Influence of a Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Services Program on the lives of persons with mobility impairments.

Objective: To examine the effects of a consumer-directed personal assistance services (CDPAS) program on the lives of persons with disabilities.

Methods: Thirteen individuals receiving paid agency-directed PAS services before enrollment in a CDPAS program (Agency Group) and 40 individuals receiving only unpaid PAS before enrollment (Informal Group) participated in this prospective study. In-home interviews were conducted just prior to CDPAS enrollment and again 6 months after CDPAS enrollment.