Ed's Newsletter - "IT'S TIME FOR ILLINOIS TO GET ITS I/DD PRIORITIES STRAIGHT!"

McMANUS CONSULTING

Disability Services

847.256.0456, mcmanus006@gmail.com, Facebook, LinkedIn

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Ed’s Newsletter

No. 287 – March 24, 2023

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I KNOW, I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD: DDD DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE $$ . . .

It’s official!?The They Deserve More coalition is moving forward to advocate with State legislators for a $4 per hour wage increase for the dedicated DSPs who care for people with disabilities.

Once again, it is so important that legislators hear from YOU -- their constituents -- about why this increase is critically needed.

2 identical bills, HB3569 and SB2026, provide an opportunity for you to share a specific ask with your legislators. The bills authorize the state to add $78.5M to what is already in the Governor’s announced budget to support people with IDD.

Please go to www.theydeservemore.com and click on Take Action to send emails to your state senator and state representative.?(When you give us your address, our system identifies who your senator and rep are.)

(This newsletter is a rewrite of the fact sheet on the website.)

DHS HIRED GUIDEHOUSE TO ADVISE IT, BUT IT’S NOT TAKING THEIR ADVICE . . .

Governor Pritzker’s budget proposal for FY24 earmarks $211M to support people with I/DD,?but only $63.1M of that is NEW money for community agencies that provide residential and day services to our people.?And this doesn’t cover changes in the job market, yearly minimum wage increases, or inflation.

DSPs are leaving for jobs that pay more to support their families.

The state-commissioned Guidehouse Rate Study recommends that DSP wages should be 150% of minimum wage.?This equates to a $4 per hour increase in wages.?The Governor's proposal supports only a $1.50 increase.

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WHAT IS THE I/DD COMMUNITY SEEKING IN FY24? . . .

SB2026 and HB3569 would authorize $141.6M needed to provide the $4 per hour DSP wage increase for six months, effective next January.

So, the ask is $78.5M to add to the $63.1 already in the budget.

As They Deserve More says, “It’s time to get our priorities straight in Illinois”!

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WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE I/DD SYSTEM? . . .

It's very fragile.

More than 12,400 people with disabilities remain on the PUNS wait list, not receiving any services.

The State is moving 123 residents from the Choate state institution to the community system - where will they go?

Community agencies are forced to turn away new residents for lack of staff.

The judge overseeing the Ligas consent decree has declared the State out of compliance with the decree.

Meanwhile, the State is seeking to cut DSP hours - nearly 3.8 million of them! That's nearly 1,800 full time staff who would be cut.

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HELP!!! . . .

HB3569, drafted by IARF and introduced by Rep. Mussman, is pending in the Appropriations-Health & Human Services Committee.

SB2026, introduced by Sen. Murphy, is awaiting committee assignment.

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McManus Consulting was founded in 2011 by Ed McManus, who was an administrator with the IL Div. of Developmental Disabilities for 18 years, and before that a Cook County assistant state's attorney and a Chicago Tribune reporter/editor. The practice provides consultation to many disability agencies, as well as law firms and families.?Ed's Newsletter circulates statewide to 2,600 readers.