The New York Disability Alliance is holding a rally on Thursday in Albany to urge lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul to reach an agreement on an 8.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for direct support professionals (DSPs).

DSPs provide aid to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). 

According to Kevin Horrigan, vice president of People Incorporated and the New York Developmental Disabilities Alliance, this sector was ravaged by budget cuts during the Cuomo administration.

“[We saw] 10 years of cuts and no increases in funding. [That was] coupled with the increase in the minimum wage, which we advocated for, but it created a disparity,” Horrigan explained.

Last year, Gov. Hochul included a 5.4% cost of living adjustment in her budget for DSPs. This year, her increase is 2.5%. But both houses of the Legislature have included much more: an 8.5% COLA, which advocates are fighting for.

Horrigan, who is from western New York, mentioned Hochul’s past support for the I/DD community in glowing terms, but urged her to do more this year.

“We have known Gov. Hochul since her days as Erie County clerk. We know her well. She would come to our candidates’ forums. She often tells a story about how her parents took in individuals with developmental disabilities when she was a kid,” Horrigan recalls.

He explained that while an 8.5% COLA will cost the state $179 million, the cost of this sector’s turnover rate is $100 million a year.

Another issue Horrigan raised with Capital Tonight is the large pay disparity between those DSPs who work for state group homes and those who work for non-profit group homes. State workers receive $23 an hour, while workers at non-profit groups homes receive $16 an hour for doing the same job.

“This is a huge inequity,” Horrigan said.