Behavior Specialist - Adult Program

Behavioral Services
- Poughkeespie, NY
- Full Time

Are you passionate about using your skills to help optimize the quality of life for adults with autism? Do you want to do so in an organization who is likewise invested in YOUR ability to grow and thrive as well? As a Behavior Specialist at Anderson Center for Autism
, you can pave the way to better outcomes for adults with autism and developmental disabilities in our residential and day program settings - all while enjoying a culture that rewards team members with clear pathways to advancement. Whether assisting with behavioral and skill‑based assessments, supporting the development and implementation of behavior support plans, collecting and analyzing data, and/or providing important training and guidance to direct support staff, you will ultimately help promote skill development and cultivate the confidence needed for so many to experience greater independence and overall well-being.

And, by choosing an agency that champions its team members, you’ll have the chance to grow professionally and personally, every step of the way.

What You Will Do as Behavior Specialist / Adult Program:

• You will be a hands‑on, go‑to clinical expert who helps ensure that individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities can benefit from the evidence‑based behavioral strategies that will lead to skill acquisition and a better quality of life.
• You will help develop frameworks for behavior support that will lead to consistent, predictable experiences for the adults we serve - and a chance for everyone on your team to feel more self‑assured in their own roles.
• You will help solve problems that arise, and you will coach your colleagues as needed, to ensure that everyone can confidently and effectively work toward achieving the same goals.
• You will assist with annual and ongoing behavioral and skills assessments using evidence‑based methods to gather reliable data.
• You will get to participate in the development of behavior support and skills‑based plans by contributing data, observations, and feedback from program settings.
• You will have the opportunity to support the implementation of plans through modeling, observation, and the sharing of feedback to direct support staff; you will also document your training efforts as required.
• You will maintain accurate data‑collection systems, using chart or graph data - and communicate the results with team members in ways that will help guide any needed program adjustments.
• You will provide hands‑on, program‑level behavioral support by observing environments, identifying needs, and communicating recommendations to supervisors and interdisciplinary team members.
• You will participate in the treatment team, Life Plan, BTR, and other relevant meetings, offering meaningful input and guidance aligned with behavior support goals.
• You will assist in crisis prevention and intervention using proactive, least‑restrictive strategies, and you will be available to support crisis response if and when needed.
• You will maintain strong communication with residential and day program staff, families, and department peers to ensure that everyone has a shared understanding of the supports which can yield the best results.
• You will complete required documentation, reports, and summaries in accordance with agency standards and timelines.
• You will continue to learn, participating in agency training initiatives and stay current with best practices related to autism and behavior support.

What You Can Bring to the Team:

• Alignment with our mission and values.
• Dedication to sharing your clinical expertise in ways that translate into strategies that everyone can easily understand and apply.
• A commitment to using data to drive decisions and to help ensure…