Parents Helping Parents
Keep Critical Services for People with Disabilities!

 

Urge Legislators to Preserve $1 Billion Funding Increase for Disability Services

Decades of underfunding for disability services has weakened the direct support workforce serving 458,000 people with disabilities and their families in California. Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are facing increased obstacles to receiving services due to critical staffing shortages. Waitlists for housing and other programs continue to grow.

Understanding the urgency to stabilize the disability services system, state leaders approved a $1 billion funding increase for disability services to take effect on July 1, 2024.

However, Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed to delay this investment in critical supports and services for Californians with developmental disabilities. Without this funding, individuals with disabilities will continue to live in crisis, families will struggle to receive adequate regional center services, and the severe workforce crisis of direct support professionals will grow.

Keeping the $1 billion funding increase originally planned this year would:

  • Address the acute workforce crisis by offering competitive wages to attract and retain direct support professionals who deliver vital, hands-on services and support to people with disabilities.
  • Improve access to housing, transportation, individualized programs, and desperately needed respite services for parents, families, and most importantly, the people benefitting from support.

Californians with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them deserve a chance to live full and equitable lives.

SEND A LETTER below to your Representatives, urging them to reject the Governor's proposal & make the $1 billion investment this year!

 

Campaign created by Parents Helping Parents in partnership with the Association of Regional Center Agencies and Family Voices of California. Content adapted from the Lanterman Coalition.

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Your Information
Dear Representative,

Sincerely, [Your information here]