Robin Kestler

ANCOR, a national association for community-based disability service providers, has announced that Robin Kestler, a direct support professional at The Resource Center, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Direct Support Professional of the Year award.

Kestler is part of the largest-ever class of DSP of the Year honorees, with 57 professionals being chosen from a record-breaking 544 nominations from around the country.

“We are absolutely thrilled that ANCOR selected Robin as its DSP of the Year in New York state.

To be chosen as the Empire State’s honoree among many other worthy nominees speaks volumes to Robin’s commitment, dedication and devotion to the people we support,” said Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s chief executive officer. “She’s a trailblazer, and her career exemplifies the transformative power of community-based, person-centered supports and services. Robin’s efforts have resulted in true community inclusion for the people we support.”

Since 2007, ANCOR’s annual Direct Service Professional of the Year awards have recognized outstanding direct service professionals who deliver long-term services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). ANCOR officials said the awards celebrate the important role DSPs play in ensuring people with I/DD have what they need to thrive and be included in the community.

“Celebrating the nation’s most outstanding direct support professionals is one of the great joys I have as a leader within the national provider community, and Robin Kestler is a perfect reminder why,” said Lori Kress, president of ANCOR’s board and chief executive officer for Dungarvin, a provider of I/DD services based in Mendota Heights, Minn. “Each of this year’s honorees exemplifies what it means to deliver supports that are truly person-centered, and each one demonstrates what it means to be a bridge between people and their communities.”

ANCOR said these awards also seek to raise awareness about a direct support workforce in crisis, maintaining that inadequate investments in this workforce have led to a decades-long shortage of DSPs. ANCOR officials believe these challenges are on the brink of getting worse in light of funding cuts to Medicaid — which funds the majority of services DSPs deliver — at the federal level and in many states.

“Being recognized with a DSP of the Year Award is a tremendous honor every year. But this year it’s particularly significant given the enormous pool of talented professionals from which our judges had to choose,” said Barbara Merrill, ANCOR’s chief executive officer. “And the timing couldn’t be better, as funding cuts at the federal level and in many states mean that our nation’s direct support professionals need recognition now more than ever.”

Kestler and the other 2026 honorees will be recognized during an awards ceremony in Boston, Mass., on Thursday, April 23 during ANCOR Connect ’26, the association’s annual conference.