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 |
| Logan Square Library – 3030 W. Fullerton Ave | Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence Ave | Monday, April 6, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Thursday, April 9, 2026 | 9:00am-11:30am | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Kelly Library – 5161 S. Normal Blvd. | Friday April 10, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| North Austin Library – 5724 W. North Ave | Monday, April 15, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Hall Library – 4801 S. Michigan Ave. | Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, April 20, 2026 | 12:00pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Wednesday, April 21, 2026 | 9:30am-12:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Virtual – Zoom | Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 12:00pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Northtown Branch Library – 6800 N Western Ave | Friday, April 24, 2026 | 12:30 pm – 3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted St | Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | 12:00pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| North Austin Library – 5724 W. North Ave | Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Friday, May 8, 2026 | 9:00 am – 11:30am | Nadia Dawson |
| Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted St | Monday, May 11, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Little Village Library – 2311 S. Kedzie Ave | Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence Ave | Friday, May 15, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, May 18, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 12:00pm- 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Mayfair Library – 4400 W. Lawrence Ave. | Friday, May 22, 2026 | 12:00pm- 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Mount Greenwood Library – 11010 S. Kedzie Ave | Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | 12:30pm – 3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 9:00am- 11:30am | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, June 9, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Dunning Library – 7455 W. Cornelia Ave. | Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence Ave | Friday, June 12, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, June 15, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| North Austin Library – 5724 W. North Ave | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Rogers Park Library – 6907 N. Clark St. | Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, June 25, 2026 | 9:30am-12:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted St | Tuesday, June 30, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
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.