Kate Movius knew it would be challenging when her son Aidan, who experiences profound autism, turned 22 and aged out of the programs and services provided through his school.

What she didn't anticipate was the two years she would spend in a fruitless search for an adult program that fit her son. Ultimately, the family ditched the wait lists and created their own form of weekly programming for Aidan and others in the community.

Finding an open space in a program that fit Aidan was made even more difficult by a staffing shortage among service providers, which couldn't keep up with the demand from the growing developmentally disabled community. That shortage, Movius said, stemmed from the providers' inability to offer competitive wages.

Pushed by the Lanterman Coalition and other advocates, the state of California moved in 2021 to phase in higher reimbursement rates for the services provided to the developmentally disabled. This year, however, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed to delay the final increase to help reduce the state's budget deficit. Advocates and families say such a delay would only leave essential services further out of families' reach.

The Moviuses' recent experiences with Aidan, a now-23-year-old who loves to paint, make music on his Casio keyboard and play sports, illustrates the challenge faced by families with young developmentally disabled adults.

A year before Aidan turned 22, the family started looking for day programs in their Highland Park community, to no avail.

Through its 21 regional centers across California, the Department of Developmental Services evaluates young adults and then refers families to providers who can assist with their specific needs.

Movius' regional center recommended four programs in her area, but none were feasible because they did not have enough staff to provide one-on-one support. Aidan needs such support because he's wandered away from his caregivers several times over the years.

"We were told by three of these programs that, while they did serve adults with autism, they wouldn't accept individuals 'with behaviors,'" Movius said.

There was one program that seemed promising, but it was right next to a busy street and it didn't have a security system. Movius didn't enroll him there out of fear that he would run into the street.

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