Personal Care Attendant

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Office of Disability Services (ODS) makes every reasonable effort to accommodate students with disabilities. ODS realizes a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) may be necessary to aid a student with personal needs such as transportation to/from class, toileting, feeding, dressing, and/or help with social cues or communication so that they may participate in the University’s learning environment. The learning environment includes, but is not limited to, classrooms, labs, research testing areas, group meetings, faculty/staff meetings, advisor meetings, or other academic events. 

PCAs will be permitted in the learning environment to support the specific needs of the student as an approved accommodation through ODS, when necessary. In addition, PCAs may need to accompany the student on field trips or internships if personal care is required. PCA duties generally do not include taking notes, proctoring exams, or scribing for in-class writing. 

ODS recommends students hire impartial PCAs who are not family members or close friends. However, who the student hires as a PCA is within the sole discretion of the student so long as the PCA can adhere to the responsibilities addressed below.  

The following information outlines the responsibilities of the student, the 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:

What resources are available for identifying PCAs?

If I live on campus, how do I notify Housing about my PCA?

If your PCA needs access to your residence hall, please contact Alicia Browne, Director of Housing Administration, at abrowne@ua.edu or 205-348-5990.

More information is available online if you need to request housing accommodations.

What should I do if my PCA needs to accompany me in the dining halls, or if my PCA needs a meal plan?

Please contact Holly Grof, Dining Services Coordinator, at hagrof@ua.edu or 205-348-2981. Ms. Grof can assist with obtaining a meal plan for PCAs, and with ensuring Bama Dining staff are aware that a PCA may be accompanying you in the dining halls.

Additional information about food allergies and dining accommodations is available online.

How do I obtain a parking permit for my PCA?

PCAs should contact Transportation Services at 205-348-5471 and request to speak with Executive Director Chris D’Esposito (cdesposito@ua.edu), or Associate Director Amy Haines (ahaines@ua.edu). PCAs should provide the following information:their first and last namecontact phone numbermake/model/color of vehiclelicense plate # and state

Once this information has been provided to Transportation Services, PCAs are eligible to park anywhere on campus except state vehicle or accessible parking spaces.