How to Take Action
- Scroll through the "Action Items" listed below
- Right now the first 2 Action Items are critical
Your help makes a difference. You make a difference.
Thank you for your support!
Action Item 1: Urge Your Provider Agencies to Act
Please contact your provider agencies, share this website with them, and ask them to personalize and send the email below to legislators individually. Emails sent as BCC or CC are far less likely to be read or taken seriously.
Also, encourage them to review ACTION ITEM 2 and make plans to sign up and attend meetings at the Capitol this week. They are welcome to share this Call to Action with anyone connected to their agency—staff, families, and community partners. Every voice matters.
Subject: My Business is about to go under due to YOUR INACTION
To: LAUSTIN@azleg.gov, QNGUYEN@azleg.gov, KVOLK@azleg.gov, WBLACKMAN@azleg.gov, JOLSON@azleg.gov, MWAY@azleg.gov, SBLATTMAN@azleg.gov, TRIVERO@azleg.gov, JWENINGER@azleg.gov, LDIAZ@azleg.gov, MSANDOVAL@azleg.gov, JWILLOUGHBY@azleg.gov, NGUTIERREZ@azleg.gov, SStahlhamilton@azleg.gov, MGRESS@azleg.gov, CLOPEZ@azleg.gov, STRAVERS@azleg.gov, DLIVINGSTON@azleg.gov, LALSTON@azleg.gov, HANGIUS@azleg.gov, MEPSTEIN@azleg.gov, BFERNANDEZ@azleg.gov, MFINCHEM@azleg.gov, LKUBY@azleg.gov, VLEACH@azleg.gov, CWERNER@azleg.gov, DFARNSWORTH@azleg.gov, JKAVANAGH@azleg.gov, aabeytia@azleg.gov, caguilar@azleg.gov, lbiasiucci@azleg.gov, sbliss@azleg.gov, mcarbone@azleg.gov, ncarter@azleg.gov, pcarter@azleg.gov, jcavero@azleg.gov, jchaplik@azleg.gov, jconnolly@azleg.gov, lcontreras@azleg.gov, pcontreras@azleg.gov, qcrews@azleg.gov, odelossantos@azleg.gov, lfink@azleg.gov, bgarcia@azleg.gov, jgillette@azleg.gov, ggriffin@azleg.gov, rheap@azleg.gov, lhendrix@azleg.gov, ahernandez@azleg.gov, chernandez@azleg.gov, lhernandez@azleg.gov, rkeshel@azleg.gov, akolodin@azleg.gov, nkupper@azleg.gov, sliguori@azleg.gov, eluna-Najera@azleg.gov, amarquez@azleg.gov, dmarshall@azleg.gov, tmartinez@azleg.gov, cmathis@azleg.gov, smontenegro@azleg.gov, mpena@azleg.gov, mpeshlakai@azleg.gov, bpingerelli@azleg.gov, kpowell@azleg.gov, ssimacek@azleg.gov, jtaylor@azleg.gov, mtsosie@azleg.gov, bvillegas@azleg.gov, jwilmeth@azleg.gov, sbolick@azleg.gov, fbravo@azleg.gov, eburch@azleg.gov, fcarroll@azleg.gov, eva.diaz@azleg.gov, tdunn@azleg.gov, rgabaldon@azleg.gov, sgonzales@azleg.gov, dgowan@azleg.gov, thatathlie@azleg.gov, jake.hoffman@azleg.gov, vleach@azleg.gov, jmesnard@azleg.gov, cmiranda@azleg.gov, analise.ortiz@azleg.gov, kpayne@azleg.gov, wpetersen@azleg.gov, wrogers@azleg.gov, jshamp@azleg.gov, tshope@azleg.gov, psundareshan@azleg.gov,
Also send the email to Governor Hobbs through her website: https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/contact-governor-hobbs
SAMPLE EMAIL:
Dear Arizona Legislators,
I am writing as DDD Qualified Vendor and provider agency to express my deep concern following the March 28th communication from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), which confirmed that if the supplemental funding is not passed, provider claims for services rendered in May and June of this fiscal year will not be reimbursed.
This has caused widespread panic among provider agencies across Arizona. Many are implementing hiring freezes, or making the devastating decision to sell or close their businesses altogether. These actions are not driven by fear—they are a direct response to the uncertainty created by the absence of guaranteed reimbursement for services already authorized and expected to be delivered.
If the Legislature does not act immediately, the consequences will be catastrophic for tens of thousands of DDD members and their families. We are not talking about optional supports—these are medically necessary, life-sustaining services: nursing, habilitation, therapies, and personal care that enable children and adults with developmental disabilities to remain in their homes and communities.
Once agencies close their doors or direct care workers leave the field, rebuilding this infrastructure will take years—if it can be rebuilt at all. And during that time, the state will see a sharp rise in crisis placements, ER admissions, institutionalization, and hospitalizations—all of which come at a much higher cost to taxpayers than preventive home and community-based services.
I respectfully urge the Legislature to pass a clean supplemental as soon as possible. Any additional contingencies, program reforms, or cost-saving measures can and should be addressed thoughtfully as part of the budget negotiation process. But inaction now will only deepen the crisis, damage lives, and increase the long-term cost to the state.
This is a defining moment for Arizona. I ask that you stand with people with developmental disabilities, their families, and the dedicated providers who support them.
Sincerely,
[Your Name / Agency Name]
If you need examples of caregiver stories, the button below links to some.
Action Item 2 - We Need You At The Capitol!
Capitol Action Week – March 31 to April 4, 2025
Join us at the Arizona State Capitol to oppose harmful legislation and raise awareness about the urgent need for DDD gap funding. Sign up to attend where your 1 minute story will be shared by a legislature during floor session introductions.
How to Participate
- Sign up for a floor session slot using the SignUpGenius link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548A5AA2CAAF85-56002727-capitol - Submit your quote or story to be read by a legislator: https://forms.gle/w9savyT8WPma3G9i6
- Attend in person on the date and time you select. Your presence is critical!
Capitol Events Schedule
Tuesday, April 1
1:15 PM – House Floor Introductions/Countdown
Location: House Third Floor Gallery
Wednesday, April 2
1:15 PM – House Floor Introductions/Countdown
Location: House Third Floor Gallery
Thursday, April 3
7:30 AM - AAPPD Rally - Join us for mingling and grab an AAPD t-shirt before the hearing. We are also planning to invite both Republican and Democratic legislators to speak to highlight this important bipartisan issue.
8:30 AM –Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Budget Mismanagement
Location: House Hearing Room 4 (HHR 4) - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n_F3bxkJejMtXzpzkS0UAHFQFm8pALdb/edit?tab=t.0
10:00 AM – House Floor Introductions/Countdown
Location: House Third Floor Gallery
11:00 AM – Senate Floor Introductions/Countdown
Location: Senate Third Floor Gallery
If planning to attend, contact your legislator today and ask for a meeting on Thursday (tomorrow) while you are there.
Action Item 3 - Physical Letters
Hand write or type a physical letter and mail to your Legislator with a picture of your family. Include personal details about your story and details regarding how the job instability of DDD providers and employees is affecting your DDD member and family. For example, if you have lost a DCW provider or therapist because they are afraid of not having their job in May and June of this year please include this information! Include talking points shared below in your letter along with a direct ask or request.
If you do not have the time or means to send letters in the mail please complete this action item through your email. There are two different sample letters below to choose from as your talking point.
CAPITAL ADDRESS:
[Senator, Representative or Governor's Name]
1700 W Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Send the same letter to Governor Hobbs via mail or her website: https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/contact-governor-hobbs
SAMPLE LETTER #1:
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
[YOUR EMAIL]
SUBJECT: DDD Gap Funding - Appropriation Needed Now
Dear [Legislator or Governor’s Name],
I’m writing as a [describe your relationship to DDD member] who relies on Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) services to live safely and thrive at home. I want to thank you for your service to our community regarding this important matter.
[Add this if or in the way that applies to your situation] Our family is currently supported by DDD services that include [insert number] hours per week of care, which is essential to meeting my child’s needs and keeping them out of an institutional placement. These hours are carefully determined through the state’s assessment process and divided among [describe the number of providers – e.g., family, hired caregivers, nurses, etc.]. Like many families, we utilize the Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG) program to fill critical care gaps when workforce shortages make it nearly impossible to find consistent providers.
We are increasingly concerned by the instability in the provider network. A survey conducted on March 15th with 620 families found:
- 79% have not yet received any service provider notices
- 6% had a therapist give notice
- 3% had a Direct Care Worker quit or give notice
- 2% were informed by agencies that they may not be able to pay staff in May or June without gap funding
- 3% reported a hiring freeze for new Direct Care Workers
While many families haven’t yet lost care, these early warning signs show a system that is beginning to buckle. Delayed legislative action on DDD funding will only worsen the situation.
We respectfully ask you to advocate for immediate issuance of DDD gap funding to prevent irreversible harm to Arizona’s direct care workforce and the families who depend on these services to keep loved ones safe and supported at home. Ongoing collaborative improvements to the DDD and DCS programs and operations can be put into place to ensure long term sustainability while simultaneously issuing the appropriation that will mitigate this current crisis.
Please help us protect access to care and ensure service continuity for thousands of vulnerable Arizonans.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, Zip Code]
[Optional: Your phone number or email address]
[Your Contact Information]
SAMPLE LETTER #2: Credit for this Sample Letter goes to Jamie Jones
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
[YOUR EMAIL]
SUBJECT: DDD Gap Funding - Appropriation Needed Now
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing on behalf of my child [or explain your relationship], [child’s full name], an individual with profound disabilities who qualifies for services through the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) and the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). [He/She] has been formally assessed to receive [X] hours per week of direct care based on medical and developmental needs. I currently serve as [his/her] trained caregiver under Arizona’s Parents as Paid Caregiver (PPCG) Program.
I am formally asserting that continued support for appropriately delivered home and community based services is not only necessary, but required under federal law—including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. (1999).
Legal Context and Federal Protections
Under ADA Title II and the Olmstead ruling, individuals with disabilities must receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. For my child, that setting is our home—with a trained, consistent caregiver already identified, hired and trained.
If Arizona were to eliminate the PPCG without immediately providing a qualified alternative DCW, it would effectively deny my child essential services. This would be a violation of ADA Title II, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Olmstead integration mandate.
Request for Assurance
I am requesting written confirmation that:
- My child’s approved care hours will not be reduced or interrupted.
- Parent caregivers will not be arbitrarily removed without a qualified replacement.
- My child’s right to receive care in the home—the most integrated setting—will be honored under federal law.
If no alternative providers are available to meet my child’s authorized hours, denying me as a provider would constitute unlawful discrimination. I am prepared to escalate this to the Office for Civil Rights, Disability Rights Arizona, or other legal entities if necessary.
Arizona families deserve more than words on a page—we deserve the care our children are legally entitled to.Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
[Full Name]
[City, Zip]
[Contact Information – optional]
Legislator email address to copy / paste
To or BCC: LAUSTIN@azleg.gov, QNGUYEN@azleg.gov, KVOLK@azleg.gov, WBLACKMAN@azleg.gov, JOLSON@azleg.gov, MWAY@azleg.gov, SBLATTMAN@azleg.gov, TRIVERO@azleg.gov, JWENINGER@azleg.gov, LDIAZ@azleg.gov, MSANDOVAL@azleg.gov, JWILLOUGHBY@azleg.gov, NGUTIERREZ@azleg.gov, SStahlhamilton@azleg.gov, MGRESS@azleg.gov, CLOPEZ@azleg.gov, STRAVERS@azleg.gov, DLIVINGSTON@azleg.gov, LALSTON@azleg.gov, HANGIUS@azleg.gov, MEPSTEIN@azleg.gov, BFERNANDEZ@azleg.gov, MFINCHEM@azleg.gov, LKUBY@azleg.gov, VLEACH@azleg.gov, CWERNER@azleg.gov, DFARNSWORTH@azleg.gov, JKAVANAGH@azleg.gov, aabeytia@azleg.gov, caguilar@azleg.gov, lbiasiucci@azleg.gov, sbliss@azleg.gov, mcarbone@azleg.gov, ncarter@azleg.gov, pcarter@azleg.gov, jcavero@azleg.gov, jchaplik@azleg.gov, jconnolly@azleg.gov, lcontreras@azleg.gov, pcontreras@azleg.gov, qcrews@azleg.gov, odelossantos@azleg.gov, lfink@azleg.gov, bgarcia@azleg.gov, jgillette@azleg.gov, ggriffin@azleg.gov, rheap@azleg.gov, lhendrix@azleg.gov, ahernandez@azleg.gov, chernandez@azleg.gov, lhernandez@azleg.gov, rkeshel@azleg.gov, akolodin@azleg.gov, nkupper@azleg.gov, sliguori@azleg.gov, eluna-Najera@azleg.gov, amarquez@azleg.gov, dmarshall@azleg.gov, tmartinez@azleg.gov, cmathis@azleg.gov, smontenegro@azleg.gov, mpena@azleg.gov, mpeshlakai@azleg.gov, bpingerelli@azleg.gov, kpowell@azleg.gov, ssimacek@azleg.gov, jtaylor@azleg.gov, mtsosie@azleg.gov, bvillegas@azleg.gov, jwilmeth@azleg.gov, sbolick@azleg.gov, fbravo@azleg.gov, eburch@azleg.gov, fcarroll@azleg.gov, eva.diaz@azleg.gov, tdunn@azleg.gov, rgabaldon@azleg.gov, sgonzales@azleg.gov, dgowan@azleg.gov, thatathlie@azleg.gov, jake.hoffman@azleg.gov, vleach@azleg.gov, jmesnard@azleg.gov, cmiranda@azleg.gov, analise.ortiz@azleg.gov, kpayne@azleg.gov, wpetersen@azleg.gov, wrogers@azleg.gov, jshamp@azleg.gov, tshope@azleg.gov, psundareshan@azleg.gov,
Also send to Governor Hobbs through her website: https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/contact-governor-hobbs
Action Item 4 - Make Calls
Phone Call Script:
“Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a [role/title] [and constituent in your district (only say this if it is true!)] for a disabled [child/adult] who receives DDD services. I’m calling today to urge you to approve the DDD gap funding immediately, as without it, families [like mine] will continue to lose our current therapists, direct care staff and provider agencies.
Approving this gap funding is not about bailing out government mismanagement—it's about fulfilling an existing obligation and addressing a critical need. If this funding is not approved, the state faces financial consequences.
This gap funding is also essential to prevent a deeper crisis—one that could lead to increased medical emergencies, hospitalizations, and institutionalization for vulnerable disabled children and adults.
I ask and request that you take an active role to approve the DDD gap funding now, not when the budget is finalized, in order to protect Arizona’s most vulnerable residents, support Arizona’s economic wellbeing, and ensure families and providers are not left in crisis. Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter.”
If you only have time for 3 Phone Calls - Call your 3 District Legislators
HOW TO FIND YOUR DISTRICT AND LEGISLATORS:
- Click Link: https://www.azleg.gov/findmylegislator/
- Under instruction 2.1 select “Click Here” to find your legislative district
- Enter your street address, identify which district number you live in
- Return to https://www.azleg.gov/findmylegislator/ and select “Click Here” on number 3
- You will be taken to the “Arizona State Legislature Member Roster.” You will want to locate your specific legislators by identifying them through their district number. Each of us should have 2 House of Representative members and at least one Senate member. You will want to reach out to all of them.
If you only have time for 6 Calls - Call these Legislators
- Senator Mark Finchem - 602-926-3631
- Senator John Kavanagh - 602-926-5170
- Senator Warren Petersen - 602-926-4136
- Representative Selina Bliss - 602-926-4018
- Representative Steve Montenegro - 602-926-3635
- Representative Julie Willoughby - 602-926-4153
If you only have time for 13 Calls - Call these Legislators
- Senator Mark Finchem - 602-926-3631
- Senator Jake Hoffman - 602-926-3292
- Senator Dave Farnsworth - 602-926-3387
- Senator John Kavanagh - 602-926-5170
- Senator Janae Shamp - 602-926-3499
- Senator T.J. Shope - 602-926-3012
- Senator Warren Petersen - 602-926-4136
- Representative Walt Blackman - 602-926-3244
- Representative Selina Bliss - 602-926-4018
- Representative Matt Gress - 602-926-4105
- Representative Steve Montenegro - 602-926-3635
- Representative David Livingston - 602-926-4178
- Representative Julie Willoughby - 602-926-4153
If you have time - Call all Legislators in the House and Senate, and then call all Democrats in the House and Senate.
Senate Roster - https://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=S#
House Rooster - https://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=H
Action Item 5 - Friends and Family
Ask your friends and family in Arizona to participate and complete Action item 1 and 2!
Action Item 6 - Social Media
Create and Share a Powerful Social Media Post!
Write your own outline for a post, reel or story everyday or every other day on whatever social media channels you use for the next two weeks. The following points are very helpful in crafting how you want to present yourself and the issues at hand in a personable and relatable way:
- Start with a Hook: Begin with a strong, emotional opening to grab attention. Consider a surprising statistic or question.
- Share your Personal Story: Connect through real stories that illustrate the challenges faced currently by Arizonans with disabilities.
- Highlight Why It Matters: Explain why this cause is so important and how it affects real lives.
- Include a Clear Call to Action: Encourage your audience to act—include links within the post if possible
- Use Powerful Visuals: Pair your post with pictures or videos to boost emotional connection.
- Use Hashtags: Make your post discoverable by adding relevant, trending hashtags. Some we have used so far are: #AdvocacyInAction and #DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights
- Stay Empowering: Make sure your tone is empathetic yet solution-focused.
Action Item 7 - Petition
Please sign and share this petition
https://www.change.org/p/support-gap-funding-for-arizona-s-division-of-developmental-disabilities?
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