JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for People With Disabilities announces the following job opening in its Boulder office:
Independent Living Advisor
Please see the job description (below) for specific job functions and requirements. This position requires travel in the following counties: Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Gilpin and Jefferson.
CPWD is an equal opportunity employer and provides resources, information and advocacy to empower persons with disabilities to overcome barriers to independence. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the above position.
Please send a cover letter and resume to:
Center for People With Disabilities
Attn: ILA
1675 Range Street
Boulder, CO 80301
You may fax your cover letter and resume to: (303) 442-0502
or e-mail to: ila@cpwd.org
Closing Date: Open until filled.
Job Description
Core Independent Living Services Advisor
Definition of a Center for Independent Living
Centers for Independent Living are consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential, private, nonprofit agencies that are designed and operated within local communities by individuals with disabilities. Centers require 51% of staff be persons with disabilities as well as 51% of Board of Directors be persons with disabilities. Centers provide an array of independent living services, including the core services of information and referral, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and individual and systems advocacy. (http://www.ed.gov/programs/cil/index.html).
Position Status:
Full-time. Wage. Non-exempt.
Basic Function:
Provide basic independent living services including: information and referral services, peer support, individual and systems advocacy, and independent living skills training to consumers requesting CPWD services.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Knowledge of CIL Philosophy
- Communicate the definition of a “Center for Independent Living” to consumers, community contacts and referral sources.
- Implement and model “Center for Independent Living” philosophy.
Information and Referral: Knowledge of Resources
- Become familiar with all aspects of CPWD’s programs and services in order to assist consumers in understanding their level of independence on a continuum as well as their service needs.
- Become familiar with cross-disability, government and non-profit agency information, resources and referrals in Adams, Broomfield and Jefferson counties as necessary and appropriate for assigned service area. Meet one-on-one with at least one agency or program a week.
- Work effectively with the aforementioned organizations, programs and agencies to provide and to assure the consumers receive the most complete array of service options available to them so that they can make informed decisions.
- Create, maintain and update resources and resource lists. (brochure racks in reception area)
- Develop resources: Attend trainings, workshops, resource fairs, networking groups, etc. to gain a clearer understanding of the resources and networks that are available.
- Develop resources: Link with various e-newsletters and other materials to become and remain abreast of issues that relate to consumers and assigned service area.
Intake: Ability to Set Goals and Facilitate Learning (or Achievement)
- Assess consumer’s stated and implied needs and goals.
- Assist consumer in formulating an independent living plan.
- Breakdown independent living plans into a step-by-step action plan with who does what by when.
- Provide services such as information & referral, advocacy, support and training to assist consumers in achieving those goals.
- Provide decision-making tools and problem-solving strategies and engage the consumers in making their own decisions and solutions.
- Establish measures of progress based on individual capacity and competency so that success is both identifiable and real, yet also experienced.
- Encourage empowerment, providing positive reinforcement and feedback. (Celebrate Achievement)
Individual Advocacy : Ability to Teach, Educate and Train
- Assist and educate with benefits resources, applications, appointments, reviews, and recertifications in partnership with consumer participation and in conjunction with consumer’s goal(s).
- Assist and educate with housing resources, pre-applications, applications, and recertifications in partnership with consumer participation and in conjunction with consumer’s goal(s).
Independent Living and Life Skills Training: Ability to Teach, Educate and Train
- Teach individual advocacy (such as effectively communicating a Fair Housing complaint) in conjunction with consumer’s goal(s).
- Train consumers in independent living skills in conjunction with consumer’s goal(s).
- Encourage consumers to achieve maximum self sufficiency possible.
Peer Support
- Provide individual peer support (if staff is a person with a disability) and provide information and referral on various peer support groups and activities provided by CPWD as well as by other agencies and organizations.
- Encourage consumers to participate in community activities and to build personal informal support network.
Systems Advocacy and Community Outreach and Network
- Advocate for affordable and accessible housing, for employment opportunities, and for adequate and accessible public transportation for people with disabilities.
- Attend and Participate on community and public boards and committees, representing the disabled community-at-large, informing others of CPWD’s services, and learning of other’s services.
- Reach out through fairs, expo’s and events to create awareness and knowledge of CPWD services to people with disabilities, friends, family and community-at-large..
Documentation.
- Submit all required CPWD and grant records and reports in an accurate, legible and timely manner.
- Complete an “intake” on all consumers which includes required as well as pertinent demographic data and creating a “hard” CSR file.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- BA in Human Services or related field and/or a minimum of two years of experience working with individuals who are disabled.
- Personal experience with a disability highly desired.
Essential Skills:
- Demonstrate competence in analyzing the needs of consumers with disabilities, assisting in the exploration of available options.
- Demonstrate experience in managing and prioritizing daily work tasks.
- Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills
- Ability to prioritize work, manage time, and demonstrate excellent organizational skills and initiative to improve processes.
- Demonstrate ability to work independently, making solid decisions and exercising sound judgment in consumer and community contacts.
- Demonstrate willingness to be an active and supportive team member.
- Change agent demeanor who is a flexible thinker with an ability to quickly adapt to a changing environment..
- Demonstrate ability to represent CPWD, outreach and network to the community and public.
- Demonstrate knowledge of resources which is essential to consumer choice.
- Achieve stated outcomes with consumers and community activities as evidenced by documentation.
- Ability to travel to meetings, trainings and events.
Other Desired Skills:
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Word and Excel.
- Basic understanding of e-mail and Internet.
- Bilingual English/Spanish or English/American Sign Language highly desired.
CPWD’s goal is an integrated community that equally welcomes all members.
The Center for People with Disabilities works so that people with disabilities in the Boulder area may live independently. We believe that there is nothing more disabling than pity.
People with disabilities are a powerful and significant part of our community, yet; as a group our social roles have been marginalized by bigotry, discrimination, poverty, isolation, dependency and pity. Americans with disabilities have not had access to transportation, housing and employment that other citizens have enjoyed; CPWD will change that.
The concept of Independent Living grew out of the Civil Rights Movement.
Independent Living not only means equal rights, but also equal responsibility for citizens. Independence implies managing success as well as coping with failure. Many services, programs, charities, organizations and agencies in our community encourage dependency of people with disabilities and remove the risk of failure. The cycle of dependency, paternalism and control removes the common choices of individuals. Ultimately, only by taking similar risks can people with disabilities equally participate in the community.
CPWD offers a new model for community integration.
Since 1977 CPWD has been the center of a network of resources, information and services to assist people with disabilities to conquer the barriers, the isolation and the dependency. We encourage you to work with us to build this new accessible welcoming community, learn from neighbors or teach fellow citizens that are struggling for their independence.
The Center for People with Disabilities
1675 Range Street, just off Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder and 615 North Main Street in Longmont Colorado.
The Center for People with Disabilities Mission:
To provides resources, information, and advocacy to assist people with
disabilities in overcoming barriers to independent living. CPWD is a private,
nonprofit 501(c)3 agency.
