Beckwith Hall

Beckwith is managed by the Director and Associate Director. The management team also includes two half-time Graduate Resident Advisors. Beckwith employs approximately 60-80 undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Illinois and Parkland Community College, as well as several extra-help employees from the community to work as Personal Assistants (PAs), floaters, night clerks and meal assistants. Finally the Beckwith staff includes housekeeping support and building services.

Please check the contact section for more information about the staff.

With regard to the PA staff, all employees are recruited, screened, and trained by the Associate Director. PA employees must complete five hours of training before beginning work in any position. Beckwith residents with disabilities are then given the names of the prospective PA employees who have completed the general training, and who are interested in working as Personal Assistants. The individual residents are responsible for interviewing and hiring their PA staff from this list. Each student is ultimately responsible for the direct supervision of his/her P.A. staff. PA employees working as floaters, night clerks and feeders are scheduled and supervised by the Associate Director.

Personal Assistants work with the residents with disabilities one-on-one to help them with their morning and/or evening routines, which may include dressing, personal hygiene, toileting and transferring in or out of their wheelchairs. Floaters work scheduled shifts during the day and evening to help all the students with things that arise outside regularly scheduled PA service hours, such as getting books together, putting on coats, or responding to emergency situations. Night clerks provide the same assistance between midnight and 8:00 am. Meal assistants are hired to help the students get their meal trays or to feed those who need extra help.

Finally, included in the PA staff are eight personal assistants who reside at Beckwith and receive room and board in exchange for 18 hours of weekly PA services. This has proven to be a very beneficial ancillary educational experience for student employees who hope to pursue careers in medicine or rehabilitation. In addition, this model creates a more inclusive social environment by incorporating residents with and without disabilities.