---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 15111"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "15111"
heading: "Findings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/15111"
units:
  - "Chapter 144 — Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights"
  - "Subchapter III — Program for Direct Support Workers Who Assist Individuals with Developmental Disabilities"
---

# §15111. Findings


Congress finds that—

- (1) direct support workers, especially young adults, have played essential roles in providing the support needed by individuals with [developmental disabilities](/usc/42/15112.md?p=1) and expanding community options for those individuals;
- (2) 4 factors have contributed to a decrease in the available pool of direct support workers, specifically—
  - (A) the small population of individuals who are age 18 through 25, an age group that has been attracted to direct support work in the past;
  - (B) the rapid expansion of the service sector, which attracts individuals who previously would have elected to pursue employment as direct support workers;
  - (C) the failure of wages in the human services sector to keep pace with wages in other service sectors; and
  - (D) the lack of quality training and career advancement opportunities available to direct support workers; and
- (3) individuals with [developmental disabilities](/usc/42/15112.md?p=1) benefit from assistance from direct support workers who are well trained, and benefit from receiving services from professionals who have spent time as direct support workers.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–402, title III, § 301, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1734.)