Gary Blumenthal’s Post

We need meaningful investments in disability services to support the countless adults and children who depend on them to live meaningful fulfilling lives. Let’s urge legislators to commit to making a difference in people’s lives by supporting a true 3.2% Cost of Living Adjustment and Direct Support Wage Enhancement. Share and re-tweet with your story and reasons why decision-makers need to act by investing in I/DD in the upcoming budget. #investinme #NYDADayOfAction

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Editorial Board for publishing this extremely helpful article! We encourage you to take a few minutes to read through this because it concisely explains what the recently passed budget means for those with ID/A on the waiting list as well as DSP wages. Key points within the article include: 📜 It makes significant investments to eliminate the state's 6,000-person-long emergency wait list over the course of the next five years. 💰 The first pool of $74.8 million will immediately provide support waivers for 1,500 people. 📊 Another combined $280 million in state and federal funds will be used to boost reimbursement rates for an effective 7% increase to DSP wages. We advocated for 12% but 7% is a solid starting point for 2024-25. 🏆 In total, this represents the largest investment in disability services and DSP wages in the commonwealth’s history and should be celebrated as such, but more work is still to be done to stabilize everything in the coming years. Ruth E Siegfried Gary Blumenthal Aaron Borchert The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services The Provider Alliance TPA

Today's Pittsburgh Post Gazette acknowledges the progress made under Governor Shapiro's leadership for the Intellectual Disability/Autism community but emphasizes that there is still significant work ahead. The Administration is gearing up to plan next year's FY 25/26 Budget, with a commitment from Governor Shapiro to prioritize the needs of the ID/A community. Families, DSPs, advocates, and providers eagerly anticipate collaborating with the General Assembly and the Shapiro Administration to secure a stable ID/A system, increase DSP wages, and fully serve the 6000-person Emergency Waiting List with the needed services and supports these families in crisis are eligible and qualified to receive. Read more about this crucial issue here: https://lnkd.in/eFWXKV8y

We are already working towards next Legislative Session as this process is year-round. The 2024 Session was successful in part because our review of the services needed for our vulnerable population aligned with the goals of the Governor and Legislature. Given inflation, continued yearly minimum wage increases, the removal of families from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ (APD) Waiting List, among others factors, we will likely need to request another rate increase to maintain capacity and expand services to support families of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We will once again conduct a survey this fall to determine the appropriate needed recommended rate increase for providers. Other topics requiring our advocacy efforts are affordable housing, vocational rehabilitation, transportation, and any other relevant family concerns as these present as challenges to those with I/DD.

Sharing an advocacy webinar from Achieva: Join us for this webinar on Thursday, May 9 from 6-7pm to learn about the details of Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget to serve and support people with intellectual disabilities and autism. We’ll cover the impact this may have on the waiver waiting list, Direct Support Professional wages, and ways you can help make this proposal a reality! We are not crying wolf! This landmark budget Governor Shapiro proposed stands to serve and support more people with intellectual disabilities and autism than ever before. This will make a dent in the waiver waiting list and give direct support professionals (DSPs) a much needed wage increase. We need you and your help in reaching out to legislators to make sure the money proposed by the governor remains intact. Presenters: Mary Hartley and Melissa Skiffen Discussion Points - Governor's Budget Details - The Why, This is THE Year - How to Reach Your Representatives and Raise Your Voice - Call to Action: Share your Story To RSVP click here: t.ly/EUlj4. #Achieva #AdvocacyWebinar #Support #RaiseYourVoice #CalltoAction #ShareYourStory

🗳️NEW RESEARCH 🗳️ Looking to the Future: Disabled Representation in the 2024 - 2029 Parliament We are today publishing research that shows that there are predicted to be just nine disabled MPs in the next Parliament. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e5HRkztV #DisabledRepresentation

Last weekend lawmakers finalized the budget for SFY 2025. In it, they included a 2.84% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) which will provide some funding to support programs and staff wages. Although this falls short of our ask for a 3.2% COLA and $4000 Direct Support Wage Enhancement (DSWE) for workers, it is progress and the result of our tireless advocacy efforts. This is why we must continue calling out for sustainable funding to support the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Let's continue working together to have a positive impact on people's lives. #carecantwait #stayalert #nysbudget #supportstaff #directcare #disabiltypride

Learning Disability England members are preparing for this year's General Election by developing a Good Lives Manifesto and they want to know what you think about the topics they think are important. You can watch Gary from LDE talking about the project here: https://loom.ly/QcbFq7k Let them know what you think via a survey: https://loom.ly/7a1L18E

Learn more about the new #Section504 #disabilityrights rule just finalized by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the advances it will bring to ##healthequity for people with disabilities at this 5/28 webinar

Children’s Disability Services are in crisis. Professional bodies representing key health and social care professionals are deeply concerned about the flawed rollout of Progressing Disability Services (PDS). Inconsistent management, inadequate staffing, and poor clinical governance are putting children and families at risk. Despite repeated warnings and calls for meaningful engagement, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health have failed to implement critical changes. The resignation of parent representatives from the PDS national steering group underscores the urgent need for action. How many times must parents and professional bodies openly declare these failures before they are heard? Children deserve safe, effective, and timely interventions. The systemic failures and lack of accountability in PDS demand immediate, decisive action. The well-being of children and families is at stake. #ChildrensDisabilityServices #CDNT #PDSCrisis #DisabilityServices #HSEAccountability #ClinicalGovernance #DisabilityRights