RYPAS

RYPAS, the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Program, is a program to provide assistance to people with severe disabilities so that they may continue to live in their own home and not nursing homes.

In 1999 the West Virginia legislature passed the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services (RYPAS) Act, creating a consumer-controlled program to enable people with severe disabilities to live in their own homes and communities.

Learn more about Personal Assistance Services.

RYPAS services

The RYPAS program provides resources for individuals with severe disabilities to hire a personal assistant to help them perform essential daily living tasks - including, but not limited to:

getting in and out of bed, wheelchair or motor vehicle
bathing and personal hygiene
dressing and grooming
meal preparation, eating and cleanup
paying bills
shopping and banking
managing a daily schedule

RYPAS management

The RYPAS program is managed by a seven-member consumer-controlled board. Board members are people with disabilities, most of whom have their own personal assistants. The board makes all decisions about the program and the eligibility of applicants for services. Board members are not eligible for RYPAS services while serving on the board.

RYPAS recipients

To qualify a person must have a severe disability that affects one or more major life activity and:

will always have the disability, or the disability will last for at least 12 months
needs assistance to take care of essential tasks of daily living
is not currently receiving personal assistance services through any Medicaid program
can meet responsibilities as an employer
can manage personal financial and legal affairs
meets the income guidelines for adjusted annual income

Employing a personal assistant

If you qualify for the RYPAS program, you will be able to hire a personal assistant of your choice. This will make you an employer.

As an employer, you will have various legal and financial responsibilities. If you can not take care of these responsibilities, you may designate someone you trust to take care of them for you.

Mountain State Centers for Independent Living can teach you how to:

write a job description
run an ad
interview people for the job
hire, and / or dismiss a personal assistant
develop a contract with your assistant
manage your assistant
management legal and tax responsibility of being an employer

If you would like to learn more about the RYPAS program, Personal Assistance Services or the skills required to hire a personal assistant, please contact the West Virginia Center For Independent Living nearest you.