Thomas "Tom" Bandelow has worked as a direct support professional at Hope Community Resources, Inc. for 28 years. He was honored as with the Alaska DSP of the Year award by a national organization.
ANCOR, a national association for community-based disability service providers, has announced that Thomas "Tom" Bandelow, a direct support professional at Hope Community Resources, Inc. has been named the recipient of the 2026 Alaska DSP of the Year award. Tom is part of the largest-ever class of DSP of the Year honorees, with 57 outstanding professionals being chosen from a record-breaking 544 nominations from around the country.
For more than 28 years, Tom has provided outstanding direct support to Alaskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, often remaining a steady presence in the lives of the same individuals for a decade or more. That continuity reinforces trust and security-but never complacency.
Those who know Tom say it best: He provides "care, dignity, and advocacy beyond expectations," is "a rare individual who leads by example," and "brings consistency, stability, and genuine warmth."
Bandelow and the other 2026 honorees were recognized during an awards ceremony on April 23.
