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Let's value those who serve the disabled; Guest column

Capital - 2/22/2018

As a service provider who supports people with intellectual and development disabilities, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region works with over 300 people in Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore who need a skilled service provider to help them maintain a healthy quality of life.

We've been fortunate to maintain passionate professionals who have shown their dedication to The Arc, despite their low wages.

Candy Pinkard has been with The Arc for nearly 20 years. Pinkard, 48, is devoted to the person she cares for, but her wage rate, even with her full-time status with The Arc, isn't enough to cover her living expenses. She supplements her income by picking up other shifts, sometimes working 65 hours in a week. Pinkard can't imagine the financial struggle of her colleagues who have to support families.

Keawan Pittman, 31, works multiple shifts to support his wife and three children. On any given day, Pittman will work from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., then head straight to his second job working 2:30 to 10 p.m. Often, he'll pick up an additional 20 hours of overtime to add to his two shifts.

These service providers, or DSPs, are the backbone for people with disabilities. They assist with personal care and provide transportation and individualized support. They are personal coaches and advocates and carry the burden of worry for those they serve, in the same way that others worry about their own families.

We at The Arc know that these skilled professionals should be honored with higher wages. Yet, due to state budget reimbursement limitations, we aren't able to do more. In spite of their passion for caring for people with disabilities, many are earning just above minimum wage and are struggling with the need for financial security.

As part of the Minimum Wage Act of 2014, the General Assembly mandated an increase in funding for community-based developmental disability services by 3.5 percent each fiscal year from 2016 to 2019. This increase for the four years, plus the 4 percent increase originally budgeted mid-year in fiscal 2015, would have kept the Developmental Disabilities Administration reimbursement rate for direct support professionals at least 30 percent above the minimum wage every year until fiscal 2019.

The governor's budget, however, is falling short of the funding mandate. State reimbursements for direct service wages are the lowest they have ever been in relation to the minimum wage.

Every year for the last three years, The Arc has testified before policymakers, advocating for the governor to maintain the reimbursement increase of 3.5 percent. This year we are strongly advocating for the restoration of the 3.5 percent funding mandate.

Lower reimbursement rates also impact the process of attracting and retaining new skilled workers. Our DSPs are working double-time, and we're concerned about burnout. Potential candidates are attracted to opportunities with fast-food chains or in retail. These jobs pay more than The Arc can offer, aren't as strenuous and do not have the extensive requirements.

Despite the falling reimbursement rates, we've worked hard to maintain a significant spread between the wages we pay and the minimum wage. But the continued erosion of reimbursement rates will make it impossible for us to keep our DSPs from becoming a minimum-wage workforce.

Today, The Arc is participating in Development Disabilities Day at the legislature, which raises awareness to advance the movement for people with intellectual and development disabilities.

We need to let policymakers understand the value DSPs provide. Imagine the life of persons with disabilities who do not receive the care they need. The need for DSPs will never cease, so we must be able to provide a decent wage to attract and maintain these passionate and skilled workers.

Jonathon Rondeau is the CEO of The ARC Central Chesapeake Region. Contract him at jrondeau@thearcccr.org.

Credit: Jonathon Rondeau - Jonathon Rondeau is the CEO of The ARC Central Chesapeake Region. Contract him at jrondeau@thearcccr.org.

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