Opportunities

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Independent Living Specialist – Alamogordo, NM

Immediate Job Opening (Timeline: Open Until Filled)

Full time position, based on the needs of the Agency, to provide independent living skills training, individual and community advocacy, nursing home transition, youth transition, disability specific resources and peer counseling or peer support to other people with disabilities who live or work in the following service areas: Lincoln and Otero and counties.

BA in counseling, health services, education, legal or paralegal, Independent Living Specialist or closely related area preferred or an appropriate combination of skills, experience and education to perform the duties outlined. Community organizing around social justice and equal access issues desired. Ability to analyze situations and identify course of action(s) in each situation is critical. Self-monitoring of performance goals highly desired. Experience in record keeping, writing and communicating a must. Good verbal and writing skills. Ability to follow directions and follow-through on assignments critical. Good computer skills. Knowledge and experience in independent living philosophy or ability to understand and apply, disability rights advocacy, disability resources desirable. Experience providing services to people with disabilities. Prefer person who has a disability. Ability to maintain and develop positive working relationships a must. Fluency in other languages a plus. Must be able to travel extensively throughout the region.

Independent Living Specialist – Full Job Description

Purpose: In keeping with IL philosophy, we seek to fill positions with staff members who are qualified people with disabilities. Working together with consumers, staff members provide information about resources and how to access these resources to maximize their independence and self-determination and to full and equal access to life’s activities. In addition, staff members deliver services and advocacy that is consistent with the philosophy of consumer choice, self-direction and self-advocacy. All staff members are responsible for helping consumers in identifying barriers in society that prevent people with disabilities from realizing their full potential.

Job Title: Independent Living Specialist
Reports To: Senior Program Officer
Status: Full-time Exempt

Job Responsibilities:

A. Deliver Individual Services and Advocacy as follows:

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of Independent Living Philosophy to all consumer contacts and provide the following general services as requested and directed by consumers:
   • Peer counseling on disability related issues,
   • Individual advocacy, that is work side by side with consumers and share responsibility to resolve issues within systems (this includes writing letters and making phone calls),
   • Independent living skills training in all areas of daily living as requested by consumers, to include access to community services and proficiency in household activities,
   • Information and referral on resources in the community, conducting the research for information if necessary to make the best possible referrals, for people with disabilities, their families/friends and community organizations.
   • Transition Services that facilitate transition from nursing homes and other institutions to the community, provide assistance to those at risk of entering institutions, and facilitate transition of youth to postsecondary life.
   • Other services as outlined in the yearly ILRC goals and consistent with the needs of the community.
2. Apply knowledge of benefits and other services, such as, SSI, SSDI, PASS, housing, etc. when providing services.
3. Conduct independent living evaluations as part of fee-for-service activities.
4. Develop and frequently update, an Individual Independent Living Plan (IILP), in partnership with each consumer, that identifies the individual’s goals (such as, benefits to be sought, education, vocation, personal growth, social and family, etc.) and plans for identifying and utilizing community and personal support systems, to maximize independence in the community. Consumers always have the option of NOT choosing to develop a plan and must be so informed.
5. Maintain individual consumer records on demographics and record of services provided, including appropriate, consistent and timely record keeping (documents all contacts promptly and thoroughly). Complete all narrative reports of community activities required by ILRC and the program in a timely fashion.
6. Ensure consumer confidentiality, both in interactions with other staff, other agencies and in treatment of consumer files and records.

B. Deliver Quality IL Services

1. Assist consumers in developing techniques that will enable consumers to represent themselves at Fair Hearings and other government administrative hearings.
2. Advise, inform and instruct consumers on utilizing work incentive benefits and PASS plans.
3. Plan and conduct outreach activities as per ILRC goals yearly, paying particular attention to groups that are underserved and can contribute to the cross-cultural and cross-disability makeup of our consumers.

C. Deliver Group Services and Consumer Education and Awareness

1. Design and facilitate groups per the needs of the community.
   • Develop and implement at least one workshop each year on topics of interest to consumers, particularly focusing on areas that will enhance the independence of people with disabilities to live in the community, such as, on any appropriate Independent Living Skills or other disability issues. Hold in counties serviced by ILRC.
   • Assist in conducting a survey or focus group to ascertain topics that may be of interest to consumers.

D. Ensure Consumer Involvement

1. Actively seek input on ILRC program issues, systems advocacy issues and disability rights issues and encourage participation and involvement. Particularly seek active participation in community activities, at least on a local level that seeks to remove barriers in the community.
2. Identify and encourage participation in community activities that lead to systems change, including signing up consumers who will be part of our overall advocacy efforts.
3. Provide consumers with information on other ILRC programs, including workshops and groups, and encourage their participation, as appropriate.

E. Conduct Systems Advocacy

1. Outreach to and network with other disability and advocacy organizations to identify and advocate for the removal of attitudinal, communication and physical barriers in government (Section 504 and the ADA) and private entities (ADA).
2. Maintain active membership in at least 1 or more organized networks of service providers, advocates or community activists on access issues, disability issues or related rights, removing barriers to communication, and other identified issues facing (or experienced by) the disability community.
3. Lead campaigns that seek to remove attitudinal, physical and communication barriers and/or increase access to facilities and programs that are available for everyone.
4. Participate in the design and implementation of yearly ILRC advocacy goals through participation in appropriate ILRC advocacy teams.
5. Assist in recruiting both fellow staff and consumers in advocacy efforts and events.
6. Participate in general ILRC advocacy efforts, such as legislative campaigns, making contact with legislators, writing letters and attending rallies, etc.

F. Perform other duties

1. Have reliable transportation to travel independently within the ILRC service area and transport other IL Specialist(s) to provide individual and community independent living services.
2. Represent ILRC in the community, and network with community providers with visible results, e.g., in bringing new information, new allies, and new referral sources to ILRC.
3. Contribute to positive teamwork, including but not limited to attending and contributing to team and staff meetings (required).
4. Keep current on issues and laws affecting people with disabilities, by reading articles, books, publications and research on relevant topics.
5. Professional Development in Independent Living:
   • Develop an area of specialization and be able to provide in-service training to colleagues and consumers.
   • Attend ILRC in-service training workshops.
   • Identify and attend relevant external training and conference experiences, to the extent approved by the Executive Director.
   • Take personal responsibility for self-education by obtaining and reading the latest information on area of specialization, independent living philosophy and disability rights issues.
   • Other duties: carry out additional assignments delegated by the Executive Director as requested, in a timely fashion.

Job Types: Full-time
Pay: $48,000.00 – $50,000.00 per year
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits: Dental insurance, Flexible schedule, Health insurance, Paid time off, Vision insurance
Schedule: 8 hour shift, Monday to Friday
Work Location: Multiple locations

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ILRC complies with the employment requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities provided upon request. This announcement is available in large print and e-mail.