Nicholas Hemachandra listens to his father Ray talk about the needs of people with disabilities at the NC Legislative Building. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)
People with disabilities and their parents came to the Legislative Building in Raleigh on Wednesday to illustrate for legislators the frustrating problem of finding help that enables people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to live in communities.
Their testimony highlighted the challenges of finding frontline workers amid constant turnover and the years-long wait to receive help from a Medicaid program called the “Innovations Waiver.” But speakers also described lives of people who are able to work, make friends, and pursue hobbies with the help of workers called direct support professionals…