For decades, The New York State Legislature has not made adequate investments to sustain the essential programs and services people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) rely on. This systemic underfunding has driven us into a critical staffing crisis and eroded the core of New York's system of supports for its citizens with I/DD. Within their One-House Budget Bills we are calling on the NYS Legislature for:

• Investment in I/DD services through a 7.8% Medicaid rate increase to proactively invest in non-profit provider agencies. A 2.1% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) was included within the Governor's Executive Budget, but we need legislators to make up the difference.
• Creation of a Wage Commission to examine the roles and responsibilities of human service workers and establish fair, sustainable compensation standards commensurate with that work.
• Move the responsibility and authority for rate setting back to OPWDD to ensure appropriate and timely funding.
   

These are more than just budget requests, they are a commitment to providing the stable care system that people with I/DD deserve.