Personal Care Attendant

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Office of Disability Services (ODS) provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. This may include allowing a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) to assist with personal needs – such as transportation, toileting, feeding, dressing, or communication – so students can fully participate in the University’s academic environment, including classrooms, labs, meetings, and events. 

PCAs are permitted in the learning environment as an accommodation through ODS and may also accompany students on field trips or internships if needed. PCA responsibilities do not typically include note-taking, exam proctoring, or scribing.

While ODS recommends hiring impartial PCAs, students may choose their own, provided the PCA meets the responsibilities outlined below.

The following outlines the responsibilities of the student, PCA, and ODS. 

Student Responsibilities:

• Inform ODS of the need for a PCA in the classroom and provide appropriate documentation verifying disability and functional limitations; documentation must support the necessity of having a PCA accompany the student in the learning environment 
• Sign the Student PCA Agreement (available in the ODS Online Portal)
• Ensure all PCAs have completed the PCA Agreement each semester and when changes occur; email completed agreements to your assigned Accommodations Specialist 
• Recruit, hire, train/supervise, and compensate the PCA (including developing alternate support plans) 

• Ensure the PCA abides by UA’s Code of Conduct and all University policies 
• Establish a non-disruptive means of communicating with the PCA in the learning environment 
• Ensure the PCA is acting as a non-academic participant in the learning environment 

PCA Responsibilities:

• Sign the PCA Agreement each semester 
• Remain available to assist the student with personal needs in the learning environment 
• Act as a non-academic participant in the learning environment (allow the student to take responsibility for their own progress and/or behavior; refrain from involvement in the student’s academic work related to class assignments or tests except as needed for physical assistance) 
• Unless your participation is needed to aide in communication, avoid asking questions on behalf of the student and refrain from intervening in conversations between the student and others, including discussions of confidential information 
• Abide by all UA policies, including the UA Code of Conduct; conduct self in a courteous and professional manner while on campus 
• When a learning environment requires students for health or safety reasons to meet certain criteria, such as a background check, inoculations, personal protective equipment, etc., the PCA must meet the same requirements 
• Taking classroom notes, proctoring exams, scribing for in-class writing or exams, monitoring, modifying or correcting the student’s behavior is prohibited 

ODS Responsibilities:

• Provide program access via reasonable accommodation; request appropriate documentation from the student that supports the need for a PCA in the learning environment as an academic accommodation 
• Notify faculty of the presence and role of a PCA in the learning environment 
• Address faculty and/or student concerns regarding the presence and role of a PCA in the learning environment 

Frequently Asked Questions: