Being an effective workplace Personal Assistant

Issue title: Personal Assistance Services in the Workplace

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Barrett, John Christopher

Affiliations: Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, 1314 West Main St, PO Box 842-11, Richmond, VA 23284, USA. Tel.: +1 804 828 1851; Fax: +1 804 828 2193; E-mail: jbarrett@atlas.vcu.edu

Abstract: This article will discuss the importance of workplace personal assistants and how they can best support employees with significant disabilities in meaningful careers. The author will share insights from his experience supporting an employee with a significant disability in a variety of professional environments. Many best practices and attributes of an effective workplace personal assistant will be described. Providing workplace personal assistance can be both a valuable support to the employee with a disability and a meaningful career for those who wish to provide this valuable service.

Keywords: personal assistance in the workplace, PAS, workplace support

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 93-97, 2003