Nadia Dawson
PA 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 $18.75/hour and CNAs $21.75/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 $18.75/hour, and CNAs $21.75/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 Dariusz Barwacz or Nadia Dawson
| Location | Date | Time | Facilitator |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, November 3, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 9:00am-11:30am | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Edgebrook Library – 5331 W. Devon Avenue | Friday, November 7, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| North Austin Library – 5724 W. North Ave | Monday, November 10, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Toman Library – 2708 S. Pulaski Ave. | Tuesday, November 11, 2025 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Little Village Library – 2311 S Kedzie Ave | Friday, November 14, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Austin Library – 5615 W. Race Avenue | Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence Ave | Friday, November 21, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted St | Monday, November 24, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Avalon Library – 8148 S Stony Island Ave | Monday, December 1, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Wednesday, December 3, 2025 | 9:00am-11:30am | Dariusz Barwacz |
| West Belmont Library – 3104 N. Narragansett Ave. | Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, December 8, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, December 9, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, December 11, 2025 | 10:00am-12:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence Ave | Friday, December 12, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| North Austin Library – 5724 W. North Ave | Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 10:00am-12:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Virtual – Zoom | Friday, December 19, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Greater Grand Crossing Library – 1000 E. 73rd St. | Tuesday, January 6, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, January 8, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Friday, January 9, 2025 | 9:00am-11:30am | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, January 12, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, January 13, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Legler Library – 115 S. Pulaski Rd. | Thursday, January 15, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence Ave | Friday, January 16, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, January 20, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Thursday, January 22, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| North Austin Library – 5724 W. North Ave | Friday, January 23, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted St | Tuesday, January 27, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, January 29, 2025 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
Please RSVP to Dariusz Barwacz or Nadia Dawson
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.