The
findings from ANCOR’s most recent survey of providers' approaches to grappling with a decades-long workforce crisis show that community providers remain unable to recruit and retain enough direct support professionals (DSPs) to meet existing demand, and the system is showing few meaningful signs of recovery.
Alarmingly, these findings capture the state of the system before states have fully confronted the consequences of massive cuts to federal Medicaid funding passed last year.
New threats to our nation’s fragile network of disability supports have emerged in the form of federal funding cuts, overly broad program integrity enforcement measures, and the rise of dangerous rhetoric devaluing home- and community-based services.
Now in its seventh year,
The State of America's Direct Support Workforce Crisis 2026 looks at how these pressures affect I/DD service providers and people with I/DD who rely on their support to live and thrive in their communities.
Key Findings of the Report:
This year’s survey, which includes 524 responses from provider organizations operating across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, found that among respondents:
- 85% experienced moderate or severe staffing challenges in the past year;
- 55% were turning away new referrals due to inadequate staffing;
- 29% were discontinuing programs and services because of staffing challenges;
- 57% intended to delay the launch of new programs due to staffing challenges;
- 48% were considering further cuts to programs if recruitment and retention challenges failed to subside;
- 36% were experiencing more frequent reportable incidents due to staffing shortages; and
- 59% delivered services in areas where few or no other options exist, explaining in part why 56% of those delivering case management services were struggling to connect people with available services.
To learn more about this year’s findings,
download the full report.
