Why is disabilities agency cutting services?

In 2011 Illinois settled a lawsuit brought by people with developmental disabilities. The Ligas Consent Decree requires adequate resources to ensure quality services. But the state is now proposing to take millions of dollars away from an already underfunded group-home system.

My adult son David lives in a group home in Elgin. He is illiterate, cannot understand significant choices and needs help with all activities of daily living. Each resident has a state-calculated rate sheet that determines how much the service agency is reimbursed for providing care. David’s 2024 rate sheet gives him 18% fewer service-hours than in 2023. His needs haven’t gone down — if anything, they’ve gone up. Federal regulations that took effect last year require enhanced services that are more staff-intensive, not less. David’s agency must still provide the same hours of care, but will be reimbursed for fewer, creating a significant revenue gap.

David isn’t the only one impacted. Statewide, there will be a reduction of 2.5 million service-hours affecting 90% of agencies. Illinois already has a shortage of direct-care staff — the vacancy rate is 25%. A 2022 survey of agencies found that 28% are not accepting new admissions, 72% are not expanding services and 14% have closed group-homes — all because of staff shortages. The reduction in service-hours adds to the overwork and burnout of professional caregivers.

The goodness of a society is judged by how it cares for its most vulnerable people. But t he Illinois disability system is severely underfunded and as a result the state ranks at the bottom in services. Concerned citizens should contact the secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services and the director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities. They should also ask their state legislators why the division is taking away funding the legislature approved.

James B. Gould

Carpentersville