On Wednesday, March 20, the Boston Center for Independent Living held a rally at the Massachusetts State House to stop cuts to the PCA program.
The Arc’s Deputy Executive Director Maura Sullivan spoke to the revved up crowd of 150 attendees, along with other disability advocates and Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley.
If these PCA cuts happen, about 6,000 people will be left without a service that supports their independence, health, and dignity. It will lead to declines in health that might require increased health care services or even placement in a nursing facility.
The cuts will reduce work for PCAs, typically women and people of color: an estimated 4,000 PCAs may lose work!
Families that may already be covering gaps in services for those on the PCA program will need to do more, potentially causing unpaid family caregivers to lose their paying jobs.
To advocate with your legislator to stop the cuts, see The Arc’s budget action alert!
The fight against PCA cuts has also gotten a lift from the theatre. Speakeasy Stage is currently running a play called The Cost of Living, a 2023 Tony nominated play about the impact of restrictive care policies on people with disabilities and their families. They wanted to take the opportunity to highlight this PCA issue as a real-world example of the kinds of policies the show is about. You can learn more about their production here.
