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Introduction: Topics What is a personal assistant? (PA) What does a PA do? What are possible tasks? What are the qualities of good PA? What hours do PAs work? How are PAs recruited? What is a PA? A PA (sometimes called a personal care attendant or PCA) supports people with disabilities to live more independent lives. A PA works directly for and is employed by the student with a disability What does PA do? A common myth is that a personal assistant "takes care" of people. That is not true. The person with the disability is the employer. People may have some things they cannot do because of their disabilities. The role of a personal assistant is to fill in the gaps so that the person with a disability can do what everyone else does. The personal assistant may be the hands to assist with eating, or bathing; the voice to help with communication; the eyes for reading; or the feet to run errands. In the context of college life, PAs assist students both inside and outside of the classroom. Possible Tasks Each student with a disability has different needs; therefore there is a different set of tasks required for each individual. Tasks fall into two categories: Non-academic tasks Academic tasks Possible Tasks Non-academic tasks Assistance with Meals and Eating Toileting & Bathing Dressing & Grooming Positioning or Transferring to and from a wheelchair Housekeeping Running errands Other duties as needed Possible Tasks Academic tasks Taking notes Helping students with speech difficulties communicate with instructors and other students Assisting with in class assignments Lab / studio assistance Writing tests / quizzes Typing papers or turning pages What are the qualities of a good PA? Good listener Dependable Flexible Patient Respectful Willing to learn Honest Trustworthy Good sense of humor Able to follow directions The Hiring Process:Topics Questions to ask users of PAs Questions to ask prospective PAs Some helpful tips Questions to Ask users of PAs What kind of assistance will you need? Can we meet for a training session so you can show me exactly how to assist you (i.e. toileting, transfers, positioning, operating equipment, etc.)? Do you mind if I ask some questions regarding your disability? (Questions may vary depending on your knowledge of specific disabilities and your level of curiosity) How much do you pay per hour? What happens if you only need me for a portion of an hour? How often, and on what day do I get paid? What is your method for keeping records of the hours I work? Clarify times, meeting locations and start-up date. Questions to ask prospective PAs Are you still available for the days and hours written on your application? Has anything in your schedule changed since you filled out the application? Tell me about any previous experience you have had working with persons with disabilities. I will need assistance with the following (share list of needs). Will you be able to fulfill these tasks? (If interviewee is a commuting student) How do you get to school if you have a problem with your primary transportation? If your schedule allows, would you be willing to work extra hours in a situation where another Personal Assistant is unable to make it in? Do you have any questions about what the job requires? Do you have any questions you would like to ask me regarding my disability? Some Helpful Tips Have a set of questions to ask a prospective when you call them. Take notes so that you can record information about their availability, experience, and ability to do what you need. Some students find it helpful to develop a brief job description that can be shared with a prospective employee. The clearer you are on your expectations the less likely there will be any misunderstandings. The phone is a useful screening device so that you do not have to interview everyone. You can ask open ended questions that allow you to get a sense whether or not you can comfortably relate to the person. Develop a system for record-keeping. You need to keep time sheets and a method of documenting money paid, such as receipts if you are not using checks. If you do use checks, make sure to record on the memo line of the check, the period of time and the number of hours compensated. For example: 9/6/02 through 9/20/02 – 10 hours.Suggestions on How to Train Your Personal Assistant Begin by explaining your disability in as much detail as possible. Explain any technical words that you use; be as descriptive as you can. To start each training session, present an overview of that you wish to teach. At the end of the session, summarize what you have taught. If you have a second session, briefly review what you have taught in the first session and then move onto new material. Be sure to emphasize safety precautions and what to do in the case of an emergency. If you have life support equipment or require universal precautions, explain their appropriate use in detail. When giving instructions involving a procedure, like transferring, describe each step of the technique. Do not assume that your Personal Assistant will understand your explanations; ask for feedback and encourage questions. Cont…How to Train Your PA When you explain any procedure or routine to your employee, describe why it is important to you that something is done in a certain way or at a specific time. Be consistent in your explanations, and if you change your procedure, explain why you have changed it. Be patient, your Personal Assistant probably will not get all your directions right the first time or even the second. Try to be aware of your Personal Assistant’s feelings as your train. Try to be conscious of how much new knowledge the Personal Assistant can learn effectively. Some individuals may be able to learn a whole procedure at once, while others may require more gradual training sessions. If possible, have a friend, family member, or previous Personal Assistant demonstrate techniques and procedures to your new employee. Cont…How to Train Your PA Give your employee both positive and negative feedback. When your employee does a procedure incorrectly, bring it to their attention and patiently remind him or her of the correct procedure. When your employee does a procedure correctly, compliment him or her. Compliments or a "thank you" reinforce the behavior you wish to see in your new employee. Communicating with Persons Who Have Speech Difficulties Give your complete attention to the person who has difficulty speaking. Be patient. Don’t correct and don’t speak for the person. Allow extra time. Give help when needed. Keep your manner encouraging. Ask questions that require short answers or a nod or shake of the head, when necessary. If you have difficulty understanding, don’t pretend. Repeat as much as you do understand. The person’s reaction will cue you. If you are stuck on a specific word, ask the person to spell it for you; sometimes all you need are the first few letters before you get it. If you are still unable to understand what is being said, ask person to try using another word, or to word the message differently. |