Personal Assistance Services (PAS) is provided those whose impairments of daily living require the assistance of an attendant to provide additional help to be able to live as independently as possible at home.  Consumer Directed (the individual hires and directs the attendant) Personal Assistants attendants perform non-medical activities of daily living.  These services may include transferring, bathing, eating, dressing, or other physical activities that the individual could perform if they did not have a physical disability.  Other possible services under PAS include assistive technology evaluation, transition services, and rehabilitation engineering.

There are several variations of the Consumer Directed personal Assistance Services Program in Virginia.  Which particular program is used is determined by the particular circumstances of each individual situation.  Payments for personal attendants may be made through the Department of Medical Assistances Services, the Department of Rehabilitative Services, or Brain Injury Services of Virginia.

Usually a medical assessment is required for participation in any of these programs and comparable benefits are examined to develop the most appropriate level of services for each individual.

To obtain more information about DRS PAS options, please contact Sharon Stacey at (276) 431-1195 or email her at sharon@junctioncenter.org. To visit the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services web site click here http://www.vadrs.org .

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