Job Announcement & Job Description
To: REACH Colleagues, Supporters, & Potential Job Applicants
From: Charlotte A. Stewart, Executive Director
Date: 9/10/2021
Needed: An Independent Living Specialist at the REACH of Dallas Resource Center on Independent Living.
Please see the included job description for a detailed list of job responsibilities and required knowledge, experience, and skills for this permanent, in-person, full time position. Salary: $35,000 year, 40 hrs. per week, with employer paid health, life & long-term disability insurance.
Interested and qualified job applicants who possess the knowledge, experience, and skills listed on the job description should submit a current resume with a cover letter explaining in detail the knowledge, experience and skills they possess to be successful in doing this job. Cover letters and resumes must be received by 5:00PM on Friday, September 24th. Cover letters and resumes should be submitted via e-mail to REACH of Dallas Assistant Director Miaka Brown.
Email – mbrown@reachcils.org
Type the words APPLICANT RESUME on the subject line.
No Phone Calls Please.
The following COVID-19 safety precautions are in place at each of the four REACH centers: face masks must be worn by all employees, consumers and visitors; the temperature of each employee, consumer and visitor will be taken at each office’s entrance door using an infrared, no contact forehead thermometer; hand sanitizer dispensers are displayed in multiple areas in each center; daily cleanings are done of frequently touched surfaces; frequent hand washing is recommended while at each center; plexiglass sneeze guards are in place where needed and can be repositioned as needed; and vinyl gloves are available when needed.
REACH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals and veterans with disabilities who have the required knowledge, experience, and skills are encouraged to apply. Applicants that are fluent in English and Spanish and have the required knowledge, experience, and skills are encouraged to apply.
REACH of Fort Worth 1000 Macon St., Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76102-4527 (817) 870-9082 Voice (817) 877-1622 Fax
REACH of Dallas 8625 King George Dr., Suite 210, Dallas, TX 75235-2275 (214) 630-4796 Voice (214) 630-6390 Fax
REACH of Denton 405 S. Elm Street, Suite 202, Denton, TX 76201-6066 (940) 383-1062 Voice (940) 383-2742 Fax
REACH of Plano 720 E. Park Blvd., Suite 104, Plano, TX 75074-8844 (972) 398-1111 Voice (972) 398-9649 Fax
REACH, INC.
REACH OF DALLAS RESOURCE CENTER ON INDEPENDENT
JOB DESCRIPTION
INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALIST
POSITION SUMMARY
Coordinates services for youth with disabilities who are transitioning from high school to adult life, develops and conducts skills training workshops on various topics for both youth and adults, and identifies and shares information and resources on local affordable, accessible and safe housing options for individuals with disabilities.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Youth Outreach and Transition Assistance Duties
- Network with Health and Human Services and Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services Transition Counselors to identify youth that can benefit from center services
- Network with local school districts and the Region X Educational Service Center to identify youth that can benefit from center services
- Develop youth-related activities such as summer camp sessions, support group sessions, IL skills training sessions, field trips, social/recreational activities, etc.
Independent Living Skills Training Duties
- Develop curriculum for various independent living skills training sessions/workshops
- Recruit guest presenters to conduct IL skills training sessions as needed
- Offer and conduct independent IL skills training with consumers in one-on-one, group, and/or online sessions as requested
Housing Resource Duties
- Research the existing array of community housing options and create an online database of this information on the REACH website. This database should include detailed information on who qualifies for each housing program, how to apply for each program, the cost for participating in each housing program, the physical accessibility of each program, etc.
- Participate in community meetings that deal with housing issues to advocate for the housing needs of North Texans with disabilities and provide individual housing advocacy assistance to consumers as needed
- Network with other organizations that are developing new housing options
- Assist consumers that need help in finding safe, affordable and accessible housing and assist REACH’s Home By Choice program Relocation Specialists in locating housing for nursing home residents moving into the community.
- Conduct independent living skills training on housing topics as needed
Advocacy and Outreach Duties
- Advocate for/assist consumers with their self-advocacy efforts
- Advocate for system changes in the area of architectural barrier removal and accessibility
- Conduct ongoing outreach activities to generate referrals for all the services you provide
- Liaison with local groups to reach unserved/underserved consumers
- Assist with the Center’s ongoing public relations efforts including mailings of promotional material such as brochures & flyers
- Display the REACH exhibit at various events in the community
Job Description
Independent Living Specialist – Dallas
Page 2
Miscellaneous Duties
- Provide peer counseling/counseling to consumers as needed
- Help answer the phone and handle information and referral requests as needed
DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills
- Ability to interact with all types of people and make presentations to both large and small groups
- Experience in conducting individual and systems advocacy activities
- Experience in training/teaching others
- Experience in interacting with people and youth with disabilities
- Strong Organizational and time management skills
- Ability to demonstrate dependability and meet deadlines
- Ability to prioritize projects and work on several concurrently
- Ability to work with minimal daily supervision
- Experience/knowledge of the housing needs of people with disabilities
- Basic knowledge of North Texas housing options and resources
- Basic knowledge of HUD programs, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the ADA Accessibility Guidelines, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
- Ability to work some evenings/weekends in order to attend meetings, exhibit the display, etc.
- Ability to handle several projects at one time
- Ability to work on the telephone and computer for extended periods of time on occasion
- Ability to maneuver in the community to provide services, participate in meetings, network, exhibit the center’s display, etc.
- Reliable transportation for daily service delivery
- Ability to assist with room set-up for events and activities held at the center as well as out in the community
ROUTINE HOURS: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday, however some periodic adjustment to routine hours may occur, but will not go over 40 hours per week.
COMPLIANCE REQIREMENTS: REACH maintains a policy of compliance with the employment
requirements of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. REACH provides reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. REACH is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring employees that reflect the diversity of the North Texas community.
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR
The Independent Living Specialist will report to the Assistant and Executive Directors.
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Employee’s Signature & Date
REACH REV 07/2021