Social Media Toolkit

● We cannot achieve the New York Dream if individuals with I/DD cannot access the supports & services they need to thrive.

● Low wages for DSPs are causing a workforce shortage that is jeopardizing the health and well-being of more than 130,000 New Yorkers with I/DD.

● With rising costs of inflation, coupled with the decades-long workforce crisis and chronic underfunding, the operational costs for non-profit I/DD provider agencies have drastically outpaced the funding the I/DD service sector needs to care for New Yorkers with I/DD.

● 85% of individuals with I/DD in New York are supported by non-profit providers, which receive 90% of their funding from New York State.

● High turnover rates for DSPs are costing non-profit provider agencies $100.5M annually.

● There are currently 19,788 vacant direct care positions in New York State that need to be filled by the non-profit sector.

● DSPs are integral pillars of the I/DD community and provide vital supports and services to New Yorkers with I/DD, yet they receive just above minimum wage for their essential work.

● Tell @Governor Kathy Hochul, [assembly member] and [state senator] to include much-needed investments in the I/DD service sector in the SFY 2024 One House Budgets:

● With rising costs of inflation, operational costs for nonprofit I/DD provider agencies are skyrocketing. An 8.5% cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase is therefore needed to ensure non-profit providers can cover the costs of essential supports and services for New Yorkers with I/DD.

● For additional talking points and information on NYDA’s legislative priorities, visit

For DSPs and other direct support staff, an example post may look like:

●Facebook: As a direct support professional, my #NewYorkDream is to be able to ensure my clients and their families have the support they need to live their best lives without worrying about how I’m going to make ends meet to care for my own family. @Governor Kathy Hochul and [@your elected officials] we deserve fair pay for our essential work. On behalf of DSPs across New York, we urge you to include a Direct Support Wage Enhancement for direct support staff in the SFY 2024 Enacted Budget! #IDDPriority

●Twitter: As a DSP, I’ve seen too many of my co-workers quit for higher-paying retail/service jobs. They loved those they cared for but had to be able to feed their own families. @GovKathyHochul and [@your elected officials] raise DSP wages NOW in the upcoming budget! #IDDPriority

For provider agencies and agency employees, an example post may look like:

Facebook: As [job title] at [agency], I am tired of having to tell New Yorkers with I/DD that they will no longer be able to attend the group programs they’ve always relied on to socialize with their peers because we don’t have the funding to continue running them. I am tired of having to tell parents that we cannot match them with a direct support professional to help ensure their children are safe and cared for while they’re at work because we can’t recruit and retain staff. @Governor Kathy Hochul and [@your elected officials] please put an end to this crisis. NOW is the time to take action and invest in the I/DD service sector in this year’s budget. #IDDPriority

Twitter: @GovKathyHochul and [@your elected officials] I am tired of having to tell NYers with I/DD that we don’t have the resources to meet their needs. Our community deserves better. It’s time to take action & invest in the I/DD service sector in this year’s budget. #IDDPriority

For self-advocates and family members, an example post might look like:

Facebook: As a parent to a child with I/DD, my #NewYorkDream is not having to worry about whether or not my son will be safe and cared for as I get older because I can rely on nonprofit providers to have the resources required to meet his needs if I ever can’t. @Governor Kathy Hochul and [@your elected officials] you can help make this dream a reality for my family and the thousands more in the I/DD community by including permanent investments for the I/DD service sector in this year’s one Enacted Budget. #IDDPriority

Twitter: My DSP helps me feel safe & supported when we do activities together in my community. She is an essential worker and she deserves fair pay. @GovKathyHochul and [@your elected officials] it’s time to raise wages for DSPs & invest in our community in this year’s Enacted Budget! #IDDPriority

Share a Video That Tells Your Story!

Short testimonial videos are one of the most effective ways you can tell your story. In addition to written posts, we encourage you to share a short video addressed to lawmakers that tells them them why investments in the I/DD service sector are important to you and what our community needs to overcome this decades-long workforce crisis using the talking points above. 

• Example DSP testimonial video HERE
• Example self-advocate testimonial video HERE

If you’re not sure what to say, use the following prompts to guide your testimonial video:

• ● What is your name and where are you from? 
• ● How has the lack of investment in the I/DD services sector by New York State over the last decade impacted you and your family? 
• ● [Non-DSP] How long have you or your family been working with DSPs and in what capacity? 
• ● [Non-DSP] What role do DSPs play in your life? 
• ● [Non-DSP] What is the most memorable moment you shared with a DSP?
• ● [Non-DSP] How has the shortage of DSPs in New York impacted you and your family? 
• ● [DSP] What does an average workday look like for you, and what are your core responsibilities as a DSP?
• ● [DSP] What is your favorite thing about your job as a DSP?
• ● [DSP] What is the most challenging part of your job as a DSP?
• ● What does a 8.5% COLA increase for provider agencies mean for you and how will this investment impact everyday life for you and your family?
• ● What more needs to be done to ensure that New Yorkers with I/DD have the support and resources they need to live their best lives?

Testimonial Video Best Practices

• ● Before shooting the video, it’s helpful to write out what you want to say and practice.
  • ● We want to hear your personal story, and it’s encouraged to highlight how years of underinvestment resulting in a workforce crisis has impacted you, how the new 8.5% COLA will help, along with any hopes/concerns you have for the future. Feel free to review the talking points below for reference.

• ● We recommend keeping your video to no more than a minute in length. 
• ● Choose a location to shoot the video ahead of time.
  • ● A quiet space, with little to no background noise or echoes—clear sound is more important than having the best video quality. Avoid shooting outside if it’s windy.
  • ● A space that is well-lit, making sure that there are no shadows hitting your face. 
  • ● A space without clutter in the background.
  • ● Make sure your camera’s lens is clean.

• ● Be sure to hold the phone horizontally, not vertically before recording. This will allow for our design teams to better compile and edit the video. 
• ● Position yourself so that the main light source is in front of you, such as facing a window.
• ● Position the camera at eye level and shoot your video from the chest up, leaving a little bit of room between your head and the top of the screen. 

Once you’ve filmed your video, just upload and share it to Facebook and Twitter and tag your lawmakers and the New York Disability Advocates! 

When you are sharing your own Twitter and Facebook posts, we ask that you also:

• ● Include the hashtag #IDDPriority

• ○ Optional: #NewYorkDream #CareCantWait

• ● Tag @nydisabilityadvocates and @Governor Kathy Hochul on Facebook

• ● Tag @nydisabilityadv and @GovKathyHochul on Twitter

• ○ Optional: Tag additional policy-makers, government staffers, and key decision makers

• ■ Kerri Neifeld (@keneifeld)

• ■ Michah Lasher (@micahlasher)
• ■ Kathryn Garcia (@KGforNYC)
• ■ Jihoon Kim (@jihoonie)
• ■ Karen Persichilli Keogh (@kp224)
• ■ NY Office of Persons With Developmental Disabilities (@NYSOPWDD)
• ■ New York State Division of the Budget (@NYS_DOB)

Optional graphics to accompany your posts are available for download HERE. We thank you for your continued support and advocacy on behalf of the I/DD Community and hope that you join us on social media to make some noise together! If you have any questions about taking action on social media, please reach out to info@nydisabilityadvocates.org.