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YAI's Zerega Day Habilitation in the Bronx got a special visit from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who toured there recently and lent her support toward advocating for better pay and increased federal funding for intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) services.
Ocasio-Cortez spent her morning at the day program talking to people we support and met with several Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who spoke about their struggles to make ends meet working minimum wage.
“DSPs are the backbone of our organization, so my hope is that AOC will continue to join forces with other members of Congress to ensure that DSPs are paid what they are worth because it is not minimum wage,” said Yvonne Patrick, Bronx Regional Director.
As it currently stands, Fair Pay for Home Care completely excludes staff in the I/DD workforce. This is particularly concerning for agencies like YAI that are currently facing an unprecedented labor crisis and do not have enough workers to fully staff all of our programs.
DSPs who spoke with Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez expressed their frustrations about not making a livable wage and continually having to work overtime just to keep afloat.
“No person should have to rely on overtime every single week to make ends meet,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “The question is not how little can you be paid, but recognizing the value of your work.”
“YAI will continue advocating at all levels of government to get our staff what they need, and we know the Congresswoman will be one of our strongest allies in the fights ahead,” said Scott Karolidis, Director of Government Relations.
If you live in New York State, there's still time to write to your representative demanding adequate funding for services for people with disabilities. Have your voice heard!