“Meet the Attendants:” A Tribute to Personal Assistance Services
Recently, I have had the privilege of going on the road to various towns in Missouri, meeting with attendants and the consumers they work for. I have been very pleased to observe the working relationship as well as the friendship they have developed with each other. They allowed me to videotape their personal experiences – what it is like to be an attendant and what they have enjoyed the most about it. The consumer enriched me with his/her independence and empowerment as a result of being on the PAS program. The consumers expressed nothing but gratitude for their attendants. They reflected on what having a good attendant has done for their quality of life. They told in great detail all that is involved with their care, and, through the assistance of their attendant, how many have been able to go back to work, have their own home, and, most importantly, lead their own life!
I am writing this article to express my respect to all the individuals who work as personal assistants. So many times articles are written or stories told referring to the negative aspects of a personal assistant. It seems the positive stories are seldom ever told. Personal assistants allow individuals with disabilities to live life independently. Empowering individuals with disabilities to pursue their own goals is very important work. One quote by an individual stated, “My doctor saved my life; my personal attendant allowed me to live.” Personal assistants are the link between individuals with disabilities and their independence. Without that link many individuals would face loss of their freedom, dignity, and premature loss of their life.
It has been proven that good quality personal assistance improves an individual’s self-esteem, ability to work and socialize, and overall improves their quality of life. It cannot be expressed enough the importance of personal assistants. They truly are unique individuals in our society.
To describe a personal assistant is difficult to do, because they can do things that medical professionals, psychologists, social workers and educators cannot do. It is because the person with a disability directs his/her own assistance that allows them their maximum independence – a service that is made possible only by a personal assistant. “Without them, many of the effects of rehabilitation would be wasted and independence only a dream”, says Randy Francka, a teacher at Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, Mo., who has a spinal cord injury.
A personal assistant enables a person with a disability the possibility of achieving their hopes and dreams, living life on their terms. Together the teamwork established by the consumer and attendant can be very fulfilling and rewarding to both.
Christopher Reeve could not have given a speech or been able to write his book “Still Me” without them. He acknowledges his assistants in the foreword of his book. Elizabeth Keubler-Ross, a well know psychiatrist who wrote many books on the different stages of death and dying, suffered a stroke in 1995 that left her paralyzed on her right side. In one of her books, written after her stroke, she tells how it would not have been possible with out her attendant “Anna” who allowed her to live in her home and not in an institution.
Always keep in mind how important you are, and strive to be your very best. Be willing to learn whatever your employer is willing to teach you. Once a good employer/employee relationship is established it can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences available to human beings. It is only when the person with the disability directs his/her own service that he/she gains their maximum independence.
I hope you benefit from this manual.
I would like to personally thank everyone who opened up their homes and told their stories in an effort to educate legislators and service professionals about the independence their attendants have enabled them to achieve.
As I look back on my 18 years as a personal care attendant, it has been, without a doubt the most important and rewarding work I have ever done. I remember something a long time ago I read, I would like to share with all of you… “To know that even one life has breathed easier, because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.”
Attendants, be proud of who you are. We may be a small number compared to the rest of the world of professionals, but we were blessed with the ability to be the chosen few who could effectively work as attendants.
Benita Nease