Caretakers for people with disabilities say they?ve reached a crisis and cannot live off the dismal wages they are earning.
“I spoke with a DSP [direct support professional] who trains people with disabilities to work as greeters at Home Depot and fast-food restaurants, and they end up earning more than he does,” said Denise Patton-Pace, spokeswoman for the American Network of Community Options and Resources, a nonprofit representing providers.
The average U.S. worker makes about $11.87 an hour, while the average DSP makes about $8.68 an hour, according to Patton-Pace.
“They just can?t make it on these wages,” said Pat Owens, spokeswoman for the Athelas Institute, a nonprofit in Columbia, which is funded by the state to provide residential and employment support to individuals with developmental disabilities.
“The turnover rate [for caregivers] has reached about 86 percent.”
DSPs work primarily through nonprofit organizations and private providers to help people with disabilities live in a residential setting, find employment and perform daily tasks such as cooking and shopping for groceries, said Cliff Poetz, vice president of the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals.
“For so long, [caretakers] haven?t received good pay and have to work two or three jobs,” he said.
A bill before the U.S. House of Representatives would give states increased federal Medicaid funding for five years, provided that more state funding would be available at the end of that period, Patton-Pace said.
“When you?re talking about nonprofits and health care, there?s not a lot of money left for wages.”
Funding barely provides DSPs with minimum wage, but their services are greatly needed, especially with an increase in autism diagnoses, said Owens, who added that “one in 166 individuals are given a diagnosis of autism, and there are programs in schools for them. But children and teenagers will age out.”
Hundreds of people from about 40 states rallied on Capitol Hill recently to support the legislation that would increase federal funding for DSPs.
“The bill has almost 90 co-sponsors now,” Patton-Pace said. “DSPs value the work they do and what they get back from people with disabilities, which is largely unconditional love.”
