The problem:
Kansas faces a severe direct support workforce shortage, with DSW wages stuck at just $14/hour, which is among the lowest in the region, and employment growing only 0.3% over 10 years. As a result, families leaving the IDD waiver waitlist still cannot find direct support providers. This urgent gap drove our work on the KS CARES Act (HB 2310).
Action:
Our Council convened the Health Equity and Outcomes Coalition, bringing together partners, self-advocates, families, and providers. Together, we developed recommendations for a bill to address the direct support workforce shortage, using research from KU School of Social Welfare and models from other states to propose creative, evidence-based solutions.
Results:
The bill was presented on 2/11/2025 with testimony from DSPs, self-advocates, caregivers, and disability organizations, helping the committee understand the workforce challenges and need for solutions. At our KCDD Day at the Capitol, over 65 advocates met with their legislators and told their personal DSW stories. While it did not pass, it will be reintroduced in 2026. KCDD staff have shared the bill with advocacy groups, gathering feedback and supporting their advocacy strategies.
KCDD’s relationships with self-advocates, families, providers, researchers at the KU and the UCEDD uniquely positioned it to lead solutions for the DSW shortage.