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.


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.Thursday, May 1, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, May 6, 202510:00am-12:30pmTim Granzow
Uptown Library – 929 W. BuenaTuesday, May 6, 202512:30pm-3:00pmNadia Dawson
Clearing Library – 6423 W. 63rd PlaceFriday, May 9, 20259:30am-12:00pmTim Granzow
Legler Regional Library – 115 S. Pulaski Rd.Friday, May 9, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Virtual – ZoomWednesday, May 14, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
TENTATIVE LOCATION: Merlo Library – 644 W. BelmontThursday, May 15, 202510:30am-1:00pmTim Granzow
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor)Monday, May 19, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, May 20, 20252:00pm-4:30pmTim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, May 21, 202510:00am-12:30pmTim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, May 22, 202512:30pm-3:00pmNadia Dawson
Roden Library – 6083 N. Northwest HwyTuesday, May 27, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
TENTATIVE Location: Blackstone Library – 4904 S. Lake Park Ave.Thursday, May 29, 202511:30am-2:00pmTim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, May 29, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, June 3, 202510:30am-1:00pmTim Granzow
Dunning Library – 7455 W. Cornelia Ave.Tuesday, June 3, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, June 5, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, June 10, 20252:30pm-5:00pmTim Granzow
Back Of The Yards Library – 2111 W. 47th St.Wednesday, June 11, 202511:30am-2:00pmTim Granzow
Virtual – ZoomWednesday, June 11, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor)Monday, June 16, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, June 18, 202510:00am-12:30pmTim Granzow
Logan Square Library – 3030 W. Fullerton Ave.Wednesday, June 18, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, June 24, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Northtown Library – 6800 N. WesternThursday, June 26, 20251:00pm-3:30pmTim Granzow
Vodak-East Side Library – 3710 E. 106th St.Friday, June 27, 20259:30am-12:00pmTim Granzow
Douglass Library – 3353 W. 13th St.Friday, June 27, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Back of the Yards – 2111 W. 47th St.Tuesday, July 1, 202512:30pm-3:00pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. ChicagoTuesday, July 1, 20251:30pm-4:00pmTim Granzow
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor)Monday, July 7, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S. Halsted St.Wednesday, July 9, 202511:00am-1:30pmTim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, July 10, 202510:30am-1:00pmTim Granzow
Independence Library – 4024 N. ElstonTuesday, July 15, 202512:30pm-3:00pmTim Granzow
Virtual – ZoomWednesday, July 16, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
King Library – 3436 S. King Dr.Thursday, July 17, 202512:30pm-3:00pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, July 22, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, July 23, 202511:30am-2:00pmTim Granzow
Jeffrey Manor Library – 2401 E. 100th St.Friday, July 25, 20259:30am-12:00pmTim Granzow
Rogers Park – 6907 W. Clark St.Friday, July 25, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Chicago Bee – 3647 S. State St.Tuesday, July 29, 202512:30pm-3:00pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, July 30, 202510:00am-12:30pmTim Granzow
Sherman Park Library – 5440 S. Racine St.Friday, August 1, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, August 5, 202510:30am-1:00pmTim Granzow
Oriole Park Library – 7454 W. Balmoral Ave.Tuesday, August 5, 202512:30pm-3:00pmNadia Dawson
Hegewisch Library – 3048 E. 130th St.Tuesday, August 12, 20251:30pm-4:00pmTim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, August 13, 202511:30am-2:00pmTim Granzow
Virtual – ZoomWednesday, August 13, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor)Monday, August 18, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, August 19, 20252:30pm-5:00pmTim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, August 21, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Location TBDFriday, August 22, 20259:30am-12:00pmTim Granzow
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, August 26, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Location TBDWednesday, August 27, 202512:30pm-3:00pmTim Granzow
Scottsdale Library – 4101 W. 79th St.Thursday, August 28, 202512:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
 

Tim Granzow

Senior PA Training Coordinator

tgranzow@accessliving.org

(312) 640-2193

 

Nadia Dawson

PA Coordinator

ndawson@accessliving.org

(312) 640-2184

 
 

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.