The first thing you notice when you first meet DSP (Direct Support Professional) Beatrice Adegbesan is the radiance of her smile — even when she’s wearing a mask, she beams. Beatrice’s smile extends to her eyes and you instantly feel comfortable in her presence.
Providing comfort is what Beatrice does at her full-time DSP position at the Trudeau Center’s Titus group home in Warwick, Rhode Island, and she does it so well! Group home resident Lorna gushed over Beatrice, “She is wonderful, and she may cry when you tell her I said that.” Lorna was right and Beatrice did cry a little when I shared all the kind words people used to describe her as we honor her as our DSP of the Day.
Originally from Nigeria, Beatrice moved to the United States in 1984. Beatrice quickly acclimated to a new world and began her career as a CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant). She instinctively knew that taking care of others was what she was meant to do. Beatrice found her way to the Trudeau Center 10 years ago and has never looked back.
“I love working with people and making a difference in people’s lives. It’s a part of me,” said Beatrice.
A mother of four and grandmother to eight, Beatrice’s support has a familial feel. During a quiet moment at the group home, Beatrice shared a touching story about her love for her job. Years ago, at Titus, Beatrice received an emergency phone call with news that her daughter was going into labor and needed Beatrice at the hospital. Hanging up the phone, Beatrice literally jumped for joy and rushed to find a fellow DSP to cover her shift, then ran to her car in a frenzy of excitement. When Beatrice returned to work a few days later, Mark, who heard her phone call on her last shift, softly asked, “How’s granddaughter?” Beatrice tears up while describing this moment and explains, “They know who takes care of them. Just love them.”
Working as a DSP with people with disabilities can be challenging but Beatrice always finds pockets of joy at work. Program Manager Doddie McShane can’t say enough great things about Beatrice:
“She is a kind, compassionate, and conscientious employee who genuinely cares about each person she supports and has taken the time to know them well. Beatrice can always be relied upon to support the most challenging of situations with ease and calmness while working her hardest to make them better and she always makes them better.”
When Beatrice’s isn’t working, she enjoys reading, bible classes, and spending time with her grandchildren. A woman of many talents, Beatrice received her associate degree in pastry at Johnson & Wales University and is a self-proclaimed African chef. If the smells that were emanating from the group home’s oven are any indication, Titus’s residents must eat incredibly well.
Thanks to employees like Beatrice, the Trudeau Center can fulfill its mission to promote an enhanced quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities. Thank you for all that you do, Beatrice!
