The direct support professionals aren’t just caregivers in the pandemic. “Your hard work and dedication and bravery have not gone unnoticed,” Levine said. Rachel Levine thanked the direct support professionals who are risking their own health to care for those with disabilities. In a recent news conference, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. “We’re really worried this system we’ve worked so hard to build for folks to give them independence and autonomy, that this system will be decimated,” Davis said.

Some providers are at risk of going under, said Mark Davis, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability.Īdvocates such as Davis and others said it’s critical for Pennsylvania’s state government to provide more money to non-profit organizations to help retain direct support professionals.

Now, some have quit because they’re worried about being exposed to the virus, advocates say. The field typically has a high amount of turnover even without a pandemic. For those with disabilities, the loss of routine due to the coronavirus has been particularly distressing, advocates say. They face the challenges of helping their clients cope with a radically changed environment. Some help with running errands for those with a level of independence, while some provide round-the-clock assistance with meals and showers. The coronavirus pandemic underscores the essential work of those known as direct support professionals.Īcross Pennsylvania, more than 50,000 direct support professionals play an indispensable role in the lives of those with disabilities. “Not being able to see Michael has been probably the hardest.”Ĭhambers said the staff in the homes have made the situation bearable. “I practice not tearing up to talk about it,” Chambers said. It’s a necessary precaution and a heartbreaking one. PNC C-Speak: The Language of Executives.Now, it’s time to find better ways to interact with you and ensure we meet your high standards of what a credible media organization should be. The days of journalism’s one-way street of simply producing stories for the public have long been over.

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