Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§15111 Findings

Title 42 › CHAPTER 144 — DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE AND BILL OF RIGHTS › SUBCHAPTER III — PROGRAM FOR DIRECT SUPPORT WORKERS WHO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES › § 15111

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress says direct support workers are essential for helping people with developmental disabilities and for growing community services. Young adults have been an important part of that workforce. Four things have cut the number of these workers: fewer people aged 18 through 25 taking the jobs, fast growth in other service jobs, lower wages in human services, and limited training or career paths. People with developmental disabilities do better when their direct support workers are well trained, and when professionals have experience as direct support workers.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §15111

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Congress finds that—

(1)direct support workers, especially young adults, have played essential roles in providing the support needed by individuals with developmental disabilities and expanding community options for those individuals;

(2)4 factors have contributed to a decrease in the available pool of direct support workers, specifically—

(A)the small population of individuals who are age 18 through 25, an age group that has been attracted to direct support work in the past;

(B)the rapid expansion of the service sector, which attracts individuals who previously would have elected to pursue employment as direct support workers;

(C)the failure of wages in the human services sector to keep pace with wages in other service sectors; and

(D)the lack of quality training and career advancement opportunities available to direct support workers; and

(3)individuals with developmental disabilities benefit from assistance from direct support workers who are well trained, and benefit from receiving services from professionals who have spent time as direct support workers.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 15111

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102