Autism Speaks honors California Assemblymember, Dr. Corey Jackson for leadership in funding autism services provided by direct support professionals

January 9, 2025
Photo (from left to right) includes Melissa Cortez (with Governmental Advocates of California, on behalf of Autism Speaks), Kelly Headrick (Autism Speaks Senior Director of State Government Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy), Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson, Amy Westling (Association of Regional Center Agencies), Jordan Lindsey (The Arc of California), and Barry Jardini (California Disability Services Association)

On January 7, 2025, Autism Speaks presented California Assemblymember and Human Services Budget Subcommittee Chair Dr. Corey Jackson with its 2024 Public Service Award. This recognition celebrates Assemblymember Jackson’s unwavering leadership in securing vital funding for services supporting people with autism and other intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). His early and decisive work on behalf of the autism and I/DD community paved the way for an increase in reimbursement rates for disability service providers, which took effect at the beginning of 2025. Direct support professionals (DSPs) and others who provide regional center waiver services will benefit from these increases, consequently increasing autistic individuals’ access to quality services.

During the last legislative session, California faced a significant state budget deficit, which led to a gubernatorial proposal to delay previously approved and scheduled reimbursement rate increases for DSPs. These rate increases are crucial for stabilizing the home and community-based services system and growing the struggling workforce of DSPs who provide essential support to people with autism. Recognizing the potential harm of such a delay, Chair Jackson championed the cause, pushing back on the proposal and uniting his subcommittee to defend these critical investments.

Chair Jackson understood the long-term consequences of previous budget cuts. He recognized the impact of the recession over a decade ago, when California froze and then cut service provider rates. The system of care for people with autism is still recovering from those cuts, although recent investments in the workforce have put it on a positive trajectory. Faced with difficult budget decisions, Chair Jackson worked diligently to set the stage for a compromise that caused the least possible disruption to the developmental disability services budget.

Autism Speaks staff, along with its many advocates and partners in the Lanterman Coalition, actively engaged throughout the legislative session, advocating to defend the need for DSP reimbursement rate increases and support the subcommittee's efforts. We commend Chair Jackson for his strong leadership and look forward to continued work on issues impacting autism services. 

Photo (from left to right) includes Melissa Cortez (with Governmental Advocates of California, on behalf of Autism Speaks), Kelly Headrick (Autism Speaks Senior Director of State Government Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy), Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson, Amy Westling (Association of Regional Center Agencies), Jordan Lindsey (The Arc of California), and Barry Jardini (California Disability Services Association)

 

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