Assistance - ZSL Erlangen

Assistenz Organisation - AO

Persönliche Assistenz ermöglicht Menschen mit Behinderung
a self-determined life

Our tasks

Customized personal assistance

Our personal assistance services are aimed at adults with physical disabilities who require support in their everyday lives - regardless of the degree of disability or individual support needs. The assistance services can range from a few hours a day to round-the-clock support. The type and scope of support is entirely based on the personal needs of the person receiving support.

Self-determined life in your own environment

Personal assistance enables people with disabilities to lead a self-determined and independent life. It offers the freedom to live in their familiar or chosen living environment, make their own decisions and not be dependent on inpatient facilities or family support.

Co-determination and personal responsibility

A central component of personal assistance is the active participation of clients. They are largely responsible for organizing their own individual support. This means that they select and instruct their assistants themselves and determine which activities are carried out and how.

Holistic approach to implementation

Personal assistance follows a holistic concept. The assistants take on all activities that arise during their assignment - from care and household tasks to individual support services. There is no separation according to specialist areas. The support is provided as a uniform, everyday-oriented accompaniment.

The video gives a personal insight into the importance of the ZSL from the perspective of a long-standing member. The focus is on co-determination, personal assistance and the opportunity to shape one's own life in a self-determined way.

What customers and employees say about us

Team Rudi Flaig:

„We are a team at one of ZSL's long-standing customers. Several of us have been working for ZSL for many years. Some of us also work here as a second job. Our day-to-day work is varied, with tasks such as care, housework, accompanying people to therapy and leisure activities. We experience great appreciation and a lot of trust from the customer. It is important that the interpersonal relationship is right, as we often spend many hours together. We work in a good team with competent team leaders.
We particularly appreciate the working time models offered by ZSL, as these fit in well with our personal life plans.“

Manfred Schumann - Assistant to Rudi Flaig:

„For me, supporting my customers in organizing their everyday lives is an extremely meaningful activity. I've been with ZSL since 2012 because it represents self-determination as its overriding principle. In my job as a geriatric nurse, I experienced paternalism towards people in need of help more than enough, so I am glad that this is not the case here.“

Rudi Flaig - Customer:

„I'm Rudi Flaig, I've been with ZSL since 1998 and I have spasticity. I used to live in a care home. I didn't like it at all in the home and that's why a friend told me about ZSL. That's why I ended up at ZSL and the assistants make me feel very comfortable. Every assistant accepts me for who I am.“

Marie Sieger - customer and employee

„I'm Marie, 25 years old. I moved to Erlangen for my studies and have been living with assistance organized by the ZSL ever since. I have now completed my degree and am working on my doctoral thesis. The fact that this path was and is possible for me is largely thanks to organizations like the ZSL and the many dedicated and motivated assistants.

Assistance enables me to live and work independently and to organize my everyday life according to my needs. I don't take it for granted, but it is a key prerequisite for a self-determined life.

I am at ZSL because the focus here is on self-determination and at the same time a lot of organizational work is taken off my hands. The ZSL was set up and is run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities - you can feel that in everyday life. I particularly appreciate the wide range of assistance organization, advice, events and political work.

In addition to my role as a customer, I run training courses on topics such as the relationship between assistants and customers, self-determination and closeness and distance. I am also a member of the association council and contribute to the strategic development of ZSL.“

Ella Armstrong (assistant):

„Ella, 63 years young - I started working as an assistant for physically disabled people about 3 years ago, coming from a skilled trade (cook).
The move to ZSL was a heartfelt wish.
For me, my work is a give & take with heart & mind, as in any good relationship.“

Mohammad Salah Karim (Hama) (assistant):

„I've been working at ZSL e.V. for over 11 years and no two days have ever been the same. And that's exactly what I love about my job: that every customer and every day is different and I never know what to expect that day. In addition to my care work, I've also been able to accompany customers to university or to Franconian Switzerland, walk dogs, help around the house, ... - in short, everything that comes up, in a very varied, spontaneous and individual way. As I look after customers at home, it feels very familiar. As an assistant, I love helping where my customers need it and making them happy. I have also been able to learn a lot from my customers, e.g. I was allowed to cook my first Franconian dishes for my customers. But of course I haven't missed the opportunity to prepare a Kurdish dish for them either and so far everyone has been happy with it. The working hours fit well into my life with two small children. I hope that another 11 years or more at ZSL e.V. will follow.“

Working as a personal assistant

Support a person with a disability to live independently.
As a personal assistant, you accompany a person in their everyday life, help them in various life situations and contribute to making real participation possible.

Are you reliable, empathetic and willing to take on responsibility?
If so, you can expect a meaningful job with varied tasks, direct feedback and valuable development opportunities - both personally and professionally.