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 $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)

Gift Card Raffle

One gift card winner per in-person training.

The upcoming training dates are listed below. Please RSVP to Dariusz Barwacz or Nadia Dawson.

LocationDateTimeFacilitator
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, September 2, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Pullman Library – 11001 S. Indiana St.Thursday, September 3, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Virtual – ZoomFriday, September 4, 20269:00am – 11:30amDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, September 8, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St.Monday, September 14, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, September 16, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Rogers Library – 6907 N. ClarkThursday, September 17, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence AveFriday, September 18, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
North Austin Library – 5724 W. North AveMonday, September 21, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, September 24, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Virtual – ZoomFriday, September 25, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted StWednesday, September 30, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, October 1, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmNadia Dawson
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St.Monday, October 5, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, October 7, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Roden Library – 6083 N. Northwest Hwy.Thursday, October 8, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmNadia Dawson
Virtual – ZoomFriday, October 9, 20269:00am – 11:30amDariusz Barwacz
North Austin Library – 5724 W. North AveMonday, October 12, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, October 15, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Wednesday, October 21, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Virtual – ZoomThursday, October 22, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Jefferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence AveFriday, October 23, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Austin Library –  5615 W. Racine Ave.Tuesday, October 27, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmNadia Dawson
Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted StWednesday, October 28, 202612:30pm – 3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, November 3, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Virtual – ZoomThursday, November 5, 20269:00am-11:30amDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, November 10, 20269:00am-11:30amDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Thursday, November 12, 2026
12:00pm – 2:30pm
Nadia Dawson
Greater Grand Crossing Library 100 E. 73rd StFriday, November 13 2026
12:00pm – 2:30pm
Nadia Dawson
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St.Monday, November 16, 2026
12:00pm – 2:30pm
Nadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, November 17, 202612:00pm-2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Lincoln Belmont – 1659 N. MelroseThursday, November 19, 202612:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
efferson Park Library – 5363 W Lawrence AveFriday, November 20, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
North Austin Library – 5724 W. North AveMonday, November 23, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Virtual – ZoomTuesday, November 24, 2026
12:00pm – 2:30pmNadia Dawson
Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted StMonday, November 30, 2026
12:30pm-3:00pm
Dariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, December 1, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pm
Nadia Dawson
Virtual – ZoomFriday, December 4, 20269:00am-11:30am
Dariusz Barwacz
Harold Washington Library – 400 S. State St.Monday, December 7, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pm
Nadia Dawson
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, December 8, 202612:00pm-2:30pmDariusz Barwacz
Woodson Regional Library – 9525 S Halsted StThursday, December 10, 202612:30pm-3:00pmNadia Dawson
North Austin Library – 5724 W. North AveMonday, December 14, 202612:30pm-3:00pmDariusz Barwacz
Access Living – 115 W. Chicago Ave.Tuesday, December 15, 20269:30am-12:00 pmDariusz Barwacz
Virtual – ZoomWednesday, December 16, 202612:00 pm – 2:30pm
Nadia Dawson

Please RSVP to Dariusz Barwacz or Nadia Dawson

 

Nadia Dawson

Personal Assistant Training Coordinator

[email protected]

(312) 640-2184

 

Dariusz Barwacz

Senior Personal Assistant Training Coordinator

[email protected]

(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.