Matt Potter is 36 years old and a disability rights activist. He has cerebral palsy and uses an electric wheelchair. Right now, his parents are his primary caretakers. They help him get to and from the bathroom, move in and out of bed, change his clothes and so on — things he describes as “intense, but rather simple personal care needs.”
But they’re getting older.
“None of them have any world-shattering health issues right now,” Potter said. “There’s no terminal cancer or anything like that. But, you know, Father Time is undefeated.”
There are thousands of others like Potter in North Carolina: people who have disabilities and want to live at home — not an institution — but require assistance with their day to day tasks to make that possible. Rather than relying on family members for all their care, they’re supposed to have access to an alternative: a direct support provider.
But there’s a huge shortage of these workers. It’s a systemic issue fueled by low pay, few opportunities for career advancement and poor working conditions.
It’s also an issue with huge implications for people with disabilities, especially someone like Potter who has a bachelor’s and master’s degree and has served on multiple boards and committees to support people with disabilities.
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