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Personal assistants

• More information on personal assistants

Personal assistants help people with disabilities with activities of daily living. Examples of personal assistant services (PAS) include:

• Cooking
• Cleaning
• Laundry
• Bathing
• Getting dressed
• Providing transportation
• Paperwork
• Making phone calls
• Shopping and running errands

This type of support makes it possible for many people with disabilities to live on their own. In the workplace, PAS enable an employee to perform the functions of a job. For instance, a PAS might read handwritten mail or documents or help with data entry or filing. Some employers pay for PAS.

If you choose to hire a personal assistant, keep in mind that only you know exactly what types of services you need. You have the right to hire and train a personal assistant. As the employer, make sure to set clear expectations about schedules and duties. And just as you have the right to be treated fairly and with respect, so does your personal assistant. You also can replace a personal assistant who does not work out.

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More information on personal assistants

Explore other publications and websites

• Economics and Workplace PAS (Copyright © Center for Personal Assistance Services) — this web page discusses personal assistance services in the workplace. It also provides links to other useful resources about job accommodation.
  http://www.pascenter.org/workplace_pas/index.php
• Guide to Using PAS (Copyright © Center for Personal Assistance Services) — This manual is an introduction to using personal assistance services. It answers questions about what personal assistants are, what types of tasks they can help with, and how to interview and hire a personal assistant. It also discusses the serious topic of abuse by attendants.
  http://www.pascenter.org/pas_users/questions_and_answers.php
• Help in My State (Copyright © Center for Personal Assistance Services) — This site will help you find PAS-related information in your state. Each state’s page has information about advocacy agencies, Medicaid agencies, centers for independent living, and more.
  http://www.pascenter.org/state_based_stats/pick_a_state.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pascenter.org%2Fpas_users%2Fhelp.php&title=Help%20in%20my%20State
• Personal Assistant Manual (Copyright © Southern Connecticut State University) — This manual provides advice on how to find a personal assistant who is right for you. It discusses topics such as typical tasks of a personal assistant, how to choose a personal assistant, and how to communicate effectively with your personal assistant.
  http://www.southernct.edu/drc/uploads/textWidget/wysiwyg/documents/PA_Informational_Manual.pdf
• Working Together: Personal Assistance Training and You (Copyright © Center for Personal Assistance Services) — This website provides guidance about how to use a personal assistant in order to live as independently as possible.
  http://www.pascenter.org/pas_users/q_and_a.php?url=index_pas.php

Connect with other organizations

• National Association for Home Care & Hospice
  http://www.nahc.org/

Content last updated September 22, 2009.

Resources last updated September 22, 2009.

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