Making a Difference Every Day: Dungarvin’s Fatmata Bayoh Wins DSP of the Year for New Jersey

Colleagues of Dungarvin’s Fatmata Bayoh describe her as deeply dedicated, compassionate and innovative – and it was those qualities that led advocacy organization ANCOR to name her Direct Support Professional of the Year for the state of New Jersey.

Fatmata is one of seven Dungarvin Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) across the country to be honored with the award for their states. She traveled to San Diego in early April to be recognized with her colleagues at the ANCOR Connect ’25 conference. We met up with her at the conference, finding her with her 14-year-old son, Abu Bakr, in tow. We asked her how she felt about the honor from ANCOR (American Network of Community Options & Resources).

“It means a lot to mean,” she said. “I’m grateful and very proud. And thinking about all of the great DSPs out there, I am honored.”

Fatmata has been a DSP with Dungarvin for 15 years. Currently, she supports four women who live in a group home in Somerset. They range in age from mid-30s to early 60s, and all have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Fatmata regularly goes the extra mile to help the women become more independent and feel more empowered in their lives, said her supervisor Isata John.

“She consistently provides person-centered support by considering their distinctive needs and goals,” Isata said, describing a time when one of the women wanted to pursue a hobby in art. “Fatmata not only helped her acquire art supplies, but she also arranged for her to attend local art classes, which enhanced the woman’s self-confidence and emotional well-being.”

One of the reasons Fatmata chose a DSP career relates to her father, who has disabilities and lives in her native country of Sierra Leone. “It gives me courage, knowing that I’m helping others when I cannot help my father,” she said.

The opportunity to make a positive difference in someone else’s life is another reason she’s a DSP. “There’s a lot of success in my day-to-day role here,” she said. “Sometimes, even helping one individual achieve a goal, which could be as simple as brushing their teeth – that is very important because you’re helping someone and at some point, you see them able to do it. That is a success to me. Or assisting someone in getting a job, which could be their dream.”

When asked how she would advise people who are considering a DSP career, Fatmata replied that in addition to being personally rewarding, it can be a stepping stone to other impactful roles in the field.

“I’ve worked with so many people, and some have taken other career paths,” she said. “Some people are now case managers, some are nurses, some are even doctors – and they started as DSPs. So, I think it’s a really good field.”

Congratulations to you, Fatmata, from all of your friends at Dungarvin. We are grateful for your leadership and so proud of your well-deserved recognition!