human services field.

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