Disability Advocate

The ND Protection & Advocacy Project is a statewide agency with the federally mandated purpose of protecting and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities in North Dakota. We are hiring a disability advocate to work in our Jamestown, ND office. This is not a remote position. Travel is required, including some overnight stays.

As a Disability Advocate you must have a passion for ensuring equality and inclusion of people with disabilities. You will provide information, assistance, and advocacy on disability-related, legal rights issues to people with disabilities; you will investigate alleged abuse and neglect; and provide training and outreach to people with disabilities, parents, guardians, service providers, and other professionals on disability rights issues.

Protective and Advocacy services

Receives referrals regarding alleged rights violations of individuals with disabilities. Determines eligibility based on federal program, P&A eligibility criteria, and priorities.

Works with the client to fulfill unmet disability-related needs and rights violations.

Receives reports of suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation (ANE) of individuals with disabilities.

Investigates, collects, and reviews information to determine probable cause within timelines; completes required documentation and reports per P&A procedures and protocol.

Training and outreach

Collaborates with other P&A staff to develop training protocols in areas that include ANE, investigations, disability-related law and processes, advocacy, and other rights areas specific to individuals with disabilities.

Collaborates with other P&A staff to develop and present trainings on disability-related topics to people with disabilities, professionals, parents, guardians, and others.

Systems advocacy

Collaborates with individuals with disabilities and advocacy organizations to develop strategies and advocate for positive systemic changes.

Represents P&A on meetings, committees, work groups, and task forces as requested, to address issues of concern to P&A.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or other human services related field, and three years of experience working directly with people with disabilities; OR
• Bachelor’s degree in any field, and four years of experience working directly with people with disabilities.

Preferred:

• Work experience that involved advocating for people with a variety of disabilities including developmental disabilities, mental illness, physical disabilities and brain injury, to include co-occurring disabilities.
• Excellent understanding and knowledge of disability-related service delivery systems in ND.
• Work experience that required research, analysis, interpretation, and/or application of rules, regulations, statute, or complex policies.
• Work experience that required investigative type of duties.
• Work experience making presentations to a group.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and Internet.