Tim Granzow
Senior PA Training Coordinator
Personal Assistants: An Independent Living Resource
As part of the Independent Living philosophy, Access Living provides disabled people with the resources to hire and employ their own personal assistants. We also train people who would like to become a personal assistant for people with disabilities. The State of Illinois pays personal assistants $17.25/hour and CNAs $18.50/hour.
Please Note: Access Living is not a hiring agency for personal assistants.
How do I become a Personal Assistant (PA)?
Access Living provides training for people interested in becoming a Personal Assistant. Training sessions are held several times a month at Access Living and at other local community organizations.
Important Information about the PA training program:
- Our program is for training only
- In many cases, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS/IDRS) serves as the fiscal agent, which means that they will pay you. Access Living is not responsible for payment or regulation of payment.
- PAs are hired by people with disabilities themselves, meaning you’ll be employed by the person you’re hired to support, not by Access Living.
- The State of Illinois pays personal assistants $17.25/hour, and CNAs $18.50/hour.
To attend PA trainings you must bring your:
- Photo ID (Driver’s License or State ID)
- Social Security Card
- Resume and three professional references
- Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate (if applicable)
Upcoming training dates are as follows and please RSVP to Tim Granzow or Nadia Dawson
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, December 16, 2024 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Edgewater Library – 6000 N. Broadway | Tuesday, December 17, 2024 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| Virtual – Zoom | Wednesday, December 18, 2024 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| King Library – 3436 S. King Dr. | Friday, December 20, 2024 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Mayfair Library – 4400 W. Lawrence Ave. | Tuesday, January 7, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, January 7, 2025 | 2:30pm-5:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| King Library – 3436 S. King Drive | Wednesday, January 8, 2025 | 10:30am-1:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, January 9, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| North Pulaski Library – 4300 W. North Ave | Tuesday, January 14, 2024 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Wednesday, January 15, 2024 | 11:30am-2:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| Virtual – Zoom | Wednesday, January 22, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Rogers Park Library – 6907 N. Clark St. | Thursday, January 23, 2025 | 1:30pm-4:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | 10:00am-12:30pm | Tim Granzow |
| South Shore Library – 2505 E. 73rd St. | Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Brainerd Library – 1350 W. 89th St. | Friday, January 31, 2025 | 9:30am-12:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, February 4, 2024 | 11:30am-2:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, February 4, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Wednesday, February 12, 2025 | 10:30am-1:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| TENATIVE LOCATION: Grand Crossing Library – 1000 E. 73rd St. | Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 1:00pm-3:30pm | Tim Granzow |
| Blackstone Library – 4904 S. Lake Park Ave. | Friday, February 14, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, February 17, 2025 | 12:00pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Logan Square Library – 3030 W. Fullerton | Tuesday, February 18, 2025 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Tim Granzow |
| Virtual – Zoom | Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Brainard Library – 1350 W. 89th St. | Tuesday, February 25, 2025 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 9:00am-11:30am | Tim Granzow |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| To Be Determined | Friday, February 28, 2025 | 9:30am-12:00pm | Tim Granzow |
I’m a disabled person. How do I hire my own personal assistant?
Access Living keeps a database of certified personal assistants available to hire for people with disabilities to access. You tell us about your needs and what you’re looking for, and we’ll send resumes for you to review. After that, you choose which people you’d like to interview and hire.
Our coordinators can help you navigate any issues you might have with your personal assistant, such as communicating how you would like an activity performed, terminating their employment, and more.
To access the PA database, or to learn more, please contact a Personal Assistant Coordinator.