The Utah Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) provides a variety of supports to help people with disabilities live more independently and participate fully in their communities. These supports are designed to meet the unique needs of each individual. Some people require around-the-clock care, while others may only need a few hours of assistance each week to remain independent. Services can include help with daily living tasks, supported employment, day programs, or respite care for family members.
Currently, over 7,000 Utahns receive DSPD services. The impact of these services is significant. For families caring for loved ones with disabilities, the support provides essential relief from constant caregiving responsibilities. Adults with disabilities who are able to work can access training, transportation, or other assistance that helps them enter or remain in the workforce. Individuals who might otherwise feel socially isolated have opportunities to connect with peers and participate in meaningful activities in their communities. In essence, DSPD services help people with disabilities live fuller, more independent lives.
Context for the Waitlist
The presence of a waitlist exists because the demand for services exceeds the resources available at any given time. In theory, even with additional legislative funding the waitlist won’t disappear entirely. Families who delayed applying for services due to uncertainty, lengthy processes, or concerns about availability would be likely to come forward, increasing the number of individuals seeking services. Population growth, increased awareness of available services, and changes in family circumstances all contribute to a steady stream of new applicants. This means that while the waitlist can be reduced, it is unlikely to disappear entirely.
The waitlist also allows DSPD to prioritize services for individuals with the greatest needs. People in urgent situations, those with critical health or safety concerns, or those at risk of losing family support are served first. Because of this priority system, individuals may find themselves higher or lower on the list at any given time, based on the characteristics and needs of others currently waiting.
Funding the Waitlist
Despite the substantial number of individuals currently receiving services, demand far exceeds the capacity of the system. In addition to the 7,157 people actively receiving support, another 5,345 individuals are on the waitlist for services. Addressing the needs of individuals currently on the waitlist would require an additional $74 million each year. However, the waitlist only represents part of the overall need. DSPD estimates that an additional 19,000 Utahns are eligible for services but are not yet receiving them nor are they on the waitlist. Providing support to all eligible individuals would require an estimated $241 million in ongoing funding each year.
In the 2025 General Session, the Utah Legislature appropriated $6.0 million ongoing from the General Fund to DSPD to support services and help address the waitlist. This continues a pattern of incremental investments by the Legislature in recent years:
- 2024 General Session: $5 million ongoing;
- 2023 General Session: $3.0 million one-time and $3.5 million ongoing; and
- 2022 General Session: $6 million ongoing.
These appropriations represent important steps in expanding services and providing additional support to individuals and families who in some cases have waited decades to receive services. Even incremental increases can make a meaningful difference, whether by adding hours of respite care, expanding access to day programs, or helping more adults with disabilities enter the workforce. When ongoing appropriations fund moving people from the waitlist to DSPD support, federal funds are typically available as match which makes state investments go farther. While funding for the entire DSPD budget includes a mix of state and federal resources, the limited services provided to individuals on the waitlist such as short-term or emergency support are funded entirely with state dollars. In fact, in the last three Fiscal Years, DHHS spent an average of $6.5 million to provide respite or emergency services to those on the wait list.