They Deserve More
They Deserve More advocates for fair DSP wages and better funding for disability services in Illinois.

About this Agency
They Deserve More is a statewide coalition in Illinois comprising over 90 community provider agencies, advocacy organizations, and families and friends of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Established in 2017, the coalition advocates for increased state funding to support community-based services and ensure fair compensation for direct support professionals (DSPs), who are essential caregivers for individuals with IDD. Despite incremental wage increases since 2017, DSPs continue to earn below-poverty-level wages, leading to high turnover rates, staffing shortages, and the closure of group homes and day programs across the state.
The coalition highlights that Illinois ranks 46th nationally in support for community-based services, with thousands of individuals on waitlists for essential support. They Deserve More urges state leaders to adopt recommendations from the Guidehouse Rate Study, which suggests increasing DSP wage reimbursement to at least 150% of the minimum wage. Without such measures, the state risks exacerbating the caregiver crisis, further limiting access to vital services for individuals with IDD.