The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) has been established for nearly a quarter century with a mission to elevate the status and profession of direct support. Individuals with disabilities, along with others who depend on the skills and ethics of direct support professionals, know firsthand that one of their primary role is to ensure justice, fairness, and equity for those they serve and work with.

Every Fourth of July in the United States, we celebrate our independence as a sovereign nation established in 1776. Since then, the United States has evolved into a nation that prides itself on liberty and justice for all. However, our journey as a nation has been marked by numerous struggles in achieving justice, fairness, and equity for everyone, and to this day, we continue striving for a “more perfect union.”

This Independence Day, and  Disability Pride Month, please take a moment to reflect on the NADSP Code of Ethics. As we celebrate, let us recognize the crucial work that direct support professionals carry out daily to ensure that all individuals can experience liberty and justice.​

Justice, Fairness and Equity

As a DSP, I will affirm the human rights as well as the civil rights and responsibilities of the people I support. I will promote and practice justice, fairness, and equity for the people I support and the community as a whole.
Furthermore, as a DSP, I will:

• Assist the people I support to access opportunities and resources of the community that are available to everyone.
• Facilitate the expression and understanding of one’s rights and responsibilities with the people I support.

Understand the guardianship or other legal representation of the people I support, and work in partnership with legal representatives to assure that the person’s preferences and interests are honored.