Advocate
Share Your Story
Advocating for individuals with disabilities is a necessary and integral component of the work EP!C does. In addition to our own advocating efforts, EP!C encourages friends, families and supporters to take time to join the advocacy process and spread the word to increase awareness about the issues and needs faced by individuals with disabilities. There are several effective ways to advocate. The most powerful way to advocate is to share your story, whether you or your friend or family member is directly affected or you are a community supporter.
When telling your story, we suggest you mention the following information:
- Your issue
- How this issue affects you
- How having proper supports could change your life (or the life of a friend or family member)
- What your (or their) struggles without these supports are
- Why you want to share this experience with your government official
- What you hope to see change in the future
Current Action Items
Tell Legislators “Don’t Cut DSP Hours!”
DSPs provide essential 24/7 support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Governor’s proposed budget includes $20 million for a 50-cent per hour DSP wage increase, but it also includes a “50% rollback of the CILA rate adjustment factor.”
What does this “rollback” mean?
- A cut of nearly 900,000 DPS hours
- A loss of at least 430 DSP positions
- A removal of $32 million in funding from the community residential system
The Impact on EP!C
We would see a reduction of 6,300+ hours affecting more than 70 people supported which would result in the elimination of DSP direct care positions.
Please take 30 seconds to send an automated email to State Representatives and State Senators.
2-25-25 This week, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) plans to bring the House GOP budget resolution to a House vote, that would direct the Energy and Commerce Committee – the committee overseeing Medicaid – to cut at least $880 billion in spending. If passed, this would likely mean that the committee would have to consider drastic reductions to Medicaid funding, putting community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) at risk.
We encourage you to lend your voice and join us with other agencies across the country and urge members of Congress to protect Medicaid by rejecting cuts.
ANCOR has created a quick and easy letter that they will send on your behalf. Click the button below and take just a few minutes to send yours.
Past Action Items
The projected FY2025 budget proposed by Governor Pritzker keeps our funding exactly the same. With minimum wage increasing in January 2025, we will see a decrease in funding. Guidehouse recommends DSP rates be 150% to minimum wage. Currently, that rate is at 139% and after January 2025 will bring it down to 130%.
If we don’t see an increase in 2025 of $3.00/hr we may not see another increase until 2026 (2 years). This brings us back down to the lowest rate given in 7 years!
Thank you to those who fill out witness slips as a PROPONENT of this bill.
Requires the Department of Human Services to, at least annually, provide each provider of home and community-based services an updated, detailed rate sheet for each funded individual served by the provider.
Agencies are not currently receiving these sheets. Agencies need them to understand details regarding each individual’s reimbursement rates and how those rates were calculated. If data was received, it had previously been outdated and inaccurate, sometimes being 10 years behind. This bill requires agencies to receive this information for each person served along with requesting updates or changes to the rates are submitted to agencies within 45 days.
This is a necessity to operate our business.
Overall rates for people living in group homes haven’t increased in 30 years and are now in danger of losing funding.
With the new proposed rates EP!C will lose 22,400 DSP hours, affecting 11 positions, resulting in $458,000 less in funding!
Demand leaders fix and fully fund our residential reimbursement rates.
1. Send one of the template letters below in the mail
2. Join us in making calls (phone script in CEO letter above)
3. Share the letter template in an email to legislators along with your friends and family
4. Share our advocacy posts on social media
See the list of legislative contacts below. Call their offices, send them emails, and let them know this is not right and must be fixed!
Letter for Staff/Board Members
Letter for Families/Guardians
Letter for Community Members
People with disabilities (and elderly) shouldn’t be told they can only have assets of $2,000 across their entire portfolio.
EP!C has a workforce that is ready and able to work but these stipulations mean they are not allowed to work a full 40 hours a week without impacting their benefits.
Take 30 sec. to send an email to Leaders encouraging them to increase the limit to $10,000.
Sign a witness slip in PROPONENT of Senate Bill 2026
Witness Slip Instructions:
Step 1 – fill out your personal informationBusiness/Agency: EPIC
Title: Who you are (Board Member, Staff, Family Member, Supporter, etc.)
Step 2 – Under Representation: EPIC (no special characters)
Step 3 – Under Subject Matter in the drop down select SB 2026
Step 4 – Select PROPONENT (meaning you are in favor of passing the bill)
Step 5 – Under Testimony: Record of Appearance Only
Step 6 – check the agree to the terms box
Step 7 – Click Create(Slip)
Thank you for making your voice heard!
Overall rates for people living in group homes haven’t increased in 30 years and are now in danger of losing funding altogether.
With the new proposed rates EP!C will lose 45,568 DSP hours!
Take 30 sec. to send an email to Leaders demanding they fix and fully fund our residential reimbursement rates.
See the list of legislative contacts below. Call their offices, send them emails, and let them know this is not right and must be fixed!
Step 1 – fill out your personal information Business/Agency: EPIC
Title: Who you are (Board Member, Staff, Family Member, Supporter, etc.)
Step 2 – Under Representation: EPIC (no special characters)
Step 3 – Under Testimony: Record of Appearance Only
Step 4 – Select PROPONENT (meaning you are in favor of passing the bill)
Step 5 – agree to the terms & select create slip
Demand full funding of the Guidehouse Study. Take 30 seconds to send an automated email to Illinois’ Leaders.
Step 1 – click the button below
Step 2 – fill out your information
Step 3 – hit start writing
Step 4 – hit send letter
Thank you for making your voice heard!
5.24.2021 a second witness slip for HB-HR0194 was requested for committee review on 5.27 at 9am.
Who to Contact
If you would like to help make a change start by contacting the individuals who represent you!
