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Education and Training Division
Location: Des Moines, IA
Salary Minimum: $46,862.40
Salary Maximum: $71,156.80
Job Type: Full-time
Agency: 131 Iowa Department for the Blind
Job Number: 22-04262
Post Close Date: July 15, 2022
Point of Contact: Helen Stevens
To Apply: All candidates wish to be considered for this position must submit a cover letter, resume, and application via NeoGov. For more information, contact Helen Mejia, 515-829-7411 or helen.stevens@blind.state.ia.us.
Job Description:
The Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking an energetic and passionate Independent Living Skills Coordinator for its Young Adult Transition Program for blind youth. Ideal candidates will possess a belief in the capacity of blind persons, strong organization and time management skills, the ability to clearly communicate plans verbally and in writing, and the ability to connect with and motivate youth. IDB can provide training in the specific blindness skills areas listed if needed. New employees typically start at the listed salary minimum.
The Young Adult Transition Program is a school-year-based residential program for youth ages 17-21 who have finished high school, but who need additional instruction in order to participate in post-secondary learning and employment opportunities. The YATP team consists of three Vocational Rehabilitation Teachers who teach braille/technology, orientation and mobility, and career exploration classes. 4 Youth Services workers work with students on their personal care, cooking/cleaning, and social skills in the IDB dorms, during community activities, and during volunteer and paid work experiences. The Independent Living Skills coordinator will coordinate the independent living skills component of the program to ensure that students are progressing toward their Individualized Education Program and Vocational Rehabilitation goals. This will include both direct teaching and collaborating with Youth Services Workers on the work they are doing with students. During the summer, the YATP team, along with temporary employees hired for the summer, run IDB’s summer program for youth ages 14-21.
This position will initially work Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM for staff training. After training, work hours will typically consist of afternoon, evening, and weekend hours the exact schedule will be set by the program administrator.
Duties and responsibilities to include the following:
- Coordinate the independent living skills component of YATP and LEAP by writing lesson plans for Youth Services Workers and tracking student progress toward long-term IEP goals.
- Select specific goals for each student to focus on each month and produce written monthly reports on student growth and concerns.
- Provide Workplace Readiness, Self Advocacy and Disability-Related skills training to blind youth in comprehensive residential training programs such as the Young Adult Transition Program and LEAP Program.
- Work with students on increasing their independent living skills in areas such as developing and managing their morning and evening routines, managing personal hygiene, maintaining clean and organized living spaces, completing laundry and other common household tasks, shopping for groceries and other needed items and planning and preparing their own meals.
- Support student learning through providing supplemental braille, technology, cane travel and money management instruction, in particular by working with students to utilize these skills in their daily lives outside the classroom.
- Facilitate students’ development of age-appropriate social skills through recreational activities on and off campus.
- Assist students in traveling to and participating in activities in the community. Reinforce proper cane technique and other nonvisual skills during these activities. Serve as a role model for students in the use of non-visual techniques and problem-solving skills.
- Coordinate the medication management component of YATP, LEAP, and weekend retreat programming. Work with students to develop a system for organizing their medication and taking it appropriately. Work with students on learning to communicate with their medical providers and refill medications as needed.
- Manage the supplies needed for YATP, LEAP, and weekend retreat programming. Track the supplies in inventory and facilitate the purchase of new supplies as needed.
- Plan group activities: Connect individual students with community groups and activities that align with their interests; create opportunities to develop students' social skills and self-confidence.
- Promote a positive philosophy of blindness through involvement in trainings and community outreach events for parents, educators and other service providers as directed.
- Other duties as assigned.
Essential functions of this position:
- Demonstrate and promote a positive philosophy of blindness
- Actively participate in program activities
- Communicate regularly with program leaders regarding student needs and concerns
- Document student progress through regular written reports
- Actively monitor student behavior and living areas
- Clearly document incidents related to students’ health and safety
- Travel using the long white cane under sleepshades in order to provide appropriate guidance and instruction to students when traveling
- Teach organization skills and appropriate behaviors
It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment.
All applications must be submitted through the State of Iowa job application site. Only applications containing both a cover letter and resume will be considered.
For further information, contact Helen Mejia, 515-829-7411 or helen.mejia@blind.state.ia.us
This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department for the Blind . Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.
Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in technical writing, education, computer science, or related fields and experience equal to three years of full-time work in technology, education, computer science, engineering or a closely related field;
OR
an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time work experience, outlined above, for each year of the required education to a maximum substitution of three years.
For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)
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