Job 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, & transition as well as community services including, but not limited to, outreach, community education, public information, technical assistance, community & systems advocacy, & collaboration & networking. CORD?s programs, including its IL program, serve the entire Cape as well as the islands of Nantucket & Martha?s Vineyard.?

Essential Functions
Assist a minimum of 12 consumers with transitioning out of long-term care facilities each fiscal year;
Conduct outreach & other necessary activities to increase public awareness of CORD?s services;
Provide the core IL services of skills training, advocacy, peer support, information & referral, & transition;
Work one-on-one with a consumer caseload of approximately 65-100 people with disabilities on their independent living goals;
Develop Independent Living Plans (ILP?s) when appropriate & work methodically & collaboratively towards consumer goals;
Work with other organizations & agencies as necessary to assist consumers with achieving their goals;
Attend regular CORD staff, program, & other team meetings.

Other Required Job Duties & Functions
Provide information & articles for organization updates, newsletters, social media posts, etc. as needed;
Discuss assistive technology (AT) needs & the Title VII Part B program with consumers to help them get AT & aids for daily living;
Develop materials & provide at least one annual workshop on topics such as completing housing applications, budgeting, navigating public transportation, etc.;
Participate as directed in community advocacy efforts;
Participate in networking events as directed by joining community groups & public education efforts;
Work on general organization fundraising activities as directed;
Serve on local, statewide, & national workgroups, committees, & boards as directed;
Other duties as required.

Annual Independent Living Program Deliverables
A minimum of 1869.25 hours of direct consumer services must be provided each year;
A minimum of 801.25 hours of community services must be provided each year;
A minimum of 12 consumers will be transitioned from long-term care facilities back to the community;
A minimum of 320 hours of VR-IL services will be provided.

Requirements
Must know or have the ability to learn about civil rights laws for persons with disabilities including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & fair housing laws;
Must know or develop a working knowledge of basic benefits programs, including SSI, SSDI, MassHealth, Medicare, EAEDC, & other state grant programs, Section 8 & other federal housing subsidy programs, MRVP, AHVP, & other state subsidy programs;
Must know or become familiar with programs & services offered by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), & the Department of Developmental Services (DDS);
Must be able to complete required reports & consumer documentation in a timely & satisfactory manner;
Must have the knowledge & 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 & the ability to learn data entry on the organization?s database software;
Must be organized & able to work within a structured collaborative framework;
Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality.