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 $20/hour, and CNAs $23/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
- 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 Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS/IDRS) serves as the fiscal agent for the Home Services Program, which means that they will pay you. Access Living is not responsible for payment or regulation of payment.
- The State of Illinois pays personal assistants $20/hour, and CNAs $23/hour.
To attend PA trainings you must bring your:
- Photo ID (Driver’s License or State ID)
- Resume
- 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 |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Austin Library – 5615 W. Race Ave. | Thursday, July 9, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Virtual – Zoom | Friday, July 10, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Monday, July 13, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, July 16, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence Ave | Friday, July 17, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted St | Tuesday, July 21, 2026 | 10:00am-12:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 9:30am-12:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Virtual – Zoom | Friday, July 24, 2026 | 9:00am – 11:30am | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| South Shore Library – 2505 E. 73rd St. | Friday, July 31, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| North Austin Library – 5724 W. North Ave | Monday, August 3, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Virtual – Zoom | Friday, August 7, 2026 | 9:00 am – 11:30am | Dariusz Barwacz |
| North Austin Library – 5724 W. North Ave | Monday, August 10, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St. (6th floor) | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, August 13, 2026 | 12:00 pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence Ave | Friday, August 14, 2026 | 12:30pm – 3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Walker Library – 11071 S. Hoyne Ave | Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | 12:30pm – 3:00pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | 12:30pm – 3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Virtual – Zoom | Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | 12:00pm – 2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 9:30am- 12:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Logan Square Library – 3030 W. Fullerton Ave. | Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | 12:00pm-2:30pm | Nadia Dawson |
| Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted St | Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | 12:30pm-3:00pm | Dariusz Barwacz |
| Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave. | Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 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.