Direct Support Personnel press for a pay increase

As estimated 27,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities live and learn in community-based settings in Illinois. But the trained Direct Support Personnel (DSPs) who care for these vulnerable individuals every day—feeding, clothing and teaching them—struggle with poverty-level wages caused by the state's failure to raise reimbursement rates for their nonprofit agency employers.

Illinois DSPs have a powerful new campaign to raise wages from the current average of $9.35 per hour. Senate Bill 2952 (Sen. Steans) and House Bill 5931 (Rep. Gabel) would create a $15 starting wage for DSPs who support individuals with developmental disabilities in community settings.

Watch and share this video featuring AFSCME members Audrey Lake and Shekeira Giddens and ask your legislator to support SB 2952 and HB 5931.