14 Is Fair for Direct Care – a Rally to Support Funding for the McNesby Act – Will Take Place on May 15th at Legislative Mall in Dover
Rally attendees will advocate for full funding of services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
WILMINGTON, Del. – May 9, 2019 – Family, friends, legislators and advocates for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) will gather at 10:30 a.m. on May 15, 2019 at Legislative Mall in Dover to support full funding for the McNesby Act. The McNesby Act, which was passed unanimously by the House and Senate, was signed by Gov. John Carney on Sept. 4, 2018.
“When the legislature and governor passed McNesby last year, Delaware made a promise to fully fund services for adults with I/DD,” said Thomas Cook, Executive Director of the Ability Network of Delaware. “This rally is our chance to remind them of that promise to support Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens as they work toward finalizing the budget for the coming year.”
The rally is called “14 Is Fair for Direct Care,” in honor of the $14 million in state funding that supporters are asking Delaware to commit for FY 2020. It’s roughly one-third of the additional $42.3 million that Delaware needs to commit every year to close the funding gap, and to maximize matching funds from the federal government.
Rally attendees will gather to express their gratitude to Governor Carney and the General Assembly for passing the McNesby Act and ask Delaware officials to fix a broken system that has been underfunded for over a decade. Full funding is the only way to ensure that direct support professionals serving people with I/DD earn a living wage, provider organizations can keep their doors open, and Delaware meets federal requirements for community-based services.
More information about the Rally can be found at www.McNesbyAct.com, which also includes and advocacy guide with helpful information about:
- How to contact Governor Carney and your legislators – and what to say to them.
- Tips for writing letters to the editor at The News Journal, Delaware State News and the Cape Gazette.
- Directions to the Rally on May 15th and where to park.
About the Ability Network of Delaware
By uniting and focusing on what we can achieve together, the Ability Network of Delaware (formerly DelARF) builds strength across Delaware’s disability community. We are a connecting force that functions as a statewide membership association of agencies, all working to support people with disabilities and other life challenges. Membership is open to organizations that provide direct services, advocacy and/or educational services to Delawareans with disabilities, their families and advocates.