As Governor Maura Healey prepares the FY28 state budget, The Arc of Massachusetts is calling on her administration to urgently prioritize individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism, their families, and the essential workforce that supports them.
Massachusetts is facing growing fiscal pressures amid federal funding cuts and administrative shifts. At the same time, the need within our community has reached an unprecedented turning point. Our population is growing, individuals with IDD and autism are living longer, and their support needs are becoming increasingly complex. Tragically, thousands of unserved and underserved individuals remain stuck on waitlists, while aging family caregivers are stretched beyond their limits without sufficient relief.
With federal cuts threatening essential services, the FY28 state budget will be a defining moment for Massachusetts. Our state budget is a reflection of our Commonwealth’s core values, and our community strongly supports the revenue solutions required to sustain these essential programs so that no individual or family is left behind.
We are asking our community to contact Governor Healey immediately and urge her to prioritize these urgent areas in the FY28 budget:
- Invest in the Human Services Workforce: The direct care staffing crisis continues to severely restrict access to care, leaving those with complex needs unserved or underserved and placing unsustainable burdens on aging families. We are asking the Governor to increase Chapter 257 human services rates to the 63rd percentile of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for FY28. This crucial investment will help recruit and retain qualified direct support professionals (DSPs), expand service capacity, and ensure individuals with IDD and autism receive the direct support they need.
- Protect Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), Medicaid, and DDS: Community-based supports allow individuals with IDD and autism to live safely and meaningfully in their communities rather than in restrictive settings. DDS and MassHealth provide lifeline supports that prevent crisis and institutionalization. We urge the Governor to protect Medicaid eligibility and funding, safeguard DDS budget allocations, and maintain vital programs—including Personal Care Attendant (PCA) services, Day Habilitation, and Adult Family Care (AFC)—to protect vulnerable individuals and relieve overburdened caregivers.
Please contact Governor Healey today. Your voice is critical to ensure our state budget reflects our core values and protects the rights, dignity, and future of the IDD and autism community.
