Job Description

POSITION: Disability Advocacy Specialist

REPORTS TO: Deputy Director of Training and Technical Assistance

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Coordinating training, technical assistance and resource development for P&A network on outreach, self advocacy and self determination training, as well as information and referral.

FUNCTIONS:

1. Provide direct technical assistance to P&A advocates, information and referral staff and PAIMI Advisory Council members through e-mail and telephone on issues regarding information and referral strategies, peer self advocacy training, community education of individuals with disabilities, cultural and disability competency, as well as outreach initiatives.

2. Develop, coordinate and conduct trainings to meet the identified needs of the non-legal advocacy staff within the P&A network including creation and maintenance of I&R resources on a wide variety of issues, staff training and development, reaching out to unserved and underserved communities and peer self advocacy training.

3. Identify best practices in I&R service techniques (phone, web, print, face-to-face), peer self advocacy, community education of individuals with disabilities and outreach.

4. Broker expertise among the P&As and with outside experts to promote sharing of resources and quality of services across the network.

5. Develop and coordinate the production and updating of resource material on relevant issues.

6. Provide staff support for two advisory committees of P&A agency staff devoted to making recommendations to NDRN on training, technical assistance and resources for areas of focus.

7. Expand and implement comprehensive approach to NDRN’s continuing education program for advocates, known as the Passport to Advocacy Learning.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1 Degree in human services area and at least three years program experience in human services or related non-profit, with a special focus on outreach activities, peer self advocacy activities or community education.

2 Demonstrated commitment to the self determination and self advocacy of citizens with disabilities and efforts to make possible the realization of that potential.

3 Demonstrated extensive experience in outreach and advocacy initiatives to a broad range of disability, racial and ethnic communities.

4 Demonstrated administrative skills.

5 Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including, but not limited to, sensitivity to other people and the ability to work with others on a cooperative basis.

6 Excellent demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal English as well as with a variety of computer applications. Spanish would be a plus.

7 Willingness to travel, work evenings and weekends when necessary.

The National Disability Rights Network is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage individuals with disabilities to apply.

Applications deadline: October 31. Please send a cover letter, resume to: Nachama Wilker, Deputy Executive Director for Training and Technical Assistance at Nachama.wilker@ndrn.org Applications may also be mailed.