Report: Waitlist long for services aiding individuals with disabilities

(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania is home to hundreds of Community Participation Support, or CPS, programs meant to assist those living with intellectual disabilities and autism to lead fuller lives and access the same opportunities many others have.

A new report from the Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, or PAR, surveyed about 129 programs, nearly a fifth of those in existence. They found that more than half are operating with hidden waiting lists, amounting to 725 people.

These lists consist of people who have received the necessary waivers to access or increase programming designed to help them, but the organizations who provide those services don’t have the capacity to serve them. In some cases, the waiting list exceeds the people being served.

The skills developed through these services are intended to help individuals find employment and other meaningful sources of community engagement.

PAR president and CEO Mark Davis said they commissioned the survey in part to help inform state legislators of the need during the budget making process.

He called it a “stark reminder of the enormous task we confront” and said, “The stress for families and these individuals is just unacceptable.”

The report cited the workforce shortage as one of the largest contributors to the mismatch between supply and demand. Of all direct support professional positions in the state, 22% are currently vacant. Meanwhile, the majority of waitlisted people are new referrals.

Further adding to the pressure is that about 42% of people waiting for help need high levels of support. PAR gives the need for 1:1 or 2:1 staffing as a common situation for such individuals

“Our providers are under enormous strain due to the crushing shortage of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and insufficient funding,” Davis said.

Still, he says they have seen forward momentum, the result of an increase in funding from the last legislative budget.

Waivers for CPS are administered by the Department of Human Services through its home and community based services program. The governor’s third proposed budget includes a $21 million increase for direct care worker wages.

“Addressing workforce shortages and increasing funding for CPS programs are essential steps to ensure that individuals approved for waiver services can access the support they need to thrive in their communities,” said Davis.