During the last decade in California, "Public Authorities" have been established in most counties. Public Authorities allow personal attendants to organize and seek union representation. They have also given consumers of personal attendant services a formal mechanism for input about those services.

Public Authorities are the product of a joint battle waged and won by both the Independent Living Movement and the Service Employees International Union. Public Authorities have been under threat of loss of funding in California. In order to fully understand the significance of potentially losing Public Authorities, it's important to understand the depth of the victory that the Public Authorities represent. This publication covers the history behind the establishment of this significant institution