Sarah Caldwell Magwood
Host Home Provider
6 Years — 32 Years as a DSP
Sarah Caldwell Magwood goes above and beyond every day to help both of her individuals reach their goals, empowering them to speak up about their wants and needs and encouraging them to stay active in the community — from musicals and shows to day trips, dances, and favorite restaurants. Sarah continues to help both individuals make their own choices and live as independently as possible.
One of Sarah’s individuals, who has always been difficult to understand, essentially lost her voice during a health crisis. Sarah helped her get seen by specialists and secure vocal chord injections, giving the individual an entirely new voice and a renewed sense of confidence. With her other individual, Sarah has worked to improve awareness of her surroundings, providing prompts and working closely with her care team to reduce falls.
Both individuals have faced significant health changes this year, and Sarah has continued to provide excellent care and strong advocacy throughout. When one individual, who has lived with Sarah for eleven years and has no other family, was hospitalized multiple times and placed in a rehabilitation facility, Sarah visited her several times a week, stayed in constant contact with the full care team, and helped her advocate for her own wants when other team members weren’t hearing her.
With thirty-two years of experience as a DSP, Sarah Caldwell Magwood continues to show what person-centered care looks like in practice — devoted, resourceful, and unwavering in her advocacy, making her a highly deserving nominee for Direct Service Professional of the Year.