Nearly 300 advocates gathered in Washington, D.C. this September for the 2025 ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources) Policy Summit & Hill Day—the largest to date. ANCOR is a national association representing providers of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. Together, advocates met with lawmakers to highlight the urgent need to protect and strengthen Medicaid-funded home and community-based services.
Among them was Shiloh Almaguer, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at an Albertina Kerr group home in Multnomah County, who joined Kerr CEO Allison Stark as part of ANCOR’s DSP Ambassador Program. This national leadership initiative equips DSPs to share their lived experiences, develop advocacy skills, and represent their peers in conversations with policymakers nationwide.
With 28 years at Kerr, Shiloh brought decades of frontline experience to Capitol Hill, helping decision makers understand why DSPs are vital to the people and families we support.
At Kerr, DSPs like Shiloh provide daily, hands-on support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)—helping with everything from personal care and communication to community engagement and skill-building. Their work ensures that people can lead self-determined lives in their communities.
Shiloh shares her reflections on this experience:
Q: What drew you to the ANCOR DSP Ambassador Program?
Shiloh: It’s an opportunity to learn to advocate at a higher level. After nearly 30 years as a DSP, I know how powerful our stories are. I wanted to learn how to share them in ways that help decision makers truly understand what we do and why it matters.
Q: What stood out most about your trip to Washington, D.C.?
Shiloh: For the first time, I felt the weight of our work reach beyond the people we support. Our stories matter—and if our voices aren’t in the room, the picture lawmakers get is incomplete.
Q: What was it like to share your experience with legislators?
Shiloh: At first, it was intimidating. But this is my life’s work, and once I started talking, the words came naturally.
Q: Was there a moment that really stuck with you?
Shiloh: What stayed with me most was watching Allison Stark (Kerr’s CEO) in her element. I’ve always known she’s a strong leader but seeing her in D.C. as an advocate was something else. She spoke up not only for the people we support but for DSPs too—with passion and clarity. It showed me what it looks like to lead with both fire and heart.
Q: Why do DSP voices matter in policy conversations?
Shiloh: Because no one else sees what we see. Leaders can discuss budgets and policies, but we live the reality every day. We see the gaps, we see what’s working and what’s not, and what people really need. Without our voices, the picture is incomplete.
Q: If you could leave lawmakers with one message, what would it be?
Shiloh: DSPs aren’t just helpers—we are professionals. We deserve wages we can live on, and the people we support deserve stability. Turnover is high because people can’t afford to stay in this field, and that hurts everyone. If there’s one thing I want them to remember, it’s that investing in DSPs means investing in the lives of the people we support.
Q: How has this experience changed your perspective?
Shiloh: I realized I’m not just a DSP in a home—I’m also a voice that belongs in rooms where policy is made. That gave me a sense of purpose I didn’t expect. At the same time, it reinforced what I’ve always known: advocacy happens one-on-one in the small things we do for the people we support every day.
Q: What advice would you give other DSPs?
Shiloh: Don’t overthink it. You don’t need the perfect words or a degree—just what you’ve lived. Our stories matter. We see things every day that lawmakers and leaders don’t. The more of us who share, the stronger our voice becomes. Advocacy doesn’t start with being perfect—it starts with being real.
**PHOTOS:** (Cover) Shiloh Almaguer, Albertina Kerr DSP, with Kerr CEO Allison Stark. **Collage:** First row, left to right: Oregon delegation meeting with Oregon Representatives Andrea Salinas and Suzanne Bonamici; second row, left to right: Meeting with Oregon Representative Maxine Dexter, M.D., and Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden; third row: Advocates from across the United States gather for the 2025 ANCOR Policy & Summit Day.