Personal Assistance Services
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The Basics
Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) support people with disabilities to live more independent lives. A Personal Care Assistant works directly with the person with a disability.
The role of a PCA is to help you be able to do what you need to do. Your assistant may help you with getting dressed, going from one place to another, preparing meals, bathing, or other activities. PCAs can also help you in the workplace to do different types of tasks. They can help with personal care, like in the restroom or at lunch breaks, or with job-related tasks, like help with reading, interpreting, lifting or reaching work materials, or with travel between work sites.
These services, be they at home, in the community, or at work, are called Personal Assistance Services (PAS). You can pay for these services yourself or, if you qualify, the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS) may pay for them.
To have ALTCS pay for PAS, you must have a disability that ALTCS decides requires you to get PAS. For example, if they decide that you can live in your own home, but that you need somebody to help you with getting up and bathing in the morning, you may qualify to have ALTCS pay for your personal assistant.
This article will explain PAS in greater detail and will also tell you how you may be able to get publicly funded PAS. It will also explore important issues, such as using PAS in the workplace, hiring your Personal Care Assistant, and making sure that you have a good relationship with your PCA.
Learn more
AHCCCS for People with Disabilities
There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.
Job Supports and Accommodations
Learn about reasonable accommodations and programs that help make work possible.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understand the key laws that protect you from discrimination.
Personal Assistance Services
- The Basics
- Intro to Personal Assistance Services
- Personal Assistance Services in the Workplace
- Paying for Personal Assistance Services
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
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Intro to Personal Assistance Services
Personal Assistance Services (PAS) are services that another person supplies to a person with a disability. These services can include help with:
- Home activities, such as bathing, dressing, cooking, toileting, and remembering things
- Community activities, such as shopping, going to the doctor, and help getting around
- Work activities, such as reading, sign-language interpretation, and lifting or reaching
The key thing about all of these services is that they can allow you to live your day-to-day life.
Finding Personal Care Assistants
Generally, you have 3 options for finding a Personal Care Assistant (PCA):
- Through a PAS agency
- By getting a personal recommendation or looking online
- By having a family member or friend supply you with these services
If your PCA is funded by the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS), usually your ALTCS Managed Care Organization (MCO) will contract your PCA through an agency. Depending on your preference, you may know somebody who works with the agency who you would prefer to have as your attendant. Or you may prefer to tell the agency some preferences in an assistant and let the agency find somebody who has those qualifications. For example, you may request a female assistant or one who speaks Spanish.
If you are getting your PCA through ALTCS, you may select the Self-Directed Attendant Care (SDAC) option, which means you could hire a PCA on your own without going through an agency. Either way, whether your ALTCS-funded PCA is through an agency or was hired through the SDAC option, you won’t have to worry about handling the PCA’s paycheck or doing tax withholding. For more information about the SDAC option, click here.
If you use the SDAC option or are paying for your PCA yourself, you will have to find your own PCA, hire the person, do any necessary training, and also handle firing the person if your PCA is not doing an adequate job.
If you don’t get your PAS paid for by ALTCS, you can choose a method to find a PCA that you prefer. If you hire a PCA on your own, you will have the responsibility of hiring, training, and supervising your attendant, and you have the additional responsibility paying your attendant and doing any other paperwork, such as dealing with Social Security taxes.
Ensuring a Good Relationship
You will be spending a lot of time with your Personal Care Assistant and it is very important that you communicate well with each other and have a good relationship. Not only that, but you’ll need to learn about how to hire somebody, train the person, handle payments and payroll taxes, and more. A lot of responsibilities come with having paid assistance, though you can avoid some of them if you get your PCA through an agency.
Personal Assistance Services can be crucial to your ability to live independently. For more information on how to hire and communicate well with your personal assistant, as well as other tips, take a look at the following resources:
- Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services (PAS): A Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood is a complete guide with fact sheets and tips about the same topics, but with a focus on youth.
- A Good Job is a 6-minute animated video that talks about how to improve your relationship with a Personal Care Assistant.
Learn more
AHCCCS for People with Disabilities
There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.
Job Supports and Accommodations
Learn about reasonable accommodations and programs that help make work possible.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understand the key laws that protect you from discrimination.
Personal Assistance Services
- The Basics
- Intro to Personal Assistance Services
- Personal Assistance Services in the Workplace
- Paying for Personal Assistance Services
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
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Personal Assistance Services in the Workplace
Over the last 40 years, U.S. law has changed, enabling people with disabilities to have greater equality in the workplace. Laws like the Rehabilitation Act in 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, and the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in 1998 have been especially important in this process. Thanks to these laws, people with disabilities can get the support they need to be employed, which can include Personal Assistance Services (PAS) in the workplace.
Reasonable Accommodations
A key part of how these laws have expanded the job possibilities of people with disabilities is requiring that most employers supply reasonable accommodations to their employees. A reasonable accommodation is an adjustment or modification to a job or workplace that enables an employee with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job successfully.
Note that the ADA only applies to employers with 15 or more employees. If you work for an employer with less than 15 employees, that employer may not be legally required to supply you with the accommodation you need. However, many small employers choose to supply accommodations even when they are not required to do so.
The ADA does not apply to employers that are owned and operated by Indian tribes, but Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may apply if tribal employers accepted federal financial assistance. Some Indian tribes have also adopted laws which are similar to the ADA.
- An employee who is blind can request a computer screen reader to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
- An employee with a mental health condition can request a flexible work schedule or can request to schedule time away from work for medical reasons.
- An employee with limited mobility can have a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) help with personal care, like in the restroom or at lunch breaks.
Personal Assistance Services (PAS) as a Reasonable Accommodation in the Workplace
Some people need Personal Assistance Services in the workplace to be able to perform the essential functions of their jobs. If you need PAS services, they may be considered a reasonable accommodation under the ADA and your employer may have the responsibility to supply PAS services if you request them.
When you apply for a job, you may need:
- A sign-language interpreter if you are deaf
- A reader for the employment exam if you have a visual impairment
- A personal assistant if you have limited use of your arms and need to fill out a job application by hand
When you have a job, you may need PAS for:
- Filing duties, getting work materials that are heavy or out of reach, or performing other nonessential manual tasks
- Assistance with arranging business-related travel
- Real-time captioning during a meeting
Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation
In order to get any reasonable accommodation at a job, including PAS, you need to understand the rules and protections related to getting an accommodation. One of the keys is disclosing that you have a disability.
In fact, the only time it is required to disclose the existence of a disabling condition in the workplace is when you request a reasonable accommodation. Your reasonable accommodation request will be considered by the employer, who can request documentation that is needed to establish the existence of a disability and the need for a reasonable accommodation.
Once your documentation has been supplied, you and your employer will negotiate what the appropriate accommodation is. If PAS is the best accommodation for you, your employer may choose to accept that. However, your employer may also think of other accommodations that make more sense from their perspective. Their only responsibility is to supply the accommodations that allow you to perform the key functions of your job.
For example, if you request a personal assistant to read documentation out loud, the employer may find it more affordable to get you screen-reading software for your computer that will read documents to you.
DB101’s article on Job Supports and Accommodations has much more detailed information about disclosing your disability and requesting reasonable accommodations.
Funding for Workplace Personal Assistance Services
Workplace PAS are often funded by an employer when they are considered a reasonable accommodation. Additional funding may also be available from the following sources:
- The Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (AZRSA)
- The Veterans Administration
- Workers' Compensation coverage
Resources for Workplace Personal Assistant Services
- Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention has a Personal Assistance in the Workplace: A Customer-Directed Guide Manual..
- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has links to several good resources about Personal Assistance Services.
Learn more
AHCCCS for People with Disabilities
There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.
Job Supports and Accommodations
Learn about reasonable accommodations and programs that help make work possible.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understand the key laws that protect you from discrimination.
Personal Assistance Services
- The Basics
- Intro to Personal Assistance Services
- Personal Assistance Services in the Workplace
- Paying for Personal Assistance Services
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
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Paying for Personal Assistance Services
Most people either pay for Personal Assistance Service with their own money or with the support of the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS). First we’ll describe how you may be able to get ALTCS to pay for your services and then we’ll describe the additional duties you’ll have if you are paying for services on your own.
The Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS)
The Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS) is a public program that supplies some people who are blind, disabled, or over the age of 65 with various services. One of the benefits ALTCS offers to some people is Personal Assistance Services (PAS), so they can live safely in their own homes. PAS can range from assistance with household chores to personal care, such as dressing and bathing. The program is often seen as an alternative to assisted living or nursing facilities.
Eligibility
To qualify for ALTCS, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Need a nursing home level of care medical and physical needs
- Be an Arizona resident
- Be a U.S. citizen or meet specific noncitizen requirements
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Apply for any potential benefits
- Meet certain income requirements
- Have less than $2,000 in resources
- Cooperate with the assignment of rights to medical benefits
Note: If your disability began before you turned 26, you can open an ABLE account where you can save up to $17,000 each year and not have it counted by ALTCS. Learn more about ABLE accounts.
If your income and resources are below the income limit and resource limit, and you meet other eligibility criteria, an ALTCS employee will do a Pre-Admission Screening to decide whether your disability qualifies you for ALTCS services.
Not all people with disabilities qualify for these services. For example, many people with disabilities qualify for health insurance through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) or AHCCCS Freedom to Work, but don’t qualify for the additional services offered by ALTCS.
Application
You can apply for ALTCS by contacting an ALTCS office.
Once you are enrolled in ALTCS, you can get Personal Assistance Services if you:
- Need services that are medically necessary
- Are living in your own home and not in a licensed residential setting
- Are able to make decisions about your own care or have someone who can make decisions for you
You must also need help with one or more of the following:
- Activities of daily living, such as eating, toileting, grooming, dressing, bathing, transferring, mobility, and positioning
- Other common activities, such as meal planning and preparation, managing finances, shopping for essential items, performing essential household chores, communication by telephone and other media, and getting around and participating in the community
How ALTCS Decides if You Need PAS
After you have been screened, if ALTCS decides that you do qualify for long-term care services, you will join a Managed Care Organization (MCO) that will manage your health care and long-term care services. You will be assigned a case manager at your MCO who will evaluate your situation during a home visit and will work with you to figure out what services you need. Depending on your circumstances, Personal Assistance Services (PAS) are one of the services you may qualify for.
If you need PAS, ALTCS will pay for a certain number of hours of personal assistance each week, with the exact amount depending on your needs. For example, if you just need a bit of help a few times per week, ALTCS might pay for just 5 hours per week of assistance. However, if you need a lot of help every day, ALTCS could pay for 40 hours per week of assistance.
The Services You Can Get
Your ALTCS-supplied Personal Care Assistant (PCA) can help you with various things:
- Domestic services, such as sweeping, vacuuming, taking out the garbage, wheelchair cleaning and battery recharging, and changing bed linens
- Related services, such as meal preparation, clean-up, laundry, and shopping
- Personal care services, such as feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and help with medications
- Limited heavy cleaning
- General supervision for individuals with cognitive behavioral health disabilities
These services can let you live in your own home or apartment, giving you the support you need to continue living independently.
How Much You Pay
Typically, you pay nothing if you get Personal Assistance Services through ALTCS. Under limited situations members living in their own home may share in the cost of services. If you need more hours of personal assistance than state programs will pay for, you will have to pay for them yourself.
Your Responsibilities
You, or your representative, will need to make sure that your PCA does what you need. You may have additional responsibilities depending on whether you get your assistant through an agency or hire the assistant on your own.
If your PCA is funded by ALTCS, usually your ALTCS Managed Care Organization (MCO) will contract for your PCA through an agency. Depending on your preferences, you may know somebody who you would prefer to have as your attendant and they can become an employee of an agency or you may prefer to indicate some preferences and let the agency find somebody who has those qualifications. For example, you may request a male assistant or an assistant who can work a split shift.
If you are getting your PCA through ALTCS, you may select the Self-Directed Attendant Care (SDAC) option, which means you could hire a PCA on your own without going through an agency. If you use the SDAC option or are paying for your PCA yourself, you will have to:
- Prepare an outline of duties for the PCA
- Create the PCA’s schedule
- Make a backup plan if the PCA can’t come as planned
- Train your PCA
- Handle all supervision
- Firing your PCA if you are not satisfied with the job he or she is doing
If You Are Paying For Services on Your Own
If you are paying for services on your own, either because you do not qualify to get publicly funded PAS or because you need more hours than state programs will offer, you have the same 2 basic options that are described above:
- You can hire a PCA through an agency
- You can hire a PCA on your own
If you hire a PCA through an agency, the agency will help you find an assistant who knows how to do the tasks you need help with. A couple of big advantages of hiring through an agency is that the PCAs they supply have already been trained and if you need a substitute PCA for any reason, your regular PCA is ill, for example, the agency can supply you with a substitute.
If you hire a PCA on your own, you will have the most flexibility, but also the greatest responsibilities. You will have to handle not only all hiring, training, supervision, and possible firing of the attendant, but also all paychecks, taxes, and payroll withholdings. Still, for many people this works best because they get to hire somebody they really know and trust.
Learn more
AHCCCS for People with Disabilities
There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.
Job Supports and Accommodations
Learn about reasonable accommodations and programs that help make work possible.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understand the key laws that protect you from discrimination.
Try It
Example
Jack is 56 years old and has cerebral palsy. He has been living alone for a number of years and is having an increasingly difficult time taking care of himself and his home. Tasks like cooking, bathing, and getting dressed in the morning take far more energy than they used to.
Jack has become depressed about the situation. He is very independent and has always prided himself on his ability to take care of his affairs on his own. The last thing he wants to do is move into an assisted care facility, but he doesn’t know what else he can do.
He explains his situation to his friend Guillermo over lunch one day. Guillermo suggests that he talk to his Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) case worker and see if she has any ideas for him.
So Guillermo and Jack go online to find the phone number for the local DES/Family Assistance Administration office, which is the office that handles AHCCCS Health Insurance for people with disabilities. Jack calls and is transferred to an eligibility worker, Darlene. Jack briefly explains his situation to her.
“It’s good that you called,” says Darlene. “The state of Arizona actually has a program that supplies Personal Assistance Services (PAS) for people who need them. Personal Assistance Services include helping with stuff like cooking, cleaning, and getting in and out of bed.”
“Hmmmm. Sounds like it could be really helpful,” Jack says.
Darlene explains that to get these services, Jack will need to apply for services from the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS). She explains that not all people with disabilities qualify for ALTCS, only people who are at risk of being institutionalized.
This makes Jack nervous, because he doesn’t want to go to an institution. But Darlene tells him that ALTCS does not mean you have to go to an institution. It just means that the program recognizes that your disability means that you should get services that go above and beyond what standard AHCCCS services offer. She explains, “If you qualify for ALTCS, they’ll review your situation and may recommend that you get Personal Assistance Services so that you can keep living at home.”
“First,” Darlene says, “go ahead and apply for ALTCS. You can do that by calling or visiting your local ALTCS office. When you apply, you’ll have to give information about your income and resources and also tell them about your disability. If you meet the income limit and the resources limit for this program, you’ll be scheduled for a Pre-Admission Screening. During the screening, they’ll decide if your medical condition qualifies you for ALTCS.”
“If you do qualify,” she continues, “you will be accepted into the ALTCS program and assigned to a Managed Care Organization (MCO). You’ll have a case manager at the MCO, who will review your situation and decide what services you need from ALTCS.”
Jack interrupts Darlene at this point with a question, “If I’m approved for ALTCS, does it cost me anything?”
“Not usually. Most people on ALTCS living in their own home don’t have to share in the cost of services,” says Darlene.
“Well, that’s good news,” says Jack.
“It sure is,” agrees Darlene.
Jack goes home, gives ALTCS a phone call the next day, and goes into the ALTCS office the following week when he has some time. He fills out the application while he’s there.
Two weeks later, he gets a call from an ALTCS representative requesting additional documentation. The representative explains, “You can only get ALTCS services if your disability requires the level of care a nursing home would offer. To figure out whether you qualify, we need to schedule a time to come to your home for a Pre-Admission Screening.”
ALTCS does the screening and says that Jack probably will qualify for ALTCS services. After the screening process, Jack asks when he will start getting services. The person who did the screening says that he will get an official letter in the mail within a couple of weeks from ALTCS that will tell him if he is eligible or not. If he is eligible, a Managed Care Organization (MCO) will contact him to set up a meeting in his home to explain to him exactly what services he qualifies for.
Sure enough, 2 weeks later, Jack gets a letter from ALTCS that says he qualifies. Another week later, his case manager, Raven Smith, calls him to schedule a home visit so she can talk to him and they can figure out the exact services that he needs from ALTCS.
Jack schedules the visit and later that week, Raven comes to visit him at his home. She is there to do an in-home interview to figure out what Jack needs help with and how many hours of assistance ALTCS will pay for. She asks him a series of questions about his physical and mental abilities to figure out which tasks he can safely perform on his own and which tasks he needs help with.
Clearly, what Jack needs help with are physical chores, like cooking, cleaning, getting dressed, and getting in and out of bed. Raven decides that Jack needs 20 hours of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) each week. She tells Jack that she can contract with a local PAS agency to help find him a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) or he can look for one on his own and be responsible for hiring, firing (if necessary), and supervising that person. Either way, someone else would take care of handling any taxes and the personal assistant’s paychecks.
Jack is thrilled. He decides that he’d prefer to hire his own assistant, so he signs up for the Self-Directed Attendant Care (SDAC) option. Then he hires Wendy, a retired neighbor and long-time friend to supply the services. Wendy comes by every day to help Jack in and out of bed. She prepares meals for him, cleans, and does some of his laundry. She also offers personal care services like dressing, grooming, and bathing.
It turns out to be a great arrangement. Wendy enjoys the part-time work and Jack is extremely grateful for the help. His depression has lifted, he has more energy than he used to, and he is thrilled to be able to continue living in his own home.
Learn more
AHCCCS for People with Disabilities
There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.
Job Supports and Accommodations
Learn about reasonable accommodations and programs that help make work possible.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understand the key laws that protect you from discrimination.
Try It
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Personal Assistance Services (PAS)?

Personal Assistance Services (PAS) allow an individual with a disability to live and work in the most integrated setting. PAS can include attendant services, assistance with transportation to and from work, reader services, business travel assistance, or job coaches.
How can Personal Assistance Services (PAS) be paid for?

Personal Assistance Services may be paid for in various ways:
- Using your own money
- By the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS)
- By an employer as a reasonable accommodation
Who is eligible to get publicly funded Personal Assistance Services (PAS)?

Any Arizona resident living in his or her own home who:
- Currently gets Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS) services
- Does not live in a long-term care facility
- Needs Personal Assistance Services (PAS)
How do I apply for publicly funded Personal Assistance Services (PAS)?

To get public funding for Personal Assistance Services (PAS):
- Apply for the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS) at your local ALTCS office.
- Have a Pre-Admission Screening to see if you qualify for ALTCS benefits.
- If the screening finds that you qualify for benefits, you will be enrolled for ALTCS services through a Managed Care Organization (MCO).
- Once you are enrolled, your case manager will visit you at home and work with you to figure out what services you need.
- If the program agrees that you need PAS, follow their instructions for getting a Personal Care Assistant (PCA).
What Personal Assistance Services (PAS) will Arizona pay for?

Your ALTCS-offered Personal Care Assistant can help you with various things:
- Domestic services, such as sweeping, vacuuming, taking out the garbage, wheelchair cleaning and battery recharging, and changing bed linens
- Related services, such as meal preparation, clean-up, laundry and shopping
- Personal care services, such as feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and help with medications
- Limited heavy cleaning
- General supervision for individuals with cognitive behavioral health disabilities
Who offers Personal Assistance Services (PAS)?

There are many organizations that serve as Personal Assistance Services (PAS) agencies, where you or the program paying for your PAS contacts the agency, which in turn finds an appropriate Personal Care Assistant (PCA) to help you. You can also look for personal assistance from friends, neighbors, relatives, or other people who are recommended to you.
Can I hire family members to supply my Personal Assistance Services (PAS)?

Yes. In most cases you can hire relatives, friends, neighbors, and other caregivers to supply you with Personal Assistance Services (PAS). However, if you are getting your services paid for by the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS), your relatives, friends, or neighbors may need to be employed by a PAS agency for you to have them supply you with services.
What are my supervision responsibilities with my Personal Care Assistant (PCA)?

You, or your representative, will need to make sure that the Personal Care Assistant (PCA) does what you need. You may have additional responsibilities depending on whether you get your assistant through an agency or hire the assistant on your own.
If your PCA is funded by the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS), usually your ALTCS Managed Care Organization will contract for your PCA through an agency. Depending on your preferences, you may know somebody who you would prefer to have as your attendant and this person can become an employee of an agency. Or you may prefer to indicate some preferences in an attendant and let the agency find somebody who has those qualifications.
If you are getting your PCA through ALTCS, you may select the Self-Directed Attendant Care (SDAC) option, which means you could hire a PCA on your own without going through an agency. If you use the SDAC option, or are paying for your PCA yourself, you will have to:
- Prepare an outline of duties for the PCA
- Create the PCA’s schedule
- Make a backup plan in the instance the PCA can’t come as planned
- Train your PCA
- Handle all supervision
- Fire your PCA if you are not satisfied with the job he or she is doing
How many hours of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) can I get each month?

The number of hours of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) that people need is different from person to person. Some people need a few hours a week, while others need many more. If you get funding through Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS), the program will evaluate your situation and decide how many hours it will pay for each week.
I live in an assisted living facility. Can I use PAS services that I get from Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS) there?

No, you can’t use ALTCS-funded Personal Assistance Services (PAS). If you live in a nursing home or other assisted living facility, you are already getting assistance with personal care needs.
Can I use Personal Assistant Services (PAS) in the workplace?

Yes. Personal Assistance Services (PAS) can be used at work if they are needed as a reasonable accommodation. The Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS) will not supply reasonable accommodations for job duties, but can supply PAS for nonrelated work activities, such as during lunch and breaks. For personal assistance with job duties, you or your employer will usually have to pay, though Arizona Rehabilitation Services, the Veterans Administration, or Workers’ Compensation may pay for them in some cases.
What is a reasonable accommodation in the workplace?

A reasonable accommodation is an adjustment or modification to a job or workplace that enables an employee to perform the essential functions of the job successfully.
Examples:
- An employee who is blind can request a computer screen reader.
- An employee with a mental health condition can request a flexible work schedule.
Do I have to tell my employer about a disabling condition?

No. Unless you are requesting a reasonable accommodation, you are not required to disclose a disabling condition. Even then, employers can only request the documentation that is needed to establish the existence of a disability and the need for a reasonable accommodation. This means that in most situations, your employer cannot request your entire medical record.
Do all employers have to comply with reasonable accommodation rules?

No. Reasonable accommodation protections from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) cover employers with 15 or more employees. The ADA also does not apply to employers that are owned and operated by Indian tribes, but Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may apply if tribal employers accepted federal financial assistance. Some Indian tribes have also adopted laws which are similar to the ADA.
Must my employer supply me with Personal Assistance Services in the workplace if I need them?

Workplace Personal Assistance Services (PAS) can be used to enable an employee to perform the essential functions of the job. In general, under the ADA an employer must supply workplace PAS if those services are job-related and not primarily for the personal benefit of the employee. If another accommodation would allow you to fulfill the key responsibilities of your job, your employer may offer that accommodation instead of Personal Assistance Services.
What sorts of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) can help a disabled person in the workplace?

Personal assistance in the workplace can help people with:
- Interviewing for a job
- Training that is required by the employer
- Preparation of meals
- Personal care services
- Paramedical services
Personal assistance may or may not qualify as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In general, workplace Personal Assistance Services may be considered a reasonable accommodation if the assistance is job-related and not primarily for your personal benefit.
Learn more
AHCCCS for People with Disabilities
There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.
Job Supports and Accommodations
Learn about reasonable accommodations and programs that help make work possible.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understand the key laws that protect you from discrimination.
Try It
Common Pitfalls
Not getting the Personal Assistance Services (PAS) you need
Many people are nervous initially about getting a Personal Care Assistant (PCA). They may not want a stranger in their home or help doing tasks that are private, such as bathing or getting dressed. However, a PCA is a much more affordable and private option than many alternatives, such as living in an assisted living facility. If you need Personal Assistance Services (PAS), you should definitely talk to other people who use them and learn more about how they can help you.
If you think that there is no way you can afford to pay for PAS, consider applying for services from the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS).
Not identifying all available funding sources
Personal Assistance Services may be paid for in various ways:
- Using your own money
- By the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS)
- By an employer as a reasonable accommodation
Consider all possibilities when deciding how to get the services you need. In some cases, a mix of funding is the right approach.
Failing to request a reasonable accommodation
In Arizona, employers with 15 or more employees are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to supply reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. If you need an adjustment to your job or workplace to fulfill the essential functions of your current job, make sure to request it.
The ADA does not apply to employers that are owned and operated by Indian tribes, but Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may apply if tribal employers accepted federal financial assistance. Some Indian tribes have also adopted laws which are similar to the ADA.
Disclosing more than you care to
You are never required to disclose the existence of a disabling condition in the workplace, except when requesting a reasonable accommodation. Even then, your employer can only request the documentation that is needed to establish the existence of a disability and the need for reasonable accommodation.
Confusion about job-related personal assistance
Workplace personal assistance may or may not qualify as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In general, workplace Personal Assistance Services may be considered a reasonable accommodation if the assistance is job-related and not primarily for your personal benefit.
Learn more
AHCCCS for People with Disabilities
There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.
Job Supports and Accommodations
Learn about reasonable accommodations and programs that help make work possible.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understand the key laws that protect you from discrimination.
Personal Assistance Services
Try It
Next Steps
Learn More About Personal Assistance Services (PAS)
Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services (PAS): A Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood is a complete guide with fact sheets and tips about the same topics, but with a focus on youth.
A Good Job is a 6-minute animated video that talks about how to improve your relationship with a Personal Care Assistant.
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention has a Personal Assistance in the Workplace: A Customer-Directed Guide Manual.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has a page that gives basics on Personal Assistance Services and describes common situations.
The Job Accommodations Network (JAN) has extensive resources about reasonable accommodations, including Personal Assistance Services.
AZ LINKS – Aging and Disability Resource Center
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The AZ Links – Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) helps seniors, people with disabilities, and their family members and caregivers find resources and services that meet their independent living, disability, housing, financial, legal, and health needs. |
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AHCCCS for People with Disabilities
There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.
Job Supports and Accommodations
Learn about reasonable accommodations and programs that help make work possible.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Understand the key laws that protect you from discrimination.