Personal Assistants

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.

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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

Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Wednesday, November 13, 2024	10:00am-12:30pm	Tim Granzow
Zoom – Virtual	Wednesday, November 13, 2024	12:00pm-2:30pm	Nadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Tuesday, November 19, 2024	11:00am-1:30pm	Tim Granzow
Austin Library – 5615 W. Race Ave.	Tuesday, November 19, 2024	12:00pm-2:30pm	Nadia Dawson
Vodak – East Side Library – 3710 E. 106th St.	Friday, November 22, 2024	12:00pm-2:30pm	Nadia Dawson
Sherman Park Library – 5440 S. Racine	Tuesday, November 26, 2024	11:30am-2:00pm	Tim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Tuesday, November 26, 2024	12:00pm-2:30pm	Nadia Dawson
West Chicago Library – 4856 W. Chicago Ave.	Tuesday, December 3, 2024	12:00pm-2:30pm	Nadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Tuesday, December 3, 2024	1:30pm-4:00pm	Tim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Wednesday, December 4, 2024	9:00am-11:30am	Tim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Thursday, December 5, 2024	1:30pm-4:00pm	Nadia Dawson
Brighton Park Library – 4314 S. Archer Ave.	Monday, December 9, 2024	10:30am-1:00pm	Tim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Tuesday, December 10, 2023	12:00pm-2:30pm	Nadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Wednesday, December 11, 2024	10:00am-1:30pm	Tim Granzow
Blackstone Library – 4904 S. Lake Park Ave.	Thursday, December 12, 2024	11:00am-1:30pm	Tim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.	Thursday, December 12, 2024	12:00pm-2:30pm	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

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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.