Shari Rome Rogers, West Virginia State Winner

(Morgantown, WV) Shari Rome Rogers has been caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for nearly eleven years and never stopped caring even when she was battling breast cancer.

A direct support provider (DSP) for ResCare North Central Agency, Ms. Rogers earned the honor of most outstanding direct support professional in West Virginia from ANCOR. She traveled to New Orleans to accept the honor and that trip was the highlight of a very difficult year for Ms. Rogers and her family. Three weeks after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, her oldest son was diagnosed with skin cancer. Since that time, both have recovered from their treatments and surgeries and he made the trip with her to celebrate their victories.

“(Winning this award) made me feel proud of myself for taking the time and patience to put myself in the shoes of the person I supported,” Ms. Rogers said. “Now I know a lot of common sense stuff was right. I’m so happy that I made a lot of difference in people’s lives and their families’ (lives).”

As a direct support professional, Ms. Rogers supports individuals with a variety of developmental and intellectual disabilities as they go about their active lives, helping them bathe, cook dinner, go fishing and participate in monthly meetings of people with disabilities.

“She is a gift of love and deserving of national recognition more than anyone I’ve ever met,” ResCare North Central Agency Executive Director Kandi Shafer said. Ms. Shafer nominated Ms. Rogers for the ANCOR award. In her essay, Ms. Shafer asked, “If we fail to recognize, on our grandest stage, a shining star of consistency and dedication, a person in it for love alone, what message we are sending? Rather, I think her story could inspire others to change their thinking about the DSP profession from one with low pay to one with great personal reward.”

“We’re hoping that Rome’s recognition will spread to the rest of the staff, that everyone will be motivated to be the best DSP in West Virginia next year,” Ms. Shafer said.