Independent Living Specialist ACCES-VR Peer Services Project

Equilibrium Solutions, LLC's client,Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID),is looking for an Independent Living SpecialistACCES-VR Peer Services Projectin Brooklyn, NY.

The Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID) is seeking an Independent Living Specialist to join its ACCES-VR Peer Services Project.

Under the supervision of the Peer Services Project Director/Supervisor, the Peer Independent Living Specialist will use lived experience, Independent Living philosophy, peer support, and disability advocacy to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving greater independence, self-advocacy, employment readiness, and community participation.

The position includes significant school and community outreach, participant recruitment, peer services, and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), particularly throughout Brooklyn Public Schools.

The Specialist will work with ACCES-VR staff, BCID staff, students, consumers, families, schools, and community partners.

Salary: $47,500-$55,000 annually, based on experience.

• Provide individual and group peer support to ACCES-VR customers.
• Promote self-advocacy, independence, self-sufficiency, and informed decision-making.
• Assist with career exploration, employment preparation, and transition planning; provide peer mentoring and self-advocacy support related to employment; help customers understand employment rights, responsibilities, and reasonable accommodations; and connect participants with appropriate employment and community resources.
• Assist with obtaining information and guidance regarding obtaining benefits, transportation, housing, health care community resources.
• Support health care and self-management and shared decision-making.
• Conduct outreach and presentations in Brooklyn public schools and the community; provide information about ACCES-VR, BCID Peer Services, and Pre-ETS; conduct school-based information sessions; and build and maintain relationships with school administrators, teachers, transition coordinators, special education staff, other school personnel, and community partners.
• Identify, engage, and recruit potentially eligible students with disabilities for ACCES-VR services; connect interested students with appropriate ACCES-VR and BCID staff for eligibility and enrollment; and connect customers with appropriate employment and community resources.
• Support annual participant service and participation goals.
• Assist with outreach, recruitment, and delivery of BCID's 12-week Pre-Employment Transition Services curriculum for students with disabilities. Curriculum includes:

• Job exploration and career development
• Work-based learning
• Post-secondary education and training
• Workplace readiness
• Self-advocacy and peer mentoring
• Employment preparation
• Transition planning
• Independent Living skills

Regular travel throughout Brooklyn is required for school outreach, customer recruitment, presentations, community-based services, and Pre-Employment Transition Services.

Candidates must be able to serve as peer to disabled adults and high-school and college Brooklyn residents.

Candidates also should have these qualifications:

• Training in peer support/counseling and knowledge of the history and philosophy of the Independent Living Movement.
• Experience providing cross-disability peer services and supporting individuals with self-advocacy, reasonable accommodations, employment rights, transportation, Medicaid Buy-In (MBI), and health care self-management.
• Experience providing or coordinating individual and group trainings on Independent Living, disability, employment, benefits, health care, and related topics.
• Ability to conduct outreach and presentations, including in Brooklyn Public Schools and community settings.
• Demonstrate strong communication, presentation, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Must have basic computer skills, including the ability to maintain accurate electronic records and protect confidential customer information.