Join Our Team
Want to work in a friendly, team-oriented organization with good benefits? disAbility Connections is the place for you! We are a Center for Independent Living that serves Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale Counties. Through person-centered planning, our dedicated staff assist people with disabilities by providing resources and services promoting independence. We work hard toward creating a more inclusive community that recognizes the potential and attributes of all people. Using our programs for peer consultation, information & referral, community transition and youth transition we work closely with individuals to understand and address their needs and goals. Apply today to join our team!
Open Positions:
Accessibility Advocate & Community Outreach Coordinator
Salary Range:
$21-$23
Supervisor:
Director of Services
General Summary:
Provide Americans with Disability Act (ADA) resource information for the community. Provide individual/systems accessibility advocacy. Perform Access For All general accessibility evaluations of public businesses throughout the service area communities. Promote community awareness of the programs and services of the agency.
Qualifications and Requirements:
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Education and Training Required: Must have a High School diploma or equivalent education and experience. Must possess excellent communication, documentation, writing, and computer skills. Must also possess personal experience with disability (preferred) and/or knowledge of disability issues.
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Work Experience Required: Must possess basic understanding of construction or building design with an ability to accurately measure small distances. Knowledge and working experience in ADA accessibility compliance. Organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple tasks; prioritize work effectively and use judgement and discretion in decision-making. Commitment to and ability for, continuous improvement and mastery of the relevant body of knowledge related to this position.
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Personal Experience: Prefer person living with disability and/or knowledge of disability issues and the consumer/community-based Independent Living philosophy. Passionate about empowering people with disabilities to reach their full potential.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
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Provide awareness in Jackson, Hillsdale, and Lenawee County regarding Access For All and its purpose of creating a more informed consumer with business accessibility. Complete and maintain all Access For All evaluations.
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Travel required within the regional service area of disAbility Connections.
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Assist in ADA assessments and act as a resource for the community for ADA requests for information.
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Represent disAbility Connections and articulate the issues facing people with disabilities through participation on boards, commissions, public meetings and activities throughout Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale County.
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Promote accessibility in all service area county housing, transportation, and overall access for people with disabilities.
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Provide trainings on disabilities, inclusion, awareness, and accessibility to organizations.
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Conduct plan reviews as a subject expert for accessibility in design, procedures, and planning.
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Coordinate/promote community events with accessibility focus.
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Taking people around in wheelchairs to experience and understand daily life.
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Build network and incorporate other disabilities.
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Provide accessible recreational opportunities or share awareness of opportunities within the areas.
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Use social media to spread awareness of events and promote services provided by dC.
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Perform fundraising initiatives and raise awareness/support for dc programs--including planning accessibility needs for events and coordinate functions of ASL, CART, and others as needed.
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Attend community meetings as representative of disAbility Connections and ensure PWD are considered in all aspects/stay current on issues-includes but not limited to housing, health care, city/county commission, continuuum of care, transportation meetings
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Meet outcomes listed in the Work Plan as outlined in the disAbility Connections Performance Evaluation.
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Provide information and referral support to consumers and/or agencies.
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Enhance the image of the disAbility Connections in person, by telephone and in written communication.
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Complete by deadline, all reports, including, but not limited to: timesheets, expense reports, monthly activity reports, billings and grant applications.
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Perform other duties as assigned.
Important Skills and Characteristics:
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Read and record measurements accurately or ability to learn and perform as taught.
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Model integrity, personal and professional ethics and maintain confidential consumer information.
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Articulate the disAbility Connections, Inc. mission and Independent Living goals and accurately describe its program services and outcomes.
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Ability to present and talk with people on importance of inclusion and provide examples of how changes can be made in systems, procedures, and structurally to achieve those goals.
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Model teamwork by giving credit where credit is due, accepting responsibility, welcoming input from others and checking with co-workers regularly to ensure that work flows smoothly and lines of communication remain open.
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Maintain a positive working relationship with consumers, co-workers and referral sources, which encourage positive referral relationships.
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Maintain a neat and orderly office.
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Demonstrate resourcefulness, initiative, and follow through as required for the effective delivery of accessibility services.
Physical Requirements:
This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this job description. Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements. These include but are not limited to the following requirements:
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Ability to enter and retrieve information into the computer.
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Ability to travel, enter, and exit vehicles and public businesses.
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Ability to bend, and reach office files, materials and equipment.
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Ability to make and receive telephone calls.
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Ability to travel to and from assigned work location(s).
Work Environment:
Works in office conditions and travels throughout the community to attend meetings, conduct workshops and other activities related to disAbility Connections, Inc. Requires the ability to travel between towns and be in and out of a vehicle and businesses.
This is a non-exempt, full-time position at 40 hours per week, first shift, and in-person.
Benefits:
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401(k)
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Cell phone reimbursement
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Health insurance
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Life insurance
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Paid time off
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Professional development assistance
Submit application:
Life Skills Advisor
Salary Range:
$17-$20
Supervisor:
Director of Services
General Summary
The Life Skills Advisor empowers youth and adults with disabilities to build independent living skills, both daily living and work skills. This position provides both individual service in one-on-one settings and classroom instruction or group-based services.
Qualifications and Requirements
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Education and Training Required: Associate degree in a human services or related field of study with Bachelor’s degree preferred. Personal experience with disability and/or knowledge of disability issues and the consumer/community-based IL philosophy. Must possess excellent communication, writing and computer skills.
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Work Experience Required: 2-3 years of work experience in related field, ideally in independent living services, coaching, and teaching. Experience with management, leadership and organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple tasks, prioritize work effectively and use judgment and discretion in decision-making. Must have a commitment to and ability for continuous improvement and mastery of the relevant body of knowledge related to this position.
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Personal Experience: Prefer person living with disability and knowledge of disability issues and the consumer/community-based Independent Living philosophy. Passionate about empowering people with disabilities, both youth and adults to reach their full potential.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
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Coach individuals (both youths and adults) from diverse backgrounds, on a cross-disability basis, as they develop independent living (IL) plans, set goals, monitor and move toward greater independence.
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Provide one-on-one support using person-centered approach, helping consumers strengthen daily living, communication, self-advocacy, and problem-solving skills
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Develop Independent Living Plans with the participant(s) based on independent living skill resources for youth and adults with disabilities.
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Educate individuals, parents/families on how to navigate systems and coordinate services based on Independent Living goals.
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Provide skill-training/modeling to consumers individually for variety of ages in group or in classroom settings. Training includes but is not limited to career/job development, money management, daily living skills, household management, mobility, peer support, self and individual advocacy, assertiveness, and socialization
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Become educated on Skills to Pay the Bills curriculum and utilize the curriculum to help students develop soft skills needed in the workplace and independent living
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Outreach to schools, parent groups, and other organizations as suggested to discuss programs and discuss potential presentations.
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Coordinate student sessions with area teachers
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Research and become educated on individual and systems advocacy opportunities
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Participate in and complete Motivational Interviewing Training. Utilize MI in practice.
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Promote the IL philosophy in the community.
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Work closely with supervisor in developing materials in administering programs
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Perform other duties as assigned.
Important Skills and Characteristics:
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Enhances the image of disAbility Connections in person, by telephone, and in written communication. An effective communicator. Attentive and respectful of others; a good listener. Uses professional demeanor face to face, written or telephone contact.
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Completes all reports by deadline, including but not limited to timesheets, expense reports, monthly activity reports, billings, and grant applications.
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A Solid Contributor. A productive and conscientious worker who takes on a fair share of the workload. Takes initiative to assist others during periods of less intense workload. Is helpful when special projects require additional work.
Completes and maintains all Consumer Services Records in compliance with the Federal Quality Assurance Standards and Indicators in the required data collection tools. -
Maintains a positive working relationship with consumers, co-workers, referral sources, and others to encourage positive relationships. Arrives at job, appointments, meetings, on time and prepared.
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Articulates the disAbility Connections, Inc. mission, IL goals and accurately describes its program services and outcomes.
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Models integrity, personal and professional ethics and maintains confidential consumer information in adherence to applicable HIPAA guidelines.
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Maintains a neat and orderly office.
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Demonstrate resourcefulness, initiative, and follow through as required for the effective delivery of disAbility Connections services.
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Meet outcomes listed in the Fiscal Year Work Plan as outlined in the disAbility Connections Performance Evaluation.
Additional Skill Requirements:
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Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication as well as good computer skills.
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Complete Motivational Interviewing Training when available
Physical Requirements:
This job requires the ability to perform the essential duties contained in this job description. Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these physical requirements. These include but are not limited to the following requirements:
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Ability to enter and retrieve information into the computer.
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Ability to bend, and reach office files, materials and equipment.
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Ability to make and receive telephone calls.
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Ability to travel to and from assigned work location(s).
Work Environment:
Works in office conditions and travels in the communities we serve (Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties) to attend meetings, conduct workshops and other activities related to disAbility Connections, Inc. mission.
This is a full-time position at 40 hours per week, first shift, and in-person.
Benefits:
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401(k)
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Cell phone reimbursement
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Health insurance
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Life insurance
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Paid time off
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Professional development assistance