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California’s support system for children and adults with developmental disabilities is being threatened. Without financial support from Congress, their safety net of support services will face major cuts, leaving individuals with disabilities and their families without needed support during and after the COVID-19 public health crisis.
The next few weeks are critical as Congress negotiates the next coronavirus relief bill—people with disabilities, their families, and the workforce that supports them can’t be left behind!
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation in May that includes many of our top asks. Now the U.S. Senate must act!
Your Senators need to hear from you so that the following provisions are seen as a priority and remain in the bill that ultimately passes both houses of Congress:
- Dedicated funding for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). These funds are necessary to serve people with disabilities in their homes and communities and will provide better wages and support for the direct support professional (DSP) workforce. Access to HCBS will limit the risk of people with disabilities being put in institutions.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) for direct support professionals. This is urgently needed to protect the health and safety of this critical workforce. DSPs must be designated as essential workers so that they can get access to the PPE and medical supplies they need.
- Paid leave for all caregivers. As more people with disabilities lose their usual sources of care, family caregivers are scrambling and need access to paid leave and sick days to help their loved ones. All family caregivers should be included in the emergency paid leave provisions.
- Economic impact payments for all people with disabilities. Stimulus payments should be available to everyone, including adults with disabilities who are claimed as dependents.