Supporting People Who Support People With Disabilities!

Last week was a nationally designated week to recognize some really important and committed people. These people are called Direct Support Professionals and they do just that. They are the people who exist in every community providing necessary and real supports to people with developmental disabilities. Some of the people they support are very independent and need limited assistance. Others are in much greater need of supports for very basic needs relative to bathing, communications and all levels of personal care. Some of these Direct Support Professionals are in the state workforce and others work as employees of non-profit organizations who provide these services to the state as contract agencies. These folks deserve the recognition and our respect for the great job they do.

There is widespread recognition by the public, by government and very importantly by the courts, that people with all kinds of disabilities can and should be able to live as independently as possible in the community. This recognition has come through struggles by individuals and families over many years and even though those struggles aren't completely over, supporting people in communities in an inclusive manner is the norm. It couldn't happen without people willing to be part of this important support infrastructure.

A recognition week is nice and is generally accompanied by things like proclamations, special events, donuts, lunches and dinners. Thanks and awards are given sincerely by administrators and families and in some cases by the people receiving the supports. But there is plenty more that can be done relative to respect and recognition.

The reality is that many of these employees are on the lowest rung on the salary schedule. They work long hours with changing schedules, changing environments and rules. They become the lifeline for people they support. They become family and friends. It is no secret that there is substantial disparity between the pay for the same job of the state workforce and the private non profit providers and that needs to be rectified. But the really terrible truth is that many in the private sector are paid just above $10 or $11 per hour. This is because these services and supports are paid for by NYS through Medicaid rates that they send to the non profits. These rates don't allow for the $15/hr that the Governor of NYS is currently promoting in his call for economic justice.

If the Governor truly believes in economic justice, he should be the first to advocate for and provide the funding that would allow Direct Support Professionals to be paid a minimum of $15/hr with all of the necessary benefits. It will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars but economic justice demands it. The people supported and the people supporting them deserve it.

A final thought on respect. The words Direct Support Professional say something and mean something. They are very clear. People who hire and support these people have to stop using lazy and disrespectful acronyms to define them. DSPs doesn't cut it and in fact helps to dilute the importance of the discussion about the importance of these employees. They are Direct Support Professionals and it isn't hard to use or type the words. Using the words educates and allows people to envision who these people are and what they do. Using the acronym allows and encourages politicians and the public to use the acronym and to understand less.

Finally, for whatever it's worth, I just want to add my thanks to all of those people who are out there, everyday, helping people to be as independent as possible and to be included in their communities with dignity and respect.