Around 2011, MetroWest Center for Independent Living created and hosted the website: pcaforever.org. This website provided both helpful information about the Personal Care Attendant Program, as well as advocacy needs. Others have taken up the fight, and the website is no longer relevant. Conditions for PCA’s have improved through the work of 1199-SEIU Union and advocates, especially the IL Centers. Advocates continue to be vigilant that the basic tenets of the program are maintained and that funding is maintained.
To support the PCA information and advocacy, we made a handful of videos with PCA Users describing how and why the programs is so important to them. Since these stories continue to make sense today, we have saved them below. The videos are by Liz Casey, John Kelly, Jean from STAVROS, Tom from STAVROS, Paul Spooner and Charlie Carr.
Liz Casey
Liz was on the PCA Workforce Council, has been a PCA consumer for many years, and is a strong advocate for the MA PCA program. We visited her in Roslindale. The first video is about what PCA’s have meant to her life. In the second video, she offers suggestions on how the MA PCA program could evolve.
John Kelly
John B. Kelly is a Boston activist for disability rights, as well as an advocate against the upcoming “Death with Dignity” ballot. As a long-time employer of PCA’s, John was happy to share his views on the MA PCA program. The first video is about the MA PCA program, and the second is about John’s personal experiences with PCAs. Today (2024), John is very active in the fight to prevent assisted suicide from becoming legal in MA (second-thoughts.org)
Jean (STAVROS)
Jean, a consumer at Stavros in Amherst, talks about the MA PCA program, and what PCAs mean to her.
Tom (STAVROS)
Tom, a consumer at Stavros in Amherst, tells us how PCAs have affected his life.
Amy Ashdon
Amy, a supporter and employer of PCAs, shares her story.
“It’s Our Story” – Personal Stories About Institutions
It’s Our Story put the voices of disability activists online at Youtube. Below are personal stories from our friends about living in nursing homes.
Paul Spooner
Paul Spooner, as Executive Director of MWCIL, talked about being stuck in an institution. Thankfully, the PCA Program has helped thousands and thousands of individuals stay or become independent.
Charlie Carr
Charlie Carr, former Commissioner of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, had a different story with the same message.