It's National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week and we're celebrating by shining the spotlight on some of our staff members. Read on to hear their stories . . .

Olga, the mother of 34-year-old Richey, describes in her own words how staff throughout YAI have helped her son.

Richie, a resident of a YAI group residence, with Olga, his mother.

Richie had been doing really well until two years ago when he hit a wall. He would just stay at his group home and play on his computer. A team of Direct Support Professionals in his YAI group residence, along with the home’s supervisor and psychologist, worked closely with him to get him through this rough time.

He began attending YAI's Long Island Employment Services program, where staff helped him get a job at Accenture, where he works on the computer. He's really, really happy there. He still works at Stop & Shop, and he's starting to go back to the gym.

He sounds happier. The staff at his group home and employment program have really helped him turn his life around.