(The Center Square) – Pennsylvanians living with intellectual disabilities and autism often wait months or even years for the services they need.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and Secretary of the Department of Human Services Val Arkoosh say the state has made huge strides in cutting down on the waitlist and expanding services. They visited ARC Human Services in Washington County to discuss their progress.
In addition to reducing the adult emergency waitlist by 28% over the past year, the administration highlighted improvements for direct service professionals, or DSPs, who received a 6% pay bump to $17.85 an hour.
“The waitlist is shrinking, services are expanding, and DSPs are getting the wages they deserve,” said Arkoosh. “This is about dignity, independence, and opportunity – and we’re committed to continuing this progress.”
DSPs are among a wide range of professions in which staffing shortages are stressing an already overtaxed system. Shapiro and state legislators have worked to incentivize people to take up the mantle through wage increases. The result has been a drop to 14% vacancy in the field, the lowest level since 2015. That’s still far higher than the state average, with many opting for easier, higher paying service jobs.
“Direct Support Professionals are the very beating heart of everything we do at ARC Human Services,” said Ed Picchiarini, the organization’s CEO. “By tying raises to credentialed training, we’re building a more skilled, stable workforce that ensures better support for the people we serve.”
The people they serve are often eager to serve within the community but may need a little help getting there. Father Mike Smith spoke about the impact being able to access ARC would have for his daughter.
“You know, we say in my family, really, the greatest days of our lives were the day Sydney was born and then the day that she was accepted into college. And then the other greatest day—you were instrumental in providing to us—it’s the day that we came off of the emergency waiting list, which was just a couple of days ago,” said Smith. “That means for us, for our daughter—that ensures the opportunity for her to go out and work, to give back, to volunteer.”
Even with progress made, there are thousands still waiting. Advocates for those living with disabilities worry that federal budget cuts will create more obstacles toward getting the help they need. Many access programs like those highlighted through waivers provided by Medicaid.
Such services foster independent living, keeping many individuals off the streets and out of institutions.
According to the Pennsylvania Waiting List Campaign, within state institutions, the cost for care exceeds $600,000 annually per person. Using home and community waiver services costs an average of just less than $120,000 per person. Through waivers, the state serves more than 41,000 individuals, with only 435 currently requiring institutionalization.
Another key factor for independence is opportunities for employment, which the state has aimed to expand through job placement services and student employment programs.
“People often underestimate what people with disabilities are capable of – but we’re different here in Pennsylvania because we know that people with disabilities make our communities stronger,” said Shapiro. “That’s why I’ve been so focused on making sure Pennsylvanians with disabilities have the resources they need to succeed and thrive – and to live their lives on their own terms.”
