© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mass. service providers for people with disabilities say proposed pay hike is still too low

The Massachusetts Statehouse.
Jesse Costa
/
WBUR
The Massachusetts Statehouse.

Massachusetts non-profits that provide services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities say a proposed increase in pay from the state falls short.

The Healey administration is planning on modest jumps in reimbursement for day programs which include job readiness and recreation.

Entry-level workers for the programs would make $19 an hour and some managers about $24 per hour.

During a hearing Friday, Sharon Smith said it's not enough. Smith leads Work Incorporated, which helps adults with disabilities in eastern and central Massachusetts.

"We are competing and losing employees and candidates to the private sector and to state jobs," Smith said. "In just the past few months, Work, Inc., has lost five managers to state positions earning far higher salaries for essentially the same work."

Smith and other providers who spoke at the hearing urged the state to go well beyond the proposed increases.

The changes are scheduled to go into effect in July.

Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content