CANONSBURG, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro on Thursday announced sweeping progress in expanding services for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A), highlighting new investments that are reducing waitlists, raising wages for caregivers, and expanding opportunities across the state.
Speaking at Arc Human Services in Washington County, Shapiro said his administration has made record gains in just over a year. The state has cut the emergency waitlist for adult ID/A services by 28 percent, expanded support to 4,000 more residents, and increased hourly wages for direct support professionals (DSPs) from $16.90 to $17.85 — a 6 percent boost. The vacancy rate for DSPs has dropped to 14 percent, the lowest in a decade.
“Thanks to historic investments we’ve made, thousands of Pennsylvanians are now finally getting off the waitlist and into services, DSPs are earning higher wages, and vacancy rates among DSPs are at their lowest point in 10 years,” Shapiro said. “This is real progress — and my Administration will keep working every day to ensure Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism have the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in the communities they call home.”
The administration credited a $354.8 million investment secured in the bipartisan 2024–25 budget for driving much of this progress. Of that, $280 million went toward raising wages for DSPs, while $74.8 million was set aside to move 1,500 individuals off the waitlist and enroll them in home and community-based service waivers.
DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh underscored the impact of the changes. “The waitlist is shrinking, services are expanding, and DSPs are getting the wages they deserve. This is about dignity, independence, and opportunity – and we’re committed to continuing this progress,” she said.
Arc Human Services, which serves more than 200 people with disabilities across 10 counties, has been at the forefront of this effort. Earlier this year, it opened a Smart Living Demo Home featuring assistive technology designed to help individuals live more independently. Families say the difference is life-changing. One parent, Mike Smith, described the relief of seeing his daughter finally come off the waitlist, calling it “the opportunity for her to go out and work, to give back, to volunteer.”
Direct support professionals themselves are also seeing the benefits. “Because of Governor Shapiro’s unrelenting efforts to improve the direct support care workforce… we were able to give significant, well-deserved raises to our DSPs,” said Ed Picchiarini, CEO of Arc Human Services. He added that higher pay tied to training is creating a more skilled and stable workforce.
The improvements extend beyond ID/A services. The Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation placed 6,000 Pennsylvanians with disabilities in jobs last year, with companies such as Sheetz and Wawa joining efforts to expand employment opportunities. More than 2,500 high school students with disabilities have also taken part in paid summer job programs since 2021, including 500 this past summer alone.
Looking ahead, Shapiro’s proposed 2025–26 budget would sustain the current ID/A funding, add $21 million to raise wages for 8,500 direct care workers serving older adults and people with physical disabilities, and increase job placement funding through OVR by $5 million.
State officials said the overarching goal is clear: to build inclusive communities where Pennsylvanians with disabilities can live with dignity, independence, and respect, while ensuring those who support them are fairly compensated and valued.
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