Introduction

What is a personal assistant?

A personal assistant provides services to a person with a disability or a chronic condition. Personal assistants are called by many names:

attendant
personal assistant
personal care attendant or assistant
home-care worker or an aide

We use the term personal assistant or PA on this web site. The PA works under the supervision of a person with a disability. The PA helps with physical activities. This help lets a person with a disability to live independently. Sometimes a family member serves as a PA. Some family members are paid and some are not paid.

This web site focuses on topics about personal assistant services. Even if friends or family members provide your PA services, we suggest that you read these materials.

This site can help you to

think about your needs
help you to clearly express those needs to a prospective PA
help you to "hire" the best volunteer or paid assistant for the position

Your PA will take the job more seriously if you are prepared. You should not feel vulnerable. You need to feel in charge regardless of whether or not you pay your assistant in cash. You may wish to enter into some form of a bartering system. You trade a service in exchange for your personal assistance services. In this way, the power does not lie solely with the personal assistant, but is balanced between you.

Persons with disabilities and PAs took part in reviewing this web site. Our philosophy is that a personal assistant is an extension of you, the employer. The PA will carry out tasks that enable you to live your life as you choose. As you review this site, think about why you want a personal assistant. How do you want your life to be improved as a result of using personal assistants? We recommend that you review this entire site and hone in on those sections and pages where you feel weakest. You may want to refer to this site more than once.

Independence

Being independent means

leading an active and independent life
choosing where and how you want to live, work, play
actively participate in your community
to make the decisions that affect your life.

The most effective way to do this is through consumer control, the key to independence.

Consumer Control

Consumer control means that you, the consumer, are in charge of your own life. You, the consumer, decide what services you need to live independently. You recruit and hire a PA, either directly or through an agency.

Whether you hire a PA directly or through an agency,

you direct and oversee the work to be done
you make decisions on how it is done
you supervise the work of the PA.

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