Beckwith HallQuestions:
- How are personal assistants assigned?
- How many PAs should I hire?
- What is a floater? A meal assistant? A night clerk?
- Can I receive personal assistant services from someone of my same gender?
- How do I receive assistance with the restroom in the afternoon? Will this person be of my same gender?
- Do I need to come back to Beckwith if I need to use the restroom?
- Do Beckwith students have "free flow" meal services like other University Housing residents?
- What do I do if my PA does not come to assist me when scheduled?
- How many hours of PA care am I allowed per week?
- May I take the Beckwith PA with me to assist me in the library, the bank or at the mall?
- Will the floater help me with my homework?
- Will my PA have experience with this type of work?
- Can I hire my own PA?
- What do I do if I need medical attention?
- How do I get registered for classes? How do I get to and from class? What if I need a note taker? What if I need assistance with test taking? How do I get involved in athletic programs? What if my chair breaks down?
Q1: How are personal assistants assigned?
Personal Assistants (PAs) services are divided into two categories; direct and indirect services. Direct services are those services that each student requires on a daily basis such as morning and evening assistance (i.e., showering, dressing, bowel and bladder care). Indirect services are unplanned service needs that a student requires throughout the the day and evening hours (i.e., putting on winter outdoor garments, assisting in setting up homework and/or books, etc.).
Beckwith management is responsible for recruiting, screening, hiring and generally training personal assistants. After applicants have completed this process they are placed on a list on a list, which is made available to the Beckwith students. Each student then is required to hire, specifically train, and schedule their own PAs for their direct service needs.
The Beckwith management also uses this list of trained applicants to schedule PAs for indirect services.
Q2:How many PAs should I hire?
Each student should develop a daily schedule determining what activities of daily living they will require assistance in performing. Once the student has determined what their PA needs are, it is up to the student to locate enough workers to fulfill their needs. Based on previous student care needs, the average student requires 5-6 PAs.
Q3: What is a floater? A meal assistant? A night clerk?
Floaters, meal assistant, and night clerks make up the indirect services staff. The PAs who work these shifts are hired to work with all the Beckwith students during their shifts in assisting with the daily, unexpected events or otherwise unscheduled needs. Specifically, floaters work shifts between 8 a.m. and 12 midnight and generally answer the in-house emergency call system, assist students with books, coats, bladder care needs. The meal assistants are scheduled to work during each meal and are responsible for assisting with trays, cutting up food, setting up adaptive equipment, and feeding. The night clerks are scheduled to work 12 midnight to 8 a.m. and are responsible for the same activities as the floater, and are additionally responsible for performing night turns and security rounds.
Q4: Can I receive personal assistant services from someone of my same gender?
Yes. The PA program was developed to allow the student the freedom of hiring and supervising their own PAs, so each student can hire PAs based on their own needs and comfort level.
Q5: How do I receive assistance with the restroom in the afternoon? Will this person be of my same gender?
This is one of the functions of the floater. In this case, we can not guarantee same gender care. If a student feels uncomfortable requesting this type of service from the floater, the student should attempt to schedule assistance independently.
Q6: Do I need to come back to Beckwith if I need to use the restroom?
Most students schedule their classes so that they can return to Beckwith in the afternoon for lunch and a restroom break. This works well for them and the floater can assist them with their restroom break. However, if a student preferred to remain on-campus the students should independently schedule a PA to meet them for assistance. If a student prefers to remain on campus, the student should be sure to identify an accessible restroom.
Q7: Do Beckwith students have "free flow" meal services like other University Housing residents?
Yes and No. Beckwith Hall has a food services contracted through an outside agency, as opposed to University Housing. However, each Beckwith resident is given a Housing meal contract at no extra charge that allows them to eat on campus when necessary. The stipulation is that residents should prearrange this with the Beckwith Resident Director and agree to forfeit their Beckwith meals for the times when they are eating on campus.
Information about UIUC Housing and Dining Services can be accessed at http://www.urh.uiuc.edu.
Q8: What do I do if my PA does not come to assist me when scheduled?
If a PA does not come when they are scheduled the student should attempt to contact one of their other PAs to come in and provide assistance. If another PA is not available the PA can contact the floater or night clerk for assistance.
Q9: How many hours of PA care am I allowed per week?
Each student is allowed up to 5 hours of PA care per day, which totals 35 hours per week. Residents very rarely use this many hours and are required to give a PA care time estimate before each semester. Students should be aware that if they go over 5 hours a day they will be charged for each hour per day.
Q10: May I take the Beckwith PA with me to assist me in the library, the bank or at the mall?
No. Beckwith PAs are to be used for in-house ADL service needs only. It is the students responsibility to locate and finance this sort of assistance, independently of Beckwith Hall.
Q11: Will the floater help me with my homework?
No. Floaters and other PAs are scheduled to assist with ADL service needs. If homework assistance is needed, residents should contact the Coordinator of Services at DRES to determine how to hire a tutor and/or a reader/writer.
Q12: Will my PA have experience with this type of work?
Not necessarily. The average Beckwith PA is a University of Illinois student. Some PAs are seeking degrees in areas that require some experience with working with people with disabilities and the work at Beckwith is their first experience. Each PA is trained on the basic area needed to work at Beckwith. Each student should train their PAs in regards to their specific care needs. Most PAs are eager to help and willing to learn.
Q13: Can I hire my own PA?
Students are allowed to assist Beckwith management in locating PA applicants. Prior to working with a student, each applicant, whether chosen by management or a student, must submit an application, undergo screening, attend training, and interview with Beckwith management.
Q14: What do I do if I need medical attention?
Most students obtain some type of medical insurance, either through a parent's employment plan or through UIUC student insurance. The on-campus medical facility is McKinley Health Center. If you are in need of medical attention McKinley Health Center can be accessed throughout the day hours and serve as a reference point for other health care needs. There are also several major medical clinics in the area. All three medical centers have physicians who specialize in patients with disabilities. Transportation, during MHC and other clinic hours, can be arranged with the DRES transportation office. After hour transportation should be arranged through an emergency medical vehicle or through outside arrangements. Beckwith staff is not licensed to transport students to and from medical facilities.
Q15: How do I get registered for classes? How do I get to and from class? What if I need a note taker? What if I need assistance with test taking? How do I get involved in athletic programs? What if my chair breaks down?
These things are covered in the DRES Resource Guide. Each service is described with a contact person listed if you need more details.