FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2025
Contact: [email protected]

AUSTIN, TX – Today, the Time To Care coalition issued the following statement on the 89th Texas Legislature’s budget appropriation for the biennium and its impact on community-based services for Texans with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD):

“We appreciate the Texas Legislature’s recognition that there is a pressing need to stabilize community IDD services in Texas, but are deeply concerned that the appropriation for these services over the next biennium will fall far short of achieving that goal.

“Specifically, staff turnover and vacancy rates in community-based settings that serve Texans with IDD remain highly elevated, and the entire system remains on the brink of collapse, threatening to leave the most vulnerable and their families with few, if any, options to receive the care and support they need.

“While we are still working to determine the net impact on wages for direct support professionals (DSPs), which was combined with other legislative decisions that impact funding for Medicaid programs for people with IDD, we will continue to remain closely engaged with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to ensure appropriate implementation of the funding approved by lawmakers this session.

“Moving forward, Texas Legislators and budget writers must understand that using a broad brush to paint services for different groups of Texans with disabilities fails to recognize the complexity of caring for Texans with IDD. Unfortunately, this fundamental misunderstanding risks creating a larger, protracted crisis that will ultimately cost Texas taxpayers more in the long run and force Texans with IDD into more costly settings to receive the care they need.

“We remain committed to ensuring group homes and other community-based providers serving Texans with IDD can continue to provide access and choices for the most vulnerable Texans and their families.”

Time To Care: Save Texas Caregivers Now is a coalition dedicated to securing competitive wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide essential care to Texans with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). Through collaboration and grassroots efforts, the coalition strives to enact meaningful change at both the legislative and community levels. Learn more at https://timetocaretx.org/

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