Save Our Choice: Protect Self-Directed Supports in Missouri

5 months ago Featured

Single parent caregiver for my adult handicapped son. My marketplace insurance on myself just more than doubled with the end of subsidies. Now staring at program cuts. Something has to give. Most likely will be my health insurance.

Please do not kill this program!!

Please think about how this will hurt our children!

The young boy we know who needs to keep his caregiver has cerebral palsy. He is a good student, but cannot walk on his own. Please don’t limit his ability to become an independent person as he grows and learns.

5 months ago Featured

We use this program for our son and without it I'm not sure what we would do. He has been kicked out of 6 ISL's and we now have an awesome team and he is thriving! We can't lose our staff, they have changed his life around tremendously!

Please continue Self Directed Services in Missouri

Please please put families of the disabled first, we depend on you and pray you put necessary care above money.

I’m the full time caregiver for my 20 year old brother with autism. SDS is my full time job for my brother. I’m the only person in his family that he has to rely on. He needs this service to live as independently as possible and for me not to have to look at an institution for his long term care.

Help the families

I am a Missouri citizen, family caregiver, and legal guardian who is deeply concerned about the devastating consequences of Governor Kehoe’s proposed utilization offsets to the DMH-DDD FY 2027 budget. Families like ours rely heavily on Self Direct Service (SDS) through self-directed and community-based services. These caregivers are not just employees, they are lifelines. The wages they earn are not excessive; they cover basic cost of living and allow them to purchase their own health insurance, as health coverage is not funded through self-direct services. SDS personal assistants do not receive bonuses, paid time off, or additional compensation, yet they perform physically and emotionally demanding work that requires skill, consistency, and dedication. The Governor’s proposal to reduce wages and eliminate or reduce critical programming would be detrimental to both families and the direct service workforce. Cutting wages will drive already strained caregivers out of this field, leaving families without safe, consistent care options and forcing some into institutional settings, the very outcome Missouri has worked for decades to avoid. Families like ours rely heavily on Self Direct Service (SDS) through self-directed and community-based services. These caregivers are not just employees, they are lifelines. The wages they earn are not excessive; they cover basic cost of living and allow them to purchase their own health insurance, as health coverage is not funded through self-direct services. SDS personal assistants do not receive bonuses, paid time off, or additional compensation, yet they perform physically and emotionally demanding work that requires skill, consistency, and dedication. I respectfully urge you, as the Missouri House and Senate review these recommendations and craft appropriation bills, to fully consider the real-life consequences these cuts would have on Missouri families, vulnerable individuals, and the self-direct service workforc

Thank you for this crusade!!! You know this population is near and dear to my heart.

My sister greatly benefits from these programs. I see the strides she makes and how it has helped her. These programs are essential!

Signing my name to justify everything America should stand for

This is so vital for families to keep their help! Some families only have 1 parent and it would be impossible for them to work if they do not have someone they trust. Please don't take this away from the families, or the one disabled.

Please keep this service

SDS is crucial to the well being of so many individuals with disabilities, and finding caregivers and PAs is difficult for parents as it is-if you cut rates, you’ll lose staff and struggle to find more! Staff already don’t have benefits or an ability to work overtime, and these cuts will be a make or break deal for a lot of them!!

SDS PA Springfield, MO

My stepsons daughter Alexis was born at 24 weeks . To no fault of her own she has a damaged cerebellum. Deaf,has one eye and legally blind in that eye . Has intellectual challenges,autism , mood disorders , meltdowns ( kicking , hitting spitting throwing things . And has 2 wonderful caregivers that love and take care of her . She will lose them both if this pay cut goes thru . Alexis is raised only by her dad . Her mom abandoned her , her grandma passed , her grandpa passed her aunt also . She has finally had stability , her father can work knowing his daughter is taken care of please please don’t do this to these kids who already have so many hurdles in their lives .

Stand up for Missouris most vulnerable.

We need all that help for our loved to they have a better chance of surviving on this moment they need love and support please put your hands on your heart for ours Family’s life thank you thank you you..