THE COMMUNITY SYSTEM IN CRISIS

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Illinois Made a Promise - It’s Time to Keep It

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families rely on Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) every day. DSPs help people with IDD live safely, independently and with dignity.

They Deserve More’s priorities this session: Stabilize DSP wages, staffing and services for people with IDD

Support Governor’s proposed $0.60/hour DSP wage increase

  • The state-commissioned Guidehouse Rate Study recommends DSP wages be at least 150% of minimum wage

  • A $1.20/hour increase will achieve the 150% goal statewide

We appreciate that the Governor’s Administration has committed to fully implementing the Guidehouse wage recommendation:

  • Increasing DSP wages $0.60/hour in proposed FY2027 budget

  • Pledging to propose remaining $0.60/hour increase in FY2028

IDD providers need flexibility in how they can apply wage increases--to best support DSP hiring, retention and staffing.

Ensure no cuts to services in “zero-hour” model

The proposed budget transitions to a “zero-hour” model to fund DSP staffing in group homes, known as CILAs.

They Deserve More supports zero-hour. This model funds CILA staffing 24/7 and maintains DSP service hours in the system.

We urge the state to keep at-home day programming (known as “37U”) funded in this transition.

It’s imperative to avoid implementing zero-hour in a way that cuts services now or in the future.