Dungarvin Leaders, DSPs Advocate for People with Disabilities at Policy Summit in Washington D.C.

Dungarvin showed up in a big way in Washington D.C. Monday, Sept. 8, for the 2025 Policy Summit & Hill Day to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities to receive the services they need.

“In total, we met with more than 20 legislative offices, and we certainly got our steps in walking all over the Hill,” said Dungarvin CEO Lori Kress, who is the President of the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) Board of Directors. “One of our goals was to ensure that lawmakers understand the devasting impacts that the recent cuts to Medicaid will have on the people we support.”

Along with Kress at the Policy Summit & Hill Day were Dungarvin leaders Patrick Brendle, VP of Operations, and Central Regional Director Karin Stockwell. In addition, three Dungarvin Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), selected by ANCOR to be industry Ambassadors, joined the Dungarvin leaders to help educate federal lawmakers on the need to protect and strengthen the critical services DSPs deliver. The three ANCOR Ambassadors are: Nichole Payne, of Washington; Geno Walters, of New Mexico; and Denise Martinez, of Connecticut (see bottom right photo).

“We also asked lawmakers’ to support temporary funding increases to help stabilize our system during this chaotic time, and to help establish a Standard Occupational Classification for our DSPs. Great, too, that this all occurred during DSP Recognition Week!” Lori said.

Dungarvin is grateful and proud that our leaders and DSPs represented our organization at this important event to advocate for people with disabilities and the professionals who support them.