Personal Assistance Station

Overview

Established in the 1970s, the Personal Assistance (PA) Station is a one-of-a-kind restroom facility located conveniently in the Student Union that provides daytime support to students with physical disabilities at no charge to the student. This vital service allows students with physical disabilities to attend college, develop independent living skills, and participate actively in academic life and campus culture. The station also provides assistance to faculty, staff, and official campus guests with physical disabilities, at no cost to the consumer. The station is open seven days a week during academic terms and provides assistance with:

• Restroom use
• Transferring in/out of mobility device
• Body positioning
• Assistance with coats/hats/gloves
• Clothing/shoe/glasses adjustments
• Assistance with adjusting bags, etc.
• Daytime mobility device charging
• Cleaning/wipe down of wheelchairs/scooters
• Re-inflation of tires with air pump

The PA Station does not provide medical assistance of any kind nor assist with activities related to daily routines, such as showering, dressing, or brushing teeth. PA Station staff do not go to locations outside the station, such as dorm rooms or other campus restrooms.

Facilities

The Personal Assistance Station (PA Station) is located at 072 Student Union.

Each of the three private restrooms is staffed by two personal assistants at all times and equipped with the following:

• Ceiling-mounted SureHands sling lift
• Various sized body slings
• Bariatric changing table
• Sink at ADA-approved height
• Full-length mirrors
• Basic personal hygiene items (paper towels, flushable wipes, feminine hygiene)

Staff

The PA Station is staffed by trained ODS student employees. All student personal assistants receive a criminal background check and attend a training workshop covering the following topics:

• Understanding disabilities
• Basic transfer techniques and lift operation
• General hygiene techniques
• Wheelchair basics
• Universal precautions and blood-borne pathogens
• Confidentiality and professionalism