Shapiro Administration Reduces Emergency Waitlist for Intellectual Disability and Autism Services by 31 Percent, Secures Lowest Direct Support Worker Vacancy Rate in 11 Years |[...]

In just over two years since announcing its multi-year growth strategy, the Shapiro Administration reduced the adult emergency waiting list for services by 31 percent.

Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed 2067-27 budget will continue to build on the progress made to connect adults with intellectual disabilities and autism to services and supports that help them live an Everyday Life.

Indiana, PA - Last week, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh shared the Shapiro Administration's continued commitment to Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) at the Arc of Indiana County's annual breakfast. Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed 2026-27 budget builds on significant progress his Administration has made to eliminate emergency waiting lists for adults through the multi-year program growth strategy.

Since the Governor's historic investment of $354.8 million in federal and state funding secured in the 2024-25 budget, there has been a 31 percent reduction in the ID/A adult emergency waiting list for services. Approximately 42,000 Pennsylvanians currently receive services in their home and community. An essential part of this strategy includes targeted investments in the direct support professional (DSP) workforce who serve the ID/A community. Investments in service rates are enabling providers to increase wages and support recruitment efforts, leading to the lowest job vacancy rate for DSPs since 2015. These successes are thanks to the Shapiro Administration's multi-year growth strategy for ID/A services and continued investments in the 2025-26 state budget.

"With Pennsylvania's robust multi-year growth strategy and budget investments, we have cemented Pennsylvania as a national leader in getting more people with ID/A the services they need, when they need them and increasing wages and reducing job vacancy rates for direct support professionals who work every day to help support independence and opportunity for this community," said Secretary Arkoosh. "We cannot stop here -- we must build on this momentum and continue our progress by investing in services and supports that will get us closer to our goal of eliminating the adult emergency waiting list for Pennsylvania."

To continue this progress, Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 proposed budget invests $30 million of state funding and $36.2 million of federal funding to expand home and community-based program capacity for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. The additional funds will help enroll up to 1,625 new individuals in home and community-based Medicaid waiver services.

Through the multi-year growth strategy, DHS has shifted away from setting capacity in programs by numbers or "slots" and instead sets capacity by an overall budget-based system. This allows counties long-sought flexibility to make decisions based on local needs and not a pre-determined set amount of slots.

Expanding Opportunity for all Pennsylvanians

Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has met with families, advocates, and service providers across Pennsylvania to understand the challenges facing the ID/A community. Through historic investments, innovative partnerships, and close collaboration with the disability community, Pennsylvania is moving in the right direction.

The Governor's commitment extends beyond ID/A services to broader disability inclusion and workforce opportunities. In 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) placed 6,000 Pennsylvanians with disabilities in jobs at more than 3,500 businesses. At First Lady Lori Shapiro's encouragement, employers like Sheetz and Wawa are partnering with OVR to expand access to good-paying jobs for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. OVR also launched the MY Work program in Allegheny County in 2016 and since expanding it statewide in 2021 has connected more than 2,500 high school students with disabilities to paid summer jobs - including over 500 this summer at 100 worksites in 57 counties - building skills, confidence, and career readiness.

Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 budget proposal builds on this progress by:

• Sustaining historic ID/A funding to continue reducing the emergency waitlist by a projected 1,625 people; and
• Investing $1 million in new funding for OVR to serve more Pennsylvanians with disabilities.

Through these historic investments and this continued commitment, the Shapiro Administration is delivering meaningful change for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism and building a stronger system of care that values workers who make it possible for people to live with more independence, supports families, and ensures more people can access the services they need. The Shapiro Administration will continue working alongside advocates, providers, and community partners to expand opportunity, strengthen the care workforce, and make sure every Pennsylvanian can live with dignity, independence, and respect.

Learn more about Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 Budget proposal.