Preschool Disabilities Specialist

Preschool Disabilities Specialist

Mid Valley Family YMCA
- Van Nuys, CA;
Gardena Carson Family YMCA
- Gardena, CA;
Montebello Family YMCA
- Montebello, CA;
Stuart M Ketchum Downtown YMCA
- Los Angeles, CA

Salary Range $27.00 - $29.00 Hourly Position Type Full Time Job Shift Any

Travel Percentage Road Warrior Category Preschool
- Youth Development

YMCA OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES

The LA Y is the Center for Community Well-Being in Los Angeles, committed to building stronger communities by providing equitable programs and services to empower all. We are focused on fighting food insecurity, providing equity in education, making sure every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of sports, ensuring kids and teens have a safe place to grow, learn and live a healthy lifestyle.

The LA Y's health and wellness initiatives offer medical and mental health resources to ensure everyone has access to basic health needs. Our mission is to provide services and resources that contribute to the well-being of our community. The LA Y operates 29 Centers and over 200 program sites across LA County.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager, the Disabilities Specialist ensures that children with disabilities and children with concerns for disabilities receive the services and support necessary to succeed in the Early Education Program and assists YMCA teaching staff in working with children related to developmental disabilities and/or conditions. Assist staff in implementing plans to accommodate children's needs in the learning environment.

Collaborate with staff, families, and external agencies to meet the needs of children with disabilities and ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and State Standards related to disability services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Under the direction of the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager, the disabilities specialist mentors teaching staff in early identification of developmental delays and the internal referral process as needed.
• Supports teaching staff in implementation of IFSP/IEP goals, and individualization of services, in the classroom and in the child's natural environment; completes monthly classroom observation and provides feedback to Site Directors.
• Under the supervision of the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager provides support to YMCA teaching staff to ensure provision of appropriate environmental accommodations.
• Conducts classroom observations to monitor individualization of services and inclusion of children with special needs and/or disabilities.
• Under the supervision of the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager, provides training and technical assistance related to the children's individualized needs, strategies, modeling, and recommendations to teaching staff working with special needs and/or disabilities, as well as parents of children who have special needs and/or disabilities.
• Supports with conducting developmental screenings for children 0-5, agency wide.
• Monitors, tracks, and processes completed developmental screenings, in collaboration with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager.
• Collaborate with the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager to ensure YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles preschool teaching staff have access to children's current IFSP/IEP to facilitate lesson planning and individualization.
• Support the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager to ensure IFSP/IEP is reviewed with the child's primary educator.
• Maintains understanding of relevant State and Federal regulations and Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) GIMS.
• Refers and connects children and families to community agencies and appropriate services.
• Maintains electronic data and documentation (disabilities) in Child Plus for children enrolled in the Early Education program (Head Start/Early Head Start/CSPP).
• Participate in agency multidisciplinary team meetings, Response to Pre-Referral Intervention and/or interagency collaborative meetings.
• Assists in developing and implementing tracking systems that monitor progress through IEP or IFSPs; evaluates the types of curriculums, instructional materials, and traditional and alternative teaching methods being used.
• In collaboration with the Mental Health and Disabilities Program Manager, supports parents with the IFSP/IEP process, including attending IFSP/IEP meetings, and participating in IFSP/IEP goal setting.
• Attends required meetings, weekly supervision, Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (MDT), training, and evaluation meetings.
• Inputs data into Child Plus data system, related to updates on IFSP/IEP goals, maintain IFSP/IEP documents in child files and Child Plus, and collaborates with outside agencies to assist in monitoring progress towards goals.
• Assists with recruiting children with disabilities into the program.
• Collaborate with the Mental Health and Disabilities Program manager to collaborate with school districts or resource…