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I rather like my job, it is interesting and different. I work as a personal assistant to a lady with Cerebral Palsy. She uses a wheelchair, and needs assistance with sme day to day things at work. She is not mentally challenged, but up till last year she was in a day program, where she did not really need to be. She got involved with a program called Self Determination..in which she has more say and control over how her time and Medicaid dollars are spent. She has chosen to volunteer full time at the Self Advocacy office, a place where people with disabilities can come together. Many do outreach and presentations about disability awareness. She also does paid presentations..meaning she gets a paycheck for being a part of training new employees in the state run group homes.

Basically I help with personal needs, as well as acting as her hand..help filing, filling out paperwork, phone calls etc. For me it is a great "last job" one that will take me to retirement. Pretty laid back work environment, and the people I interact with every day are pretty cool.

Well thank you to people like you, Marie! I could not live without my nurses aide, who comes in and takes care of my husband so I can go to work. You must have a wonderful personality to care for others the way you do, and this is a better alternative for her then a daycare program.

Too bad the most rewarding jobs like yours don't pay what you deserve. My first adult job was as a cottage parent at a state school for mentally challenged kids. I would probably still be there, if I could have made ends meet.