You are highly qualified for and fantastic at your job. You receive applause and admiration, with people marveling, “I don’t know how you do it!” and expressing their recognition of your extraordinary strength by saying, “Oh my gosh, I could never do what you do.”

Then suddenly, out of no where, your boss comes in and says, 

        “We made a terrible miscalculation with our finances.
If you want to keep your job, we’re going to start paying
you less than half of what you’re making now.” 

The news is devastating. You quickly crunch the numbers and realize this decrease would put your family under potentially catastrophic financial stress. What if you can’t afford this drastic cut? 

     “I love this job, but I can’t afford that pay cut. I’ll have to
get another job, but  who is going to replace me?” 

Your boss responds by expressing uncertainty about the situation, mentioning ongoing efforts to devise strategies aimed at attracting more individuals to work in your field. They also inquire about the availability of your Aunt or sister, exploring the possibility of them being potential replacements for your role. 

You inquire about whether the new hires will be subject to the reduced pay rate. Your boss clarifies that they will actually receive the same full pay as you had before. In fact, they might need to mandate new staff obtain additional licenses and certifications to meet the demands of the role, resulting in substantial costs beyond what you are currently paid.

You’re confused. How could this be happening? What have you done wrong? Why is your boss treating you as dispensable with absolutely no dignity? 

— NOW IMAGINE —

Imagine yourself in this challenging scenario: you're dedicated to your beloved job, one that demands unparalleled expertise and commitment. However, this job isn't in a conventional office or workplace—it's the relentless, round-the-clock care of your medically complex child.

This entails not only ensuring they attend every medical appointment, but also navigating through a maze of treatments, therapies, and medications. It means being their advocate in a complex healthcare system, deciphering medical jargon, and making life-altering decisions on their behalf. 

All while balancing the emotional toll of witnessing your child's suffering and the financial strain of mounting medical bills. 

This isn't just a job—it's a vocation, a labor of love that consumes every fiber of your being. And now, faced with the threat of financial instability, the very foundation of your ability to provide the best care for your child is shaken to its core. 

THIS is the situation unfolding with the FSSA in Indiana right now. 

If this sounds unfair, it’s because IT IS. 

The FSSA could easily assemble a task force to explore other financially sustainable program changes to attendant caregiving that would allow parent/LRI attendant caregivers to keep their jobs, but for some reason they are resistant to doing so. 

These children deserve to be treated with more dignity than this. 

SPEAK UP.