James Baptiste recently joined the NADSP team in April of 2024. He describes himself as living on the spectrum of human existence. He is passionate about his pets, plants, and the video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 

After living in Queens for most of his life, James moved to the Hudson Valley in 2015 to pursue college. At SUNY New Paltz, he earned his BA, majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services while minoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in 2019. James recently obtained his MPS, majoring in Social Justice Education in 2023. He is excited to be a part of the process of professionalizing the direct support professional workforce. He first became interested in the subject after his professor brought attention to the importance of nail techs and barbers having certifications, but not those supporting people fulfill complex and intimate daily living tasks. This has lingered in his mind since 2016, and he is eager to be a part of NADSP to accomplish this goal. 

Prior to NADSP, James has worked with children and families, teens, the LGBTQ+ community, and in the field of mental health.  His diverse human service experience roles have taught him the value of meeting people where they are at and supporting them to achieve their goals. He finds himself feeling most fulfilled when he sees those around him thriving on their own terms. One success story he recalls, is when a person he was working with was advocated for themselves when they received a meal they did not like at a diner. James had been working with this person to set healthy boundaries, assert themselves, and empower them to use their voice.  

With an unwavering commitment to sparking joy and empowering others, James is dedicated to breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive and equitable world for all. 

Brian Gelb, a resident of the Hudson Valley in New York. He has over twenty years of experience in the field of human services. Brian began his career as a direct support professional and grew his experience by becoming a staff development coordinator, trainer and recruiter for multiple agencies. His experience with the NADSP began over 5 years ago with becoming an instructor of the NADSP FLS curriculum by which he trained front line supervisors within a multi-agency partnership in the Hudson Valley. 

 Regardless of his varying roles throughout his twenty-year experience supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, his philosophy remains that his and all staff’s first allegiance is to the people we support.