Finding, paying, and retaining quality personal attendance providers is critical for most of us. In order to live on our own, outside of an institution, most of us need help. Our members have said the following about how this issue impacts us directly:
- We don't get to choose who our attendants are.
- People take/steal our things.
- (Attendants) often don't take the amount of time they should.
- People do not respect our independence.
- People don't listen to what we say or want.
- People take advantage of us when we're kind.
- Sometimes we are afraid that if we complain, decent attendants will quit and leave us without the everyday support we need to live.
- The number of hours that good attendants are available is limited.
- Sometimes help isn't available even if the money is.
Some of the things we would like to see change include:
- Screening of attendants more closely (for drugs as well as attitudes)
- Individuals with disabilities should have some say in who cares for them.
- Better and on-going training for providers of personal assistance
- Expectation that providers should listen and be more respectful
- Paying higher wages for quality care
- Enforce existing laws that are supposed to protect people from abuse and neglect.
