Advocacy

EEDA is the result of the advocacy efforts of parents of children with developmental disabilities. Advocacy is speaking up for what you believe in and requires courage, conviction and long term dedication. Today, EEDA is comprised of advocates at every level; staff, parents, self-advocates, community partners, all working together to further I/DD awareness and secure the rights of every citizen.

Invest in Me Call to Action

The Kinexion Network in alignment with our Provider Associations, the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (NYAII), the Inter Agency Council (IAC) and New York Disability Advocates (NYDA), supports the efforts of the "Invest in Me" campaign. This campaign asks our legislators to support the 3.2% COLA and a $4,000 increase to DSP base salaries in this year’s NYS budget.

We're asking for your help!

Please contact your state official and discuss how this initiative will impact the people we support.

Contact Your State Official

INVEST IN DISABILITY SUPPORT PROVIDERS
COLA - 3.2%

FOR SFY 2025 Due to the inflationary growth that has occurred over the past year, not-for-profit provider agencies’ operating costs have increased accordingly necessitating a 3.2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in the final SFY 25 Budget. This Medicaid rate increase is essential for non-profit provider agencies to maintain operations. Cost increases related to mandated fringe benefits, repairs and maintenance, utilities, food, supplies, transportation, and insurance over the past year has resulted in financial pressure on agencies. Additionally, since the I/DD provider agencies are solely funded by Medicaid, agencies are unable to increase reimbursement for services to compensate for increased costs of operations.

MODIFY HMH PART FF FROM 1.5% TO 3.2% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT TO PROVIDER AGENCY RATES + RESTORE CARE COORDINATION ORGANIZATIONS (CCOS) IN THE COLA
High levels of staff turnover are costing the state’s non-profit providers $100.5M annually. This cost directly hampers funding essential supports and services for New Yorkers with disabilities. The 2024 NYDA survey results reflect staffing data as of January 2024. It is important to note that the OPWDD Strategic plan highlights the need to “improve the recruitment, retention and quality of the Direct Support workforce, and recognizes that “state and voluntary providers continue to face significant staff shortages requiring many to close programs or reduce operations.” The plan cites data from the NCI Staff Stability Survey, which showed a 35.6% turnover rate in the voluntary DSP workforce, a vacancy rate of 17.2% for fulltime positions, and a vacancy rate of 21.3% for part-time positions.

INVEST IN NEW YORKERS WITH I/DD
Non-profit providers that support 85% of New Yorker’s with I/DD have not received the investment from the State to address the decade-long workforce crisis that impacts the quality and availability of services to people with I/DD.

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WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS
Permanent investment in Direct Support Professionals’ (DSP) salaries is essential to recruit and retain staff for the future viability of the field. As highly skilled professionals dedicated to the essential care of individuals with I/DD, DSPs take on numerous critical responsibilities to uplift the safety, productivity, and well-being of the entire I/DD community. DSPs are responsible for providing important daily support such as first aid & CPR, administering medication, meal preparation or transport facilitation, as well as, attending to the comprehensive social, emotional, & psychological needs of those they support. Whether it’s teaching personal care skills and money management or directing crisis de-escalation, DSPs are required to be well trained, skilled, and constantly prepared for all the essential life support services their profession demands. Through their fundamental support and services, DSPs are integral pillars of support for New York’s I/DD community and are crucial in ensuring that over 130,000 New Yorkers with I/DD can live their highest quality of life.

INVESTING IN DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS (S4127/A5268)

The Budget must include the establishment of a new Direct Support Wage Enhancement (DSWE) as part of the SFY 2025 New York State budget. Through the proposed DSWE, provider agencies would receive an annual funding allocation of $4,000 per eligible employee to be used for the purpose of enhancing the hourly rate of pay for low-paid staff who have direct care/support responsibilities for individuals with I/DD.

Contact Your State Official

The proposed $4,000 increase equates to approximately $2.00/hour for a full-time employee. This investment in the critical workforce is essential to recruiting and retaining staff to work for non-profit provider agencies that support people with I/DD. Over the past two years, OPWDD has provided significant increases to their own DSPs workforce who provide the same supports and services to the same population. Current OPWDD employed DSPs make up to $10/per hour more for the same job. Therefore, the inclusion of the DSWE is critical to providing an equitable increase to employees who are providing the same services to the majority of people with I/DD in New York State.

Information provided by New York Disability Advocates.

Download NYDA Flyer

Rainbow Alliance

A safe space for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and their Allies to engage in open dialogue and to promote tolerance and acceptance within our community.