April 25, 2024 - Pittsburgh, PA
Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A), caregivers, and advocates and hear how the proposed funding in the Governor's 2024-25 budget will increase access and support for home and community-based services by increasing wages for direct support professionals and end Pennsylvania's emergency waiting list for ID/A services. Governor Shapiro heard firsthand from Achieva staff, those they serve, and their families about the dire need for more direct support professionals and more services for the ID/A community. At Achieva alone, there are 100 vacant positions for direct support professionals - all of them desperately needed workers to help provide everyday services and quality of life care to the ID/A community. Across the Commonwealth, there is an 18% vacancy rate, which translates to a shortage of about 10,000 direct support professionals. "We have a responsibility to the 60,000 Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism to deliver services for them and to ensure the dedicated direct support professionals who work hard to support the ID/A community are compensated," said Governor Josh Shapiro. "The Commonwealth currently has a shortage of 10,000 direct support professionals across Pennsylvania - and that's because we don't pay them enough. This year, my budget makes a historic investment - nearly half a billion dollars from state and federal funding - to pay those who are caring for some of our vulnerable neighbors a higher wage, to attract more people to this noble profession, and ultimately, to deliver more services to those who need them."List of Speakers:Stephen Suroviec, President and CEO of AchievaSenator Jay CostaRepresentative Aerion AbneyErin GrimesSierra & Christy WechtenhiserRepresentative Jessica BenhamGovernor Josh Shapiro
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