Assist Assistive Technology and Residential Access programs with working with clients, repairing devices, and documenting activities for funders

Description

Who We Are: 

Founded in 1972 in Berkeley, California, the Center for Independent Living (CIL) emerged from the Independent Living movement of the 1970’s as a powerful force in helping people with disabilities achieve their independence. CIL is the model for hundreds of Independent Living Centers throughout the U.S. and the world. 

What We Do:

CIL directly serves about 1000 individuals each year. Services include peer counseling, assistive technology consultation and training, employment services, travel training, a residential access program that provides simple equipment allowing seniors and people with disabilities to stay in their homes, systems change advocacy, work and benefits counseling, and a Living Well with a Disability curriculum that helps seniors with aging-related physical and mental disabilities remain productive, healthy and engaged. CIL’s Information and Referral staff provide specialized, in-depth connections to resources to an additional 5000-6000 people a year. 

Our Guiding Principles: 

• Comprehensive programs most effectively meet the needs of people with disabilities 
• People with disabilities are the best experts on their lives 
• The strongest and most vibrant communities are those that include and embrace disability 

Summary:

The CIL is growing its Assistive Technology and Residential Access team and will be hiring 2 part-time specialists or 1 full-time generalist to assist the Residential Access (RA) Coordinator and the Assistive Technology (AT) Coordinator in working with clients, repairing devices, and documenting activities for funders. Associates are needed for support in every task listed below, however, not every candidate might be able to complete all tasks. Specific tasks will be distributed among the AT+RA team members according to skills and needs. Any candidates who think they might excel at any of the essential areas are encouraged to apply. The following description details the responsibilities that an AT+RA Associate might have.  

Functions: 

• Assist Residential Coordinator with the following tasks: 
• Maintain case notes, including input to the reporting databases. 
• Provide referrals to other services, both within the CIL and outside the agency.
• If accessible, perform home assessments for feasibility and type of accessibility modification required throughout the CIL’s catchment area (northern San Leandro to Albany).
• If accessible, develop and carry out appropriate service plans with individuals requiring ramps and/or access modifications.
• Assist the AT Specialist with the following tasks:
• Perform AT consultations for clients who may benefit from technology, both remotely and in-person.
• Maintain case notes and provide referrals to other services, both within the CIL and outside the agency
• Develop and carry out appropriate service plans with individuals requiring AT demonstration, loan, or technical research.
• If accessible, provide AT repairs, largely for mobility devices.
• Contribute to design of repair training for the public. 
• Reliably update project-tracking spreadsheets.
• Research, draft, and fact-check informative explanations of relevant AT+RA topics.
• General team support:
• If accessible, sort, label, and help maintain the condition of donated AT+ RA items and parts at the Wheelhouse workshop and storage.
• If accessible, accept and sometimes pick up in-kind donations of devices from community members
• If accessible, process device donations including cleaning, repair, tearing-down for parts, sorting, and labeling.
• Build relationships and collaborate with other organizations in the community to benefit community programs. 
• Take on more independent responsibility over time, leading tasks rather than assisting. This transition can be faster for candidates with more experience.
• Other duties as assigned

Education and/or Work Experience: 

• Two (2) or more years of work experience with consumers in a social services agency. 
• One (1) or more years of experience using Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and related software products extensively. 
• One (1) or more years of experience using tools for installation or repair of devices.

Task-based Qualifications: 

• Demonstrated ability to organize details and track multiple project work flows of different types, and to follow through on tasks consistently toward a team goal.
• Experience using a variety of hand tools and repair techniques for devices that clients rely on.
• Experience using data management systems.
• Experience with adapting to a new disability or new types of disability; personal experience preferred.
• Ability to travel to various program locations and consumer residences.
• Familiarity with critiques of ableism and related anti-oppression frameworks.
• Experience testing and comparing between assistive technology options. 
• Candidates who use AT devices are encouraged to apply. Any candidates with disabilities are encouraged to seek accommodations as needed for this position.
• Bi-lingual/bi-cultural preferred.

Team-wide Qualifications:

• General knowledge of types of mobility devices and their applications.
• General knowledge of types of residential access modifications.
• General knowledge of a wide array of types of disabilities.
• General knowledge of disability rights movement and inequities among the communities of Alameda County.
• Personable, compassionate social skills that clearly maintain boundaries as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to respond appropriately to inquiries from many sources, including: 
• consumers with disabilities and their families, 
• fellow CIL staff and volunteers 
• local and regulatory agencies, and 
• the general public and donors.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating successfully across differences of ability or background.
• Demonstrated success working with people with disabilities.

Physical and Cognitive Demands: 

• Must be able to track multiple project timelines and workflows and document digitally for successful completion and transparent accountability alongside other AT and RA team members.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 25% of the time. 
• Must be able to communicate and exchange accurate information via telephone, email, Slack, spreadsheets, and in person with community members and co-workers.  
• Desirable to be able to travel to different community sites to provide services multiple days per week. 
• If picking up donations or delivering wheelchairs, must have a valid California driver’s license to drive delivery vans.
• If sorting donated items, must have the ability to grip, reach, carry, twist, lift, push, and lower items of up to 30 lbs; desirable to have ability up to 50 lbs.

Work Environment 

Hybrid – Occasionally, work can be done remotely from home. A laptop will be provided. Typically, work is in-person (observing COVID safety protocols) at the Wheelhouse in West Oakland. Occasionally in-person work may also be necessary at consumer residences or the Berkeley or Fruitvale offices. 

Precautions against transmission of COVID 19 in place include masking requirements, ventilation, and access to rapid testing. 

All staff are expected to commit to being fragrance-free at the office, for accessibility of the space to people with environmental disabilities. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

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How to Apply:

If you are interested in joining CIL’s team, please submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter describing your interest in CIL and how your past experience has prepared you for this role
• Resume

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All job offers are contingent on passing a pre-employment background check.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Director of Operations at hr (@) thecil.org.

CIL Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity), national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation or status as a protected veteran. Persons with disabilities, veterans, women, and minorities are encouraged to apply.

CIL is an E-Verify participating employer.

Salary

$24 – $27 per hour