Legislative Activities Supporting Direct Support Professionals will Benefit Californians with Developmental Disabilities

By Jim Frazier, Public Policy Director, The Arc / UCP California Collaboration

Last week, AB 1914, authored by Assembly Member Tim Grayson, received a unanimous vote of support from the members of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education and will be heard next in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. AB 1914 would develop a Community College Model certification program that provides education and training curriculum for Direct Support Professionals to gain skills so that they can receive higher pay based on different levels of certification. On behalf of The Arc / UCP California Collaboration, we are grateful to Assembly Member Grayson for being a champion for the development disability community, and the very important role of DSPs on delivering services and support so people with disabilities can live full and productive lives.

As a reminder, Senate Budget SubCommittee #3 on Health and Human Services is scheduled for Thursday, March 21. We are asking that all disability rights advocates, including individuals with developmental disabilities, parents and caregivers, and anyone who provides support services to people with disabilities show up at the Capitol in Sacramento to testify. We need to amplify that we are asking the committee members to REJECT the Governor’s proposed $1 billion in cut to funding for disability services and supports.

If you are not able to attend, here are two ways you can show support:

1. SHARE YOUR STORY WITH A VIDEO RECORDING: Click HERE to record a short message to the Governor and your elected officials letting them know that this budget cut will prevent people from accessing services and impact their quality of life.
2. IN ONE-CLICK, EMAIL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS THROUGH OUR ACTION ALERT. Click HERE to send an email.

It’s critical that our community demonstrate our opposition to this cut by showing up in-person to the hearing, recording a video, or sending an email and sharing how this delayed investment will impact access to vital services and supports for 458,000 Californians with disabilities, their families and the workforce.