Statewide Need
The number of people who require personal assistance services has grown and is expected to continue to increase. This dramatic growth in the number of people receiving support at home, and thereby avoiding institutionalization, is accompanied by a crisis in finding qualified, motivated personnel to perform personal assistance tasks. The economy and low wages for personal attendants have discouraged potential workers from choosing this line of work, and there is no support system in place to assist those already working in the field. Projects which utilize innovative means have the potential to increase both recruitment and retention of personal attendants.
Project Goal
Develop a best practice model and demonstrate strategies to increase the number of personal attendants available in the community.
Project Summary
The project proposed to create a coalition where half of the members were persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. The coalition would advise the project on a model that would best serve the community for increasing the pool of attendant care workers. The increase would be achieved through the use of the underemployed population of persons with IDD, using principles developed by California’s Council on Independent Living.
Project Period
Jun 2002 – May 2005
Contact
1631 E. 2nd St.
Austin, TX 78702
Website
Geographic Reach
Austin
