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 $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

LocationDateTimeFacilitator
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor)Monday, January 12, 202612:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, January 13, 202612:00pm-2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Legler Library – 115 S. Pulaski Rd.Thursday, January 15, 202612:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence AveFriday, January 16, 202612:00pm-2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, January 20, 202612:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Virtual – ZoomThursday, January 22, 202612:00pm-2:30pmNadia Dawson
Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted StTuesday, January 27, 202612:00pm-2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, January 29, 20269:00am-11:30amDariusz Barwacz
Austin-Irving Library – 6100 W. Irving Park RoadTuesday, February 3, 20261:00pm – 3:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, February 5, 202610:00am-12:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Virtual – ZoomFriday, February 6, 20269:00am-11:30amDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, February 10, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Bezazian Library – 1226 W. Ainslie St. Thursday, February 11, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence AveFriday, February 13, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
North Austin Library – 5724 W. North AveTuesday, February 17, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Virtual – ZoomWednesday, February 18, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, February 19, 202610:00am-12:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Independence Library – 4024 N. Elston Ave. Friday, February 20, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St.Monday, February 23, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted StTuesday, February 24, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, February 26, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
North Pulaski Library  – 4300 W. North Ave.Tuesday, March 3, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, March 5, 202610:00am-12:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Virtual – ZoomFriday, March 6, 20269:00am-11:30amDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, March 10, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Kelly Library – 6151 S. Normal Blvd. Thursday, March 12, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmNadia Dawson
Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence AveFriday, March 13, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
North Austin Library – 5724 W. North AveTuesday, March 17, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Virtual – ZoomWednesday, March 18, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, March 19, 202610:00am-12:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Uptown Library – 929 W. Buena Ave.Monday, March 20, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St.Monday, March 23, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, March 26, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted StTuesday, March 31, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz

Please RSVP to Dariusz Barwacz or Nadia Dawson

 

Nadia Dawson

PA Coordinator

ndawson@accessliving.org

(312) 640-2184

 

Dariusz Barwacz

Personal Assistant Training Coordinator

dbarwacz@accessliving.org

(312) 640-2151

 
 

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.