TO: NDSC Members and Affiliated Parent Groups

FROM: Susan Goodman, Director
Governmental Affairs

DATE: May 15, 2007

NDSC ACTION ALERT!
Tell your House of Representative Member to
Co-sponsor Direct Support Professionals Act

In our April 9, 2007 Newsline we alerted members about the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act (H.R. 1279). We rely on direct support workers to help our sons and daughters live in the community and manage daily life. However, direct support workers in many places are barely paid a livable wage (often below the federal poverty level) and the turnover rate is very high.

This has a huge impact on the quality of services our children need to live as independently as possible!

Thanks to the efforts of NDSC and other advocates from all over the country, H.R. 1279 has already gained 26 co-sponsors since being introduced in the 110th Congress. That is an average of 13 co-sponsors a month since the bill was introduced March 1, 2007! To see a copy of this bill and its co-sponsors, go to http://thomas.loc.gov and type in H.R. 1279.

Please contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and ask him or her to co-sponsor this bill. The reason this action is requested now is because a “Dear Colleague” letter is being sent to all 435 members from its lead sponsors, Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Lee Terry (R-NE), urging each Representative to join the bill as a co-sponsor. To get the full impact of this letter, we need to let our House members know how important this issue is to our children’s opportunity to live independently.

Below is a sample letter published in the April Newsline. Feel free to personalize it. Remember, our elected representatives care most about what their constituents (the voters) think. To find out the name of your Representative, go to www.congress.org and type in your zip code.
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Sample E-mail (Request to co-sponsor):
I write to urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 1279, critical legislation intended to stabilize the workforce providing long-term daily supports to Americans with disabilities.

Direct support professionals assist millions of people with disabilities of all ages living, working and volunteering in their communities. Individuals with disabilities build close, trusted relationships with these people who are dedicated to helping them live as independently as possible.
Sadly, inadequate wages have led to high turnover and growing vacancies. As many as 75 percent of all these support positions turn over each year because of poor wages and high job demands while hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities are waiting for services. Because of the vital role these workers play, coupled with the high turnover rate and growing vacancies, people with disabilities lives are significantly at-risk.

The median wage for these workers is just $8.86 an hour - well below the median wage for all U.S. workers and comparable workers in the public sector. Even pet groomers and fast food workers frequently earn more and get steadier raises than the workers supporting people with disabilities

I ask you to help ensure that people with disabilities get the quality, consistent supports they deserve by co-sponsoring H.R. 1279, the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act of 2007. This bill, introduced by Representatives Lois Capps (D- CA) and Lee Terry (R-NE) will provide states with the necessary funds to give private direct support workers assisting people with disabilities more appropriate compensation.

Please send a copy of your communication to Susang1961@aol.com .