Jake’s success depends on trust. And trust depends on long-term, stable direct support staff who are paid fairly enough to stay.
Jake is 25 years old. He has Down syndrome and autism, along with health and sensory needs that require close supervision for his safety. He thrives with consistent, one-on-one support from people who know him well and understand how he communicates.
Through self-direction, Jake has built a consistent team of direct support staff who know him well. They recognize his cues, understand when he is becoming overstimulated, and step in early to keep small challenges from becoming bigger ones. They help him navigate his day-to-day activities safely, monitor his eating to prevent choking, and support his daily routines with patience and respect.
Since enrolling in self-direction services (SDS), Jake has experienced a noticeable decrease in challenging behaviors because his individual needs are consistently understood and met. In larger group settings, he can become overwhelmed or confused when instructions are delivered all at once, which often leads to frustration. With the support of his dedicated staff, instructions are broken down into clear, manageable steps tailored to his level of understanding. Activities are thoughtfully adapted so he can fully participate and feel included. Jake benefits from consistent redirection, especially from staff members he knows and trusts. He thrives when offered choices, and as his confidence has grown, he has begun suggesting activities on his own. His team also recognizes when he needs breaks, which have always been essential to helping him regulate and succeed.
“They know how he communicates,” his mom Tracy explains. “They understand his expressions, his gestures, and the ways he lets you know what he needs. The communication strategies we practice at home carry over into the community, which helps him feel confident and understood wherever he goes. And the thought of losing them is like losing family.” When staff stay, Jake feels safe. When he feels safe, he learns. When he trusts the people around him, he grows.
With stable support in place, Jake’s days are full and meaningful. He takes art and drum circle classes, spends time at a local estuary, and participates in activities that keep him active and connected to his community. Even small details matter. Each staff member knows the music he loves and uses it to motivate, calm, or celebrate with him.
Self-direction also allows flexibility that reflects Jake as a person, not just a schedule. If he is tired or overstimulated, his day can adjust. If he needs one-on-one time instead of a group activity, that choice is respected. In many traditional, group-based settings, staff and schedules are shared, which can limit that level of responsiveness.
“He would be lost in a traditional program,” Tracy says. Traditional programs often serve multiple individuals at once, with
structured schedules designed to meet a wide range of needs. While those settings work well for others, they may not always allow for the individualized pacing, communication support, and consistent one-on-one attention that Jake relies on to feel safe and engaged.
Proposed cuts to self-directed staff wages threaten the stability that makes Jake’s progress possible. Finding qualified staff is already difficult. Keeping them requires wages that reflect the responsibility and skill the job demands.
“Do you know how hard it is to find staff?” Tracy asks. “And when you finally find the right ones, you’re terrified of losing them.”
If wages are reduced, experienced staff may be forced to leave for better-paying work. For Jake, that would not simply mean meeting someone new. It would mean rebuilding trust from the beginning, relearning routines, and risking setbacks in safety and skill development.
Self-direction works because it allows supports to be individualized, flexible, and built around the person. It also uses public dollars intentionally, funding the specific supports Jake needs rather than a one-size-fits-all model. The result is meaningful community inclusion, skill building, and stability.
For Jake, self-direction is not about convenience. It is about dignity, safety, and the ability to live a life that reflects who he is.
“It’s his choice,” Tracy says. “Self-direction allows him to live his life, not have it dictated by someone else.”