Attendant Referral through DSP

What is Attendant Work?

Many students using electric wheelchairs need assistance in the morning and at night. Afternoon and evening work is also available depending on whether students need assistance with feeding or miscellaneous duties (i.e., laundry). Morning assistance usually entails bathroom, bathing, and dressing routines, known as "personal care." This generally takes between an hour to three hours. Night routines are usually shorter, about an hour to two hours.

Physical requirements for personal care entail the ability to transfer the student from the bed to their chair and vice versa. While techniques and mechanical devices enhance this ability, physical attributes of the attendant and student are part of the matching process.

Students experienced with attendants are usually able to communicate their needs, and may train their attendants through the routine themselves. If the routine requires a third party, students use an experienced attendant to show the trainee what is needed.

Who Hires the Attendant?

Attendant Referral, through UC's Disabled Students' Program, does the initial application, interview, and screening process. Prior experience in attendant work is not necessary. Applicants express whether they prefer to work in a personal or non-personal situation, whether they are more comfortable with males or females, the total hours they wish to work per week, and their hours of availability. If the applicant appears to be a good candidate, the person in Attendant Referral notifies students whose hours match the candidate's hours of availability. The student then sets up an interview with the applicant. The hiring student makes the final decision. This decision is based on the applicant's interview, references, and a two week trial period during which either party can excuse themselves at any time (the "no fault guarantee").

What is a Reasonable Amount of Work an Applicant Can Find?

Generally, attendants, especially if they are open to personal care, can find one to twenty hours of work per week. Students looking for attendants are advised not to depend on one attendant for too much of their personal care. In this way, if an attendant cannot make it due to illness or some other factor, the student has a good chance of filling that spot with another attendant of theirs. Because of this, attendants often work for more than one student.

Why are Student Applicants Looking for Attendant Work?

Sometimes it is because of the short amount of time needed to perform their duties. That is, a 7am-9am routine leaves plenty of time to prepare for classes. Or, because they are up late studying anyway, working a night routine for an hour in the same residence hall or unit is convenient and safe.

For more information or to set up an interview, call Tim Landingham at Attendant Referral, 642-8765.

 

Tips on Attendant Hiring and Training (from DSRP)

Before you interview a prospective attendant, prepare a list describing your daily routine, both morning and night, as well as any weekly duties you may require such as changing the bed sheets, laundry, organizing study materials, cleaning your room, etc.

A two-week trial period is strongly recommended. Specify any particular ways you like to have things done. What do you expect from your employee? What qualities are really important to you? Punctuality? Neatness?

Talk over hours and days. When and how do you pay? Decide how much notice you'll give each other upon termination of employment. Ask for names and phone numbers of previous employers and call them after the interview. You don't have to hire on the spot! Tell the attendant that you have more interviews and you will call him/her the next day.

Decide how much you are going to pay your attendants, $9.50 per hour is the going rate. If a shift is less than one hour, will you pay for fractions of an hour overtime or will you round it off to the nearest half hour or hour? Most people will raise the attendants pay to $10 per hour after the two week trial period or when the attendant is familiar with your routine.

For every attendant you hire, be sure to get:

Keep records of exactly how many hours they work each day.

Try to have a place for everything. Ask your attendant to replace things in the correct drawer, etc., so you and the next person know where everything is. This keeps frustration down and efficiency up.

Keep communication open and discuss your feelings about how a job is being done.