April 5, 2024
March 21st was World Down Syndrome Day, and Tuesday was Autism World Acceptance Day.
Wednesday, in the cavernous well of the New York State Legislative Office Building, hundreds of people with disabilities, their families, and the people and agencies that support them, called out in thunderous unity for recognition and for resources. Loudest among them were Direct Support Professionals and families.
DSPs stand as unsung heroes, offering unwavering support to individuals with disabilities. However, despite their invaluable contributions, the DSP workforce remains severely undervalued economically, reflecting broader societal attitudes towards disability and discrimination. This is also becoming true for the nonprofit sector that employs and supports the people who support the people.
The governor’s budget offers a 1.5% cost of living adjustment. The Senate and the Assembly offer a 3.2% cost of living adjustment, or COLA, but with significant restrictions on how the funds may be used.
Let’s be clear. The COLA is in fact a trend in the Medicaid rates paid to agencies where DSPs work. In the 10 years prior to the current administration, there were virtually no investments in the nonprofit system of care and support. In recent years there have been investments totaling only 10%.
That is appreciated, but it is still 20% behind inflation over the last 12 years.
20% behind is a big number. It is not sustainable. Even without rate trends, nonprofits supporting people with IDD did the right thing and gave their staff wage increases whenever they could afford it. A couple of years ago, when a 5.4% COLA was (finally) provided, non-profit agencies provided, on average, a 7.2% increase to their frontline staff.
That’s what I call a commitment to the mission.
But agencies can’t do it alone. We must have increases in rates that at least begin to catch up with inflation, enabling them to get closer to competitive compensation, while also using COLA funds to pay essential bills like healthcare premiums, rent, food, and transportation, not to mention the vitally important staff who work behind the scenes. The accountants, the IT staff, the HR team members, and the maintenance staff, among many others.
These staff are our most valuable asset. Policymakers must enact legislation that mandates fair wages for DSPs and the Front-Line Workforce, ensuring that their contributions are duly recognized and compensated. This includes a $4,000 Direct Support Wage Enhancement. The same policymakers must recognize and adequately fund the extraordinary work and value that non-profit provider agencies bring to the table. In turn, provider agencies must prioritize investments in training, professional development, and workplace accommodations to support the Front-Line Workforce in their crucial roles.
According to former Senator Tom Harkin, a pioneer in disability rights and a champion for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “The economic undervaluing of DSPs reflects a larger societal disregard for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities. It is imperative that we recognize and rectify this injustice.”
Senator Harkin said it best, but undervaluing the work of the non-profits who support the people who do the work eventually undervalues the people who need the support.
We can and must do better.
Marco Damiani
Chief Executive Officer at AHRC NYC
