Spinal Cord Injury Network PAS Program

Spinal Cord Injury Network

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The Spring 2003 Cycle of the SCI Network PAS Registry is sponsored by the Kessler Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital, in Rockville Maryland.

In March of 1997, SCI Network established and now maintains a Personal Assistant Services Registry (PAS) referral service. In that the lives of many individuals with spinal cord injuries and other mobility impairing conditions are directly and singularly controlled by the availability of competent and reliable attendant care, and in that a shortage of attendant care referral services exists in the Washington area, this program has and will substantially enrich the quality of life for many individuals.

About every four months SCI Network runs advertisements in local papers for individuals interested in providing personal assistant services. Each of the hundreds of people that have responded to those ads have been sent an application. As the applications are returned, calls are made to the respondents confirming their agreement to attend a required two-hour orientation prior to their being placed on the registry. The first of these orientations was held at the SCI Network office in Rockville, Maryland, on March 15th, 1997.

Each of the applicants that attends the training is then added to the registry. The current registry is sent to any consumer requesting a copy. In the registry, PAS providers are listed by geographical region; hours that the PAS provider is available, whether the provider has a drivers license, minimum salary expected, etc. Other useful information is presented as well. Consumers use this information to choose which of the registrants are the most likely candidates.

Please note, however, that in keeping with the SCI Network's "independent living" mission, it is the responsibility of the consumer to choose possible attendants, make contacts, interview, and to negotiate salary, hours and responsibilities.

Although SCI Network will provide some support to consumers upon request, as the term "consumer directed" suggests, the "hire and fire" day-to-day employer/employee management will be the responsibility of the consumer. No background or reference checks of either PAS providers or consumers has been or will be done by the SCI Network.

If you are or know of a person interested in full-time, part-time (including respite care) or live-in employment, or if you would like a copy of the registry, please leave a comment or call the SCI Network at 301-424-8335.

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