UPDATED, JULY 16, 2026: YES! We are still hiring! MANY Positions Open! We are looking for personal care aides who can support Oscar while he is a student at RIT, starting in mid-August.
Part-time and full-time opportunities, shifts available:
-overnights, 5-6 shifts open
-mornings (starting at approximately 7am on weekdays; TBD for weekends), with the option of a full day shift
-daytime shifts on weekdays and weekends
-some evenings
Pay: $18.65*/hour (paid by PPL)
*This rate is set by NYS; working on a new system for the possibility of $20+ later in the fall
Apply NOW for start dates in August
Location: RIT campus starting in mid-August; possibility for occasional shifts at home in Brighton
We are currently in the process of conducting interviews, so if you are interested please apply ASAP!
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
- Nurturing, kind, compassionate
- Dedicated, responsible, and reliable
- Excellent communicator
- Must be able to lift/easily maneuver 85+lbs.
- Non-smoker
- Willing to wear KN-95 or equivalent mask as requested
- 18 YO+
- Excellent references
- Willing to commit to at least one academic year of work
No previous experience necessary || Please review information below carefully before applying
TO APPLY: Please fill out this form.
QUESTIONS? Please feel free to reach out to Oscar's mom: sallybbonn@gmail.com.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Personal care such as dressing, toileting, showering
- Transfers in and out of bed
- Repositioning of 85+lb teen within wheelchair
- Assisting with stretching, exercising, etc.
- Assisting with medical equipment such as cough assist, BiPAP, bracing, etc.
- Assisting Oscar with with daily activities, meal prep, drawing projects and more
About Oscar
Oscar is a 17-year old wheelchair user who will be attending RIT in the fall for a BFA in illustration. He is very passionate about both his own art and the art he frequently engages with; music, movies, books etc. When he’s not producing or consuming art, he loves spending time with his friends and family, spending time outside, and participating in local advocacy/activism; he has participated in panels and presented about disability awareness and advocacy at several different organizations, schools, and universities, as well as on our local NPR station.
About Oscar’s family:
Oscar’s dad, David, works in health care and is a musician. Oscar’s mom, Sally, works for an arts non-profit and is a writer. Our family is full of love and laughs, and is eager to welcome several open-minded, thoughtful, and caring individuals into Oscar's existing team of aides.
FAQ's
What is a personal care aide?
A personal care aide offers a disabled person assistance with daily tasks they are unable to complete on their own. For Oscar this means he needs access to someone 24/7 for physical assistance.
Who should apply for this job?
This is a fantastic job for nursing students, PT, OT, PA, pre-med and other health care-realted students, because it offers perspective and experience that one won’t get in a clinical setting. However, no experience is necessary. There are no requirements in terms of academic interested or experience. This job is for anyone who is committed and meets the criteria listed above in the “Ideal Candidate” section. All are welcome to apply!
What if I am interested but can’t start until later in August?
That works, but PLEASE APPLY NOW!
Our hiring process includes an interview and reference checks with Oscar and family, and then a health screening and online paperwork with PPL. These steps can take time, typically several weeks, and aides are not permitted to begin work until all steps are fully complete. We need Oscar's team in place ASAP.
What might a typical shift look like?
At RIT Oscar will be living in a single with his own accessible bathroom, with an adjoining single, so the aide will have their own space (and Oscar will, too) during the times that Oscar does not need assistance.
Mornings/Daytimes: Get Oscar up, assist with the bathroom and dressing for the day, positioning in his chair, assist with breakfast, materials for the day, etc.
Daytimes: Be available to assist Oscar with the bathroom, meals, positioning in his chair, etc
Afternoon/Evening: Assist Oscar with his meals, materials, artwork etc.; assist with bathroom and shower; prepare and position for bed
Overnights: Depending on hours, could include bedtime routine or morning wake up routine; downtime while Oscar sleeps, reposition him approx 1-2 times per night.
Some shifts include a significant amount of down time, during which aides are welcome to do homework or other personal projects/tasks, etc.
What is working with Oscar like?
Oscar is a fully “typical”, independently-minded, creative, outgoing almost 18YO. He’s funny, he’s a great people-person, he loves to hang out with friends, as well as talk with aides, but he also likes down time alone to be in his own head, to listen to music, take walks, etc. Physically, he is fully dependent on others for transferring in and out of his wheelchair, for dressing, positioning in his chair and bed, showering, toileting, etc. Since Oscar relies on others for so many of the things most of us do by ourselves while alone—which can be quite vulnerable—he works hard to build relationships with all of his aides, and is looking for aides equally invested.
What if this job listing doesn't get out to enough people and Oscar doesn't have enough aides to cover his basic needs when he goes to college?
Oscar will have to rely on his parents for his care in college. YIKES!!! Who wants their PARENTS following them to college??!! Plus, if Oscar's parents had to be his aides they would have to take leaves of absence from their jobs, and then they wouldn't be able to pay his tuition and then his dreams of becoming a world-famous artist by the age of 22 (yes, he is ambitious!) would be dashed. AND if Oscar has to rely on his parents for everything, and his parents have to live on a college kid schedule, they might all kill each other-ha! So, PLEASE APPLY! And also please SHARE THIS JOB POSTING with anyone you know who might be interested!!!
* * * * * * *
Might this non-traditional job be for you?
Work in our home with 16-year-old Oscar, assisting with daily care tasks such as dresssing, toileting, showering, and more. Learn about accessibility and interdependence while interacting with a highly engaging high school junior (and his parents!). See job description and qualifications below. We are looking for 2-3 thoughtful, compassionate, committed individuals to become part of our team of personal care aides.$18.10/hr (paid by All-American Home Care)
Part-time work, hours are approximate and shifts could run longer or shorter on either end (especially weekend shifts): Weekend mornings 10am-12:30pm (2 shifts available) Weekend evenings (Fri & Sat) 9pm-1am (2 shifts available) Weekday mornings 5:45-7am (1-2 shifts available) Weekday evenings (Su-Th) 7-10:30pm (5 shifts available) Additional shifts might include weekend afternoons, school breaks, summer daytime hours, etc.
Please read complete details below before applying.
Click HERE to apply. We are looking to hire right away, so please, don’t delay reaching out! Questions? Email sallybbonn@gmail.com
Might this non-traditional job be for you?
Work in our home with Oscar, learn about accessibility and interdependence, interact with a highly engaging high school junior (and his parents!). See job description and qualifications below. We are excited to find one or two people to join our fantastic team of aides, who will work closely with our family. We are looking to hire right away, but also are willing to wait for just the right person. So, please, don't delay reaching out! Questions? Email sallybbonn@gmail.com
Raising awareness about SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) and disability issues through our creative endeavors as Oscar's parents.