JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for People With Disabilities announces the following job opening in its Longmont office to begin June 5, 2007:
Itinerate Independent Living Specialist
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.
This position has a salary range of $22,000 to $23,500 with benefits.
Please send a cover letter and resume to:
Center for People With Disabilities
Attn: Independent Living Specialist
1675 Range Street
Boulder, CO 80301
You may fax your cover letter and resume to: (303) 442-0502
or e-mail to: robert@cpwd-ilc.org
Closing Date: Open until filled.
Job Description
Independent Living Specialist I
Reporting Relationships: Reports to the Deputy Director.
Position Status: Full-time, non-exempt.
Basic Function:
Provide independent living services including: individual and systems advocacy, independent living skills training, information and referral services, peer support, employment, housing assistance, and benefits assistance and advocacy. This position is based in our Longmont office.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Becoming 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. The Independent Living Specialist I shall provide information and support to assist consumers in achieving stated goals and/or refer the consumer to appropriate resources.
- Work as a team member to assure that consumers receive quality services.
- Provide individual peer support (if Specialist is a person with a disability) and information on various peer support groups and activities.
- Provide advocacy and benefits counseling to consumers.
- Provide short-term independent living skills training to consumers.
- Provide housing assistance and modification recommendations if needed for accessibility, including maintenance of a listing of available housing.
- Encourage consumers to participate in various community activities.
- Assist consumers to locate employment and perform follow up support.
- Advocate for and assist with adequate transportation services, appointments and interviews.
- Participate in CPWD staff meetings, program meetings, and staff training activities.
- Participate on boards and committees representing the disabled community at large for better service and better quality of life in Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, Gilpin and Broomfield Counties.
- Work effectively with Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Workforce Boulder County, and other Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, Gilpin and Broomfield County agencies to assure their full opportunity to receive a complete array of services needed.
- Submitting all required CPWD records and reports in an accurate, legible and timely manner.
- Compile and enter statistical data into the computer database.
- Familiarity with resources in CPWD’s catchment area.
- Ability to travel, including remote mountain areas, to all parts of CPWD’s catchment area to provide services to county residents.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- AA in Human Services or related field and/or a minimum of two years of experience working with disabled individuals and exposure to other cultural backgrounds.
- Personal experience with a disability highly desired.
Essential Skills:
- Demonstrate ability to function as an effective communicator.
- Demonstrate ability to work effectively with professionals and with the public.
- Ability to travel to all parts of CPWD’s catchment area.
Other Desired Skills
- Knowledge of independent living philosophy.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Word and Access.
- Basic understanding of e-mail and Internet.
- Bi-lingual English/Spanish
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.
