Ep 230: Addressing the DSP Workforce Crisis: Rising Wages, High Turnover & Barriers in Disability Services

  In this episode of the Friends for Life Podcast, we explore the challenges facing the direct support professional (DSP) workforce, despite recent increases in hourly wages. Although DSPs saw an average hourly wage of $15.79 nationwide in 2022—a historic first—the high turnover rate of over 40% continues to strain disability service providers, who are struggling to maintain adequate staff. Many providers report having to refuse new referrals or reduce services, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable workforce solutions. Temporary support from the 2021 American Rescue Plan provided essential funding to boost wages, but this relief is set to expire in 2025, raising concerns about long-term stability in the field. Barbara Merrill, CEO of ANCOR, and Armando Contreras, president of United Cerebral Palsy, emphasize the critical need for more consistent support to ensure DSPs receive competitive compensation and people with developmental disabilities can access essential services without prolonged delays. With over half a million individuals still on waiting lists for services, the conversation underscores how years of underinvestment in Medicaid have limited providers’ ability to address the workforce crisis fully, jeopardizing the right of people with disabilities to live independently in their communities.