That was what he worked to hide. He, more than anyone, knew that needing personal assistance didn't mean you were inherently dependent. But he also knew what people thought it meant. Everybody needs assistance. We have personal assistance from the time we're' born until the day we die.
Personal assistance comes from moms, from teachers, from housewives and husbands.
Everybody uses personal assistants. They are maids, waiters in restaurants, gas station attendants, flight attendants, beauticians. They are people who type your reports, file your papers, prepare coffee for your business meetings. The only difference between the person who fixes coffee for the meeting and my attendant fixing coffee for my friends is society's perception. Cass Irvin is a freelance writer.