Statewide Independent Living
Council of Illinois

Letter to Governor Re: PA Wages

March 1, 2000

Governor George H. Ryan
State House
Springfield, Illinois 62706

Dear Governor Ryan,

On behalf of the members of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois, I wanted to applaud Governor Ryan for including in his Fiscal Year 2001 budget for the Department of Human Services an increase in the wage for personal assistants from $6 to $7 an hour.

Personal assistants are nonmedical, para-professionals who provide "hands on" assistance to people with disabilities in their own home or apartment. Is comes in the form of providing assistance to help dress, clean, cook, toilet and numerous other tasks aimed at increasing independence and keeping people with disabilities out of more costly institutional settings.

Unfortunately, people with disabilities have had a heard time recruiting and retaining reliable or qualified personal assistants due to the low wages offered for such a demanding job.

It is estimated that in Fiscal Year 2000, over 19,000 Illinoisans with disabilities will benefit from the demanding services provided by a personal assistant, and this hourly increase included in the governor=s budget is a much needed step in the right direction.

Best Regards,

John M. Eckert, Executive Director
Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois