Direct Support Professionals Campaign

During the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly, The Arc of Indiana will work to increase wages for direct support professionals (DSPs).

Nearly 18,000 DSPs in Indiana provide critical supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Reimbursement rates have not allowed providers to pay DSPs a competitive, livable wage for many years, leading to widespread, ongoing problems in recruiting and retaining quality staff.

We need DSPs, people with I/DD, and parents, siblings, friends and more who have a person with I/DD in their lives, to share their story with their legislators.

We need you! Following is information on how to share your story. To keep up to date with the DSP Campaign sign up to receive Action Alerts and Legislative Updates in our Action Center.

How to Share Your DSP Story

VIDEO

Use a smartphone, tablet or other video device to record your DSP story.
No need to edit your video! We can help with that!
Upload your video here: DSP Story Video Upload / Password: DSPVideos2021

EMAIL

Click Here: Share Your DSP Story
Utilize the prompted questions to answer and begin crafting your story.
Click “Submit” and off it goes to your legislator!

CALL

Call your legislators’ office and share your story with them or their staff.
Indiana House of Representatives: 800-382-9842
Indiana Senate: 800-382-9467

MEET

Contact Hannah Carlock, hcarlock@arcind.org, public policy director, to help schedule a virtual meeting.
Or, call or email your legislators to request a virtual meeting.

How to Share Your DSP Story Flyer

Sharing Your DSP Story

Let your state lawmakers know the impact Direct Support Professionals have on your life.
Following are some some questions to think about as you tell your story:

Self-Advocates

What do you do with your DSP?
What happens when your DSP cannot be with you?
How do you feel when you get a new DSP and you miss the DSP you had?
How important is your DSP to you and why?
Why do you think legislators should act so your DSP’s pay can be increased?

Direct support Professionals

What do you enjoy about being a DSP?
What are the daily tasks you have to accomplish as a DSP?
How has COVID-19 impacted your role as a DSP?
Do you have to work other jobs on top of being a DSP?

Family

What impact does a DSP have on your family?
What happens if a DSP cannot attend to your family member?
What relationship does your DSP have with your family member?
How has COVID-19 impacted your family and the DSP working with your loved one?

Providers

How many full-time and part-time DSPs do you employ?
How many service hours are you responsible for serving and how many are vacant?
How has the DSP workforce changed over the years?
What impact has COVID-19 had on your DSP recruitment and retention?
Who are your largest competitors for employees and what are their wages compared to yours?
What wage do you need to pay to compete?

Community Leaders

What is your community doing to attract and retain high-quality workers?
Why is it important to attract high-quality workers?
What have been your disability inclusion efforts?

Sharing Your DSP Story Ideas Flyer