Direct support professionals have a fully revised Code of Ethics, the first since the original was published more than 25 years ago. The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) released it on June 9, 2026.
How the code was revised
NADSP began the revision in 2025 with the University of Minnesota's Institute on Community Integration. The process drew on subject matter experts, people with lived disability experience, and DSPs and frontline supervisors from across the country. It included dozens of focus groups where DSPs shared real dilemmas, in-person validation sessions built around ethical scenarios, and consensus-building so each statement reflects modern direct support. NADSP President and CEO Joseph Macbeth said the field's expectations and workforce have changed, and "it was time for our ethical foundation to evolve." NADSP asked organizations to endorse the code.
Why this matters for providers and DSPs
The code sets out ethical expectations for direct support work nationwide. Agencies should review their orientation, supervision and ethics policies against the revised tenets.