Stacy Riede
Family Caregiver
4 Years — 20 Years as a DSP
Stacy Riede is the mother everyone wishes they had. Her tireless dedication to supporting her son reflects twenty years of experience as a DSP and an unwavering commitment to fighting for the best possible care and support for him. Her son requires 24-hour line-of-sight supervision and gets up frequently through the night, and he bangs his head when he feels unheard or frustrated — Stacy stays close by at all times to keep him safe.
Knowing that her son doesn’t tolerate a lot of medical or physical interaction, Stacy found a clinic specific to the syndrome he has where he is seen by a panel of doctors familiar with his specific needs and abilities, ensuring he receives the best possible care. Her son also loves attending Continuum’s 1:1 day program, but when staffing availability fell short of what he needed, Stacy didn’t wait for a solution to come to her — she worked directly with his behaviorist to research alternative programs where he could split his time, ultimately finding one that could help fill the gap.
Stacy’s advocacy for her son runs through everything she does, from securing specialized medical care to problem-solving around program availability, always with his safety, comfort, and quality of life at the center of every decision.
With twenty years of experience as a DSP, Stacy Riede continues to show what person-centered care looks like in practice — tireless, resourceful, and rooted in genuine love for the person she supports, making her a highly deserving nominee for Direct Service Professional of the Year.