Connecticut’s group homes for people with disabilities deserve more funding

To the thousands of parents, guardians, and loved ones of individuals with disabilities in Connecticut, I write to you today with a heavy heart. As a parent, as someone who has pushed for change for the past 32 years, it’s hard to make sense of “why.” Why do our elected officials continue to make decisions that harm the ones we hold dear?

Money, competing priorities, a lack of understanding? It’s hard to pinpoint the reason why our leaders choose to neglect individuals with disabilities and those who care for them in Connecticut. In any case, it is a devastating blow that we have learned to live with.

We are parents and guardians, daughters and sons, loved ones and neighbors. Last week, we joined 1,800 like-minded advocates on the Capitol lawn to urge our elected officials to do better. As people of conscience, very few of us would be content to watch another human being suffer.

There are group homes located in nearly every town in Connecticut. Some of us might remember the days of institutions — the cold, sterile hospitals that isolated people with disabilities from their peers and loved ones. Until the 1970s, many of the individuals Oak Hill serves would have been cut off from our larger society. Today, thanks to group homes, individuals with disabilities, regardless of their need for full-time support, can live fulfilling lives in their communities. Finally, individuals with disabilities can lead lives built on meaning, growth, and independence — ideals that many of us take for granted.

Danny, an Oak Hill program participant since 1985, goes to his swim league every Friday night. Patti, who has spent 60 years with Oak Hill, takes the paratransit line from her group home to our campus in Hartford every weekday for work. With the steadfast support of his Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Tony develops his independence and confidence at his job at Hooker Brewing Company. Without the foundation of our group homes and dedicated staff, this would not be possible. We can only fulfill our promise of empowered, community living with talented and compassionate staff.

Over the past 15 years, direct support professionals at community nonprofits across Connecticut have received just one meaningful increase to their wages. Meanwhile, their counterparts at state-run group homes and programs receive regular cost-of-living adjustments. A new direct support professional at a Department of Developmental Services group home makes 43% more than their peer at Oak Hill. Are they more deserving? Are the individuals they serve more important?

Still, our elected officials don’t believe that your loved ones and our staff who support them deserve more. In the age of rampant inflation, when many of us struggle to afford the essentials, how can we square this?

You have seen the impact on your loved ones when you visit them in their group homes, classrooms, and programs. Our staff are tired and frustrated, always asked to do more with less. Having fewer staff means longer shifts, fewer breaks, and more pressure. Having fewer staff means programs are closed while people wait to get into programs. Oak Hill cannot keep its promise of empowering individuals with disabilities without DSPs, the quarterbacks of our programs.

Without Natalie, who will take Danny to swim practice? Without Shirley, who will ensure Patti gets to work safely? Without Vinny, who will make sure Tony is ready to put his best foot forward at his job every day?

Without a reasonable increase to Oak Hill’s budget, our staff and individuals alike suffer. As parents, guardians, and loved ones, you should be angry. Ultimately, the state of Connecticut is responsible for creating systems to care for individuals with disabilities.

They are failing.

It is up to us to advocate for the boost that nonprofits like Oak Hill so desperately need. Will you join us as we fight for the 5% cost-of-living adjustment our staff deserve?

Our elected officials need to know that we are through with accepting inequity. If you believe that individuals with disabilities and the staff that empower them every day deserve more, contact your legislator. Tell them how unfair compensation impacts your loved one’s program. Tell your legislator why your loved one is important, worthy of the same opportunities and comforts they are. Tell them that you’re through accepting the pattern of discrimination community nonprofits are subjected to in every passing budget season.

We aren’t asking for the moon. A 5% cost-of-living adjustment begins to close the gap.

To all the forgotten families, enough is enough.

Barry Simon is President and CEO of Oak Hill.