Personal Assistant

Personal Assistant — Disability Advocacy \& Admin Support Hi! I'm a disabled person with complex chronic illnesses and a very floofy, friendly cat, looking for someone organized, resourceful, and (ideally) good on the phone to help me manage the administrative side of my life — things like benefits paperwork, medical appointments, emails, and phone calls I can't easily make myself. Some days that looks like calling an insurance company or state benefit programs. Other days it's helping me organize a housing application, research a product I need, or draft a letter to hold a provider accountable. No two weeks are exactly alike, and priorities shift based on what's most urgent — so flexibility and good judgment are both really helpful. This is vital work that has a direct impact on my well\-being — untangling government processes, fighting denied claims, and helping someone access basic needs that shouldn't be this hard to get. If you care about supporting someone facing these kinds of life\-unsustaining systems, keep reading. What you'd be doing: Navigating and advocating for benefits, housing, insurance, and public programs — filing applications, following up, and holding providers accountable when things fall through Managing emails, phone calls, and correspondence as needed Organizing documents, tracking deadlines, and keeping multiple ongoing matters from falling through the cracks Supporting scheduling, task prioritization, and helping me start and sustain tasks that are difficult to do alone Researching accessible housing, adaptive equipment, and working on other practical solutions to everyday access barriers Other related tasks as required/that we mutually agree on Note about job description: There is always more to do than can ever be done, as The Lion King loves to sing about. I am seeking out support with these tasks\-\-and I am reasonable. The work is challenging, varied, and (I think!) often interesting, and part of the nature of this role involves helping triage a long list of always\-urgent\-and\-important tasks. The stakes are high. Without assistance, I am facing these things alone, doing unpaid labor with very limited capacity, staring down the consequences of undone tasks as unmet needs. That does not mean you have failed if there's still a long list of things to do at the end of the week. It means you accompanied me in swimming through that list, and we'll start again the next week. That is the job\-\-you're succeeding if you're in it with me while on shift. Accompaniment\-\-and reducing the overall burden\-\-is what I'm looking for. You are accountable for your work... and I'm accountable for the bottom line of what gets done. You are not responsible for the weight of all of these systems. Your role is to ensure I'm not holding that weight entirely on my own\-\-to take on what you can in the hours you are here. Qualifications\-\-please apply if you: Are familiar with navigating bureaucracy and don't give up easily Can make phone calls and write emails on someone's behalf Are organized enough to keep track of multiple moving pieces Are a creative and perceptive thinker who thinks outside the box to solve problems Have an interest in disability rights, healthcare advocacy, or social services — experience is a plus but not required Are patient with shifting priorities and fluctuating energy levels Handle confidential information with integrity Comfortable working with someone who is transgender, queer, disabled, COVID cautious, living in a large body, and politically to the left, including actively seeking to create a work environment that is anti\-racist and pro\-immigrant. Familiarity with or openness to learning about the experiences of people like me in healthcare, disability, housing, and other systems is important. Note: if you are not able to make phone calls easily, or if there are specific other aspects of this job description that don't fit quite right — please still apply if you're interested! I'm looking for someone who meets most of the needs of this position. Details: Part\-time, flexible hours (5 to 10 hours per week) Can be fully remote; some in\-person work available if desired but not required. (This would be located in Lawrence, MA and/or within half an hour of Lawrence by car.) If you do have any in\-person shifts (though remote is completely fine too!), must be masked and fragrance\-free when working in my home (severe chemical sensitivities — I'll help with this) English fluency required $20\-25/hour Must do all work from Massachusetts Preferred location: northeastern Massachusetts (Note: this is for logistical reasons, and not a firm requirement. I have put hybrid/location\-specific selections on this posting in order to find applicants who are local. Location can be flexible — if you're based in Massachusetts but not in the area listed on the job posting, your application will still be considered! The job can be done fully remotely.) Accommodations: Disabled applicants or anyone needing accommodations are heartily welcome! If anything about the application process is a barrier for you, let me know and I’ll do my best to work with you on it. Please note that (depending on the accommodation need) I am limited in my capacity to accommodate on the basis of being one disabled person with few resources who needs significant support, but I will always take requests seriously and with care. That said, some accommodations are simple for me to provide: please ask, and we'll navigate it together. Non\-Discrimination Statement: The Formal Statement, just for clarity: I am an Equal Opportunity Employer. I'm committed to a work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. I do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and expression), sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. *Applicants affected by discrimination on these bases, or facing other forms of systemic oppression, are strongly encouraged to apply.*** Pay: $20\.00 \- $25\.00 per hour Expected hours: 5\.0 – 10\.0 per week Benefits: Flexible schedule Paid time off People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply Work Location: Remote