TAKING CONTROL
The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program
of The Western New York Independent Living Project, Inc.
Why Should I Take Control?
As a person withy a disability, Control is a key factor for getting what you want out of life. Having the ability to respond to opportunities while exercising the flexibility to change according to any given situation is imperative to succeeding in your goals.
Working with Personal Care Aides, this flexibility is diminished by the need to work with schedulers and nurses creating a schedule that is very difficult to change and may actually limit independence and freedom of choice.
That's where Taking Control comes in. This program will allow you to become the supervisor of your own personal assistant services. You can hire who you like (subject to some restrictions), train them in the areas important to you, and supervise their work on a daily basis. Tasks are not as limited as they are in a traditional-care aide plan. If a personal assistant does not work well for you, you can replace them.
Testamonial:
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"To live independently is a challenge for anyone. But the challenge is different when you live with a physical disability, when you rely on others just to meet your basic needs. The day-to-day activities that most take for granted must be carefully coordinated and planned.
*Taking Control* gives me the opportunity to schedule my own life,to decide for myself when I should get out of bed or have a meal. And hiring my own personal care attendants means I know who¹s coming into my home everyday, and that gives me peace of mind. When I *take control,* its just one more step towards independence." - John Taking Control |
WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE CONTROL?
* be Medicaid eligible for Personal Assistant Services* be a "Self-Directing" person - that is, be able to understand the decisions
about your medical care and implement them. If you don't believe you can
be self-directing you can designate someone who is.
HOW WILL THE WNYILP HELP ME TAKE CONTROL?
The WNY Independent Living Project will work primarily as the "Employer of Record" providing help with handling paperwork related to employment. In addition, WNYILP staff can:
* help you construct an advertisement or use other resources to help you locatepotential personal assistants
* provide a detailed training manual to help you mange your personal assistant
services, and help with understanding what you will need to train and
supervise individuals
* link this program with other WNYILP services
Nancy taking control
WHAT TASKS CAN I TAKE CONTROL OF?
TAKING CONTROL allows you to direct your assistant in tasks that include, but are not limited to:
* bathing
* getting in and out of bed or wheelchair
* toileting (including bowel, bladder, and catheter assistance)
* eating and drinking
* cooking
* cleaning
* personal errands (including shopping and banking)
* taking medication
(These responsibilities are subject to a limit on the number of hours set by the Department of Social Services)
Amy taking control
WHO CAN I HIRE?
If accepted into the Taking Control program you can hire almost anyone to be your personal assistant. The only people expressly forbidden to provide the service (and get paid for it) are members of you nuclear family?
* a son or daughter
* a son-in-law or daughter-in-law
* a spouse (wife or husband)
* a parent
WNY Independent Living Project, family of agencies is a catalyst for systems and individual change, enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities while respecting diversity and promoting choices and alternatives for independent living in our societies.
Western New York Independent Living Project3108 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214
716- 836-0822, ext. 151
