Why Join ADAPT?
It's more than a job; it's a calling. It's where passion meets purpose. ADAPT Community Network, formerly United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of NYC provides a multitude of services to people with developmental disabilities. At ADAPT, we are 3,000 strong, and it takes every one of us to empower the lives of the people we support. With caring and great resources at hand, we know what it takes to help people live fuller, happier, healthier lives. Our employees show their commitment to the people we support every day, and we all deliver on our promise to provide innovative and comprehensive services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
For your next career move, apply with us at ADAPT Community Network! Wherever you work among our many locations around New York City, ADAPT offers paid training, competitive benefits, and we foster a team culture of learning, support, collaboration and career growth.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties and responsibilities of the Self-Advocacy Specialist - Day Habilitation will include, but are not limited to the following:
• Serves as a liaison between Program Directors, Assistant Directors, Program Coordinators, and Habilitation.
• Specialists and Habilitation Assistants responsible for self-advocacy based activities.
• Serves as advocate and provider for all issues pertaining to individuals receiving services.
• Develops and implements active development plans for self-advocacy participants, both inside and outside of building.
• Coordinates with non-professional staff in implementation of self-advocacy development plans.
• Participates in individual self-advocacy program planning process for each Day Habilitation program site.
• Orients, trains, delegates and coordinates work of staff supporting participants in self-advocacy activities.
• Recognizes and observes important relationships with Service Coordinators, Residences and families for participants’ self-advocacy based program activities.
• Composes records/paperwork and monthly development reports to describe future action plans and progress made for each self-advocacy group within Adult Day Services division.
• Utilizes community resources, as appropriate for implementation of self-advocacy development plans and community integration.
• Carries out basic administrative tasks related to caseload and other selected assignments as directed by Program Director.
• Plans group, individual activities and assigns staff to implement.
• Trains and instructs support staff in daily routine, program plan and general procedures and practices of self-advocacy group.
• Attends regularly scheduled self-advocacy group meetings at Day Habilitation program sites.
• Prepares and adapts materials and plans and sets up necessary equipment for program activities.
• Participates in scheduled in-service training programs.
• Selects and utilizes supplemental educational materials.
• Teaches persons served to become more independent.
• Establishes relationships external to agency in order to foster increased independence, community participation, heightened visibility and political activism for those individuals interested in self-advocacy activities.
• Assists persons served with transportation between classrooms and program buildings as needed.
• Initiates precautions within established framework to assure that own work is completed in a manner free from recognized hazards.
• Performs other related duties as requested.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Valid New York State Driver’s License is preferred
• Ability to read, write, speak and understand English
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with coworkers, employees, residents and their families
• Good organizational and group facilitation skills
• Proficiency in the use of a personal computer and appropriate software
• Ability to operate wheelchairs and adaptive equipment utilized by persons served
• Must maintain confidentiality of the records of the persons served
• Ability to analyze problems and determine corrective measures
• This is an agency-wide position that requires travel and service delivery to various agency sites
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field
• One year of related experience is preferred
ADAPT Community Network is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Qualified candidates of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds and status are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
