Careers • Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled (CORD)

Help Wanted

Independent Living Advocate - Part Time

Hours: 28 hours per week (part-time)

Monday-Thursday, 9:00-5:00, occasional nights and weekends

Pay rate: $18.50 per hour

Classification: Hourly, non-exempt

Supervised by: Vice President

Description: CORD’s Independent Living (IL) program works with people with disabilities to help them achieve their maximum level of independence. IL advocates provide the individual services of information & referral, skills training, peer support, advocacy, and transition as well as community services including, but not limited to, outreach, community education, public information, technical assistance, community & systems advocacy, and collaboration & networking. CORD’s programs, including its IL program, serve the entire Cape as well as the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

Essential Job Functions:

· Will conduct outreach and other necessary activities to increase public awareness of CORD’s services;

· Will provide the core IL services of skills training, advocacy, peer support, information & referral, and transition;

· Will work one-on-one with a consumer caseload of approximately 45-70 people with disabilities on their independent living goals;

· Will develop Independent Living Plans (ILP’s) when appropriate and work methodically and collaboratively towards consumer goals;

· Will work with other organizations and agencies as necessary to assist consumers with achieving their goals;

· Will attend regular CORD staff, program, and other team meetings;

· Will perform community activities through CORD’s mobile food pantry at least one day per week as directed.

Other Required Job Functions:

· Will provide information and articles for organization updates, newsletters, social media posts, etc.;

· Will discuss assistive technology (AT) needs and the Title VII Part B program with consumers to help them get AT and aids for daily living;

· Will develop materials and provide at least one annual workshop on topics such as completing housing applications, budgeting, navigating public transportation, etc.;

· Will participate as directed in community advocacy efforts;

· Will participate in networking events as directed by joining community groups and public education efforts;

· Will assist consumers with transitioning from long-term care facilities back to the community;

· Will work on general organization fundraising activities as required;

· Other duties as required.

Requirements:

· Must know or have the ability to learn about civil rights laws for persons with disabilities including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and fair housing laws;

· Must know or develop a working knowledge of basic benefits programs, including SSI, SSDI, MassHealth, Medicare, EAEDC, and other state grant programs, Section 8 and other federal housing subsidy programs, MRVP, AHVP, and other state subsidy programs;

· Must know or become familiar with programs and services offered by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS);

· Must be able to complete required reports and consumer documentation in a timely and satisfactory manner;

· Must have the knowledge and ability to communicate across a variety of platforms including, but not limited to, Zoom, Facebook, Instagram, etc.;

· Must have a working knowledge of basic computer programs such as MS Word and the ability to learn data entry on the organization’s database software;

· Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality.

CORD is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer

CORD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please note that CORD is a scent-free office. If asked to come in for an interview, please do not wear any scented products. Thank you.

COVID-19 considerations:
CORD remains compliant with COVID-19 related safety regulations

Help Wanted

Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP) Advocate

Hours: 35 hours per week (full time)

Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00, occasional nights and weekends

Pay rate: $18.50 per hour + Benefits

Classification: Hourly, non-exempt

Supervised by: Vice President

Description: CORD’s Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP) assists high school students ages 14-21 in the development of their independent living goals. This includes developing Independent Living Plans (ILP’s) as well as providing peer support, skills training, and individual advocacy to high school students with significant disabilities of any type who are receiving special education services.

Essential Job Functions:

· Will review IEP’s and attend school team meetings to advocate for students’ rights in education and transition services;

· Will conduct ongoing outreach activities to schools and the community at large to drive intakes/enrollment in the program;

· Will develop informational workshops and forums for consumers, family members, school personnel, and other service providers;

· Will work with consumers individually on the development of IEP’s and goals for transitioning out of special education;

· Will attend regular CORD staff, program, and other team meetings;

· Will perform community activities through CORD’s mobile food pantry at least one day per week as directed;

· Will mentor and develop other program staff as appropriate.

Other Required Job Functions:

· Will provide services to family members (parents/guardians);

· Will engage TAP consumers in social and recreational activities;

· Will provide skills training and peer support to consumers;

· Will develop at least two group community advocacy efforts;

· Will hold at least two events for consumers and family members each year;

· Will provide regular program updates to consumers, service providers, and the public through newsletters, social media, and other appropriate forums;

· Will work on general organization fundraising activities as required;

· Other duties as required.

Program Outcomes:

· At least 90% of participants will establish Independent Living (IL) goals within one month of enrolling in TAP;

· At least 75% of participants will make progress towards their goals during their participation in the program and be able to describe how they are more independent;

· At least 75% of participants will participate in a community advocacy effort;

· At least 75% of participants will be referred to VR before completing school;

· 100% of family members will be invited to participate in a family event;

· At least 80% of group activities will relate to the IL goal of at least one participant.

Requirements:

· Must be familiar with local resources for students transitioning from high school;

· Must have knowledge of laws and regulations related to special education. Training from the Federation for Children with Special Needs and Wrights Law is preferred but may be provided;

· Must know or have the ability to learn about civil rights laws for persons with disabilities including fair housing laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);

· Must be able to complete required reports and consumer documentation in a timely and satisfactory manner;

· Must have the knowledge and ability to teach a variety of technological, age appropriate platforms for communication such as Instagram, TikTok, Snap Chat, as well as working on iPhones, iPads, etc.

· Must have a working knowledge of basic computer programs such as MS Word and the ability to learn data entry on the organization’s database software;

· Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality.

CORD is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer

COVID-19 considerations:
CORD remains compliant with COVID safety measures.

Help Wanted

Options Counselor - Inside / Outside / Online Marketing

Hours: 35 hours per week (full time)

Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00, occasional nights and weekends

Pay rate: $18.50 per hour + benefits

Classification: Hourly, non-exempt

Supervised by: Director of Services

CORD’s Options Counselor provides short-term decision support counseling to assist people with disabilities aged 18 and older and to senior citizens over age 60 in making informed choices about long-term care services and supports (LTSS). This support will be given by providing information and referral and by assisting consumers in developing consumer-directed plans. These services will be provided both in and outside of CORD’s office.

Essential Functions:

Will work with consumers both in the community and in nursing homes;
Will educate persons with disabilities, elders, and family members/caregivers/significant others on the types and range of community-based long-term care supports available;
Will provide information and assistance with referrals for community-based long-term care benefits;
Will assist a minimum of 30 consumers in developing consumer-directed plans that include services, programs, financial resources, and other supports they have selected;
Will provide timely and accurate assistance with referrals to support consumers in accessing options for services and supports;
Must follow-up with consumers as needed by communicating and consulting with them to determine the outcomes of previous contacts and to offer additional assistance using CORD’s workflow software and database systems;
Must create and maintain confidential data of contacts, notes, and correspondence by using CORD’s database and ensuring all consumer information is locked in the file room;
Will provide information and referral to callers on variety of topics;
Must participate in marketing and community education of Options Counseling and CORD’s services by creating social media campaigns and conducting outreach and other necessary activities to increase public awareness of services;
Will attend regular CORD staff, program and other team meetings.

Other Required Job Functions:

Will provide information and articles for organization updates, newsletters, social media posts, etc.;
Will discuss assistive technology (AT) needs and the Title VII Part B program with consumers to help them get AT and aids for daily living;
Will develop materials and provide workshops/videos on topics such as the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program, emergency preparedness, waivers, home care services, etc. – 2 per quarter;
Will provide public presentations and other organization activities as deemed appropriate;
Will participate as directed in community advocacy efforts;
Will participate in networking events as directed by joining community groups and public education efforts;
Will assist non-Options Counseling consumers as needed;
Will work on general organization fundraising activities as required;
Must complete required reports in a timely and satisfactory manner: Options Counseling Quarterly report, Options Counseling Semi-Annual Narrative, OC/ADRC Semi-Annual Narrative;
Must actively seek new consumers through outreach and culling through I&Rs in the organization’s database.
Other duties as required.

Annual Program Deliverables

A minimum of 30 Options Counseling consumers (subject to change)
70% of Options Counseling consumers must live in the community
260 hours of collaboration with other agencies, attending Options Counseling and ADRC meetings and trainings, and attending networking events that correlate with Options Counseling
Perform eight community education workshops plus videos

Requirements:

Must have a working knowledge of basic benefits programs, including SSI, SSDI, MassHealth, Medicare, EAEDC, and other state grant programs, Section 8 and other federal housing subsidy programs, MRVP, AHVP, and other state subsidy programs;
Must be familiar with civil rights laws for persons with disabilities including fair housing laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
Must become familiar with programs and services offered by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) including waiver programs;
Must be able to advocate and coordinate services for the target populations;
Must have the ability to learn about long-term care and social service delivery systems, community resources, and local services;
Must be able to respond in a professional manner and according to CORD’s and the ADRC of Cape Cod & Islands’ policies when working with consumers in crisis and emergencies;
Must complete consumer documentation in a timely and satisfactory manner;
Must have the knowledge and ability to communicate across a variety of platforms including, but not limited to, Zoom, Facebook, Instagram, etc.;
Must have a working knowledge of basic computer programs such as MS Word and the ability to learn data entry on the organization’s database software;
Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality;
Must be able to work independently or as part of a team as is necessary;
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing;
Ability to organize and plan work effectively;
Will work occasional evenings and weekends;
Must be able to travel across Cape Cod and the Islands and occasionally other areas in Massachusetts;
Will perform other duties as necessary.

CORD is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer

COVID-19 considerations:
CORD is compliant with MA state safety laws.

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