Philosophy & Orientation of PASP

This information serves as a review for all PASP Consumers, County Coordinators, and Personal Care Assistants.

The Personal Assistance Services Program (PASP)

PASP

PASP provides routine, non-medical assistance to adults with disabilities who are employed, involved in community volunteer work, or attending school.

Personal assistants help with tasks such as light housekeeping, bathing, dressing, preparing meals, shopping, driving or using public transportation. The number of hours of help that a person receives depends on individual need — up to 40 hours per week.

This program differs from many other personal assistance services programs, in that the people with disabilities direct their own services.

Program Requirements:

 All PASP consumers must be between the ages of 18-70. They must have a permanent physical disability and must be a New Jersey Resident. All PASP applicants must pass an assessment upon enrollment that will classify them as either self-directing or not. There is no income cap for the program. Some individuals pay no fee for services while others pay a portion or a modest “co-pay” based on a sliding fee scale. 

All PASP consumers must be actively employed or participating in educational learning, vocational training, or organized community volunteering. The philosophy of PASP revolves around the idea of supporting individuals who need the services to complete active participation within their community.

Rights 

Americans with Disabilities Act: On July 1990 Civil Rights for disabled granted people with disabilities the right to be fully employed, actively participate in public service, receive public accommodations, and be provided with access to telecommunications.

With these rights in mind, PASP has provided an avenue for people with perminant physical disabilities to receive their personal care services within a social model. This meaning they can supervise their own services without direct supervision or provided scripts of a doctor or registered nurse.  

Structure of PASP 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) houses the Division of Disability Services (DDS).  DDS administers PASP through indivdual contracts with designated county Agencies.  A list of the agencies that administer PASP in each county is avaialable in the County Resources section of the this website.

PASP Advisory Council

The Personal Assistance Services Program (PASP) under the supervision of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Disability Services, is required by law to have a statewide PASP Consumer Advisory Council.  The PASP Consumer Advisory Council provides a means for consumers to express opinions and views that will affect the quality of personal assistance services in New Jersey.  The PASP Consumer Advisory Council is designed to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the program, and to make recommendations to improve the overall program statewide.

PASP in the Cash Model

The Cash Model is a non-medical personal assistance services program that converts PASP consumer hours to a cash allowance. The cash award is placed into an account which the consumer can utilize to purchase employee services, as well as, other types of services, assistive devices, durable medical equipment, ect. that assist in maintaining independent living. 

PASP will make a statewide change into the Cash Model once the regulations are passed. The mission of this change is to provide PASP consumers with more choices, flexibility, and control with their personal care services.