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Community-Based Specialist Job – WISCA
The Watson Institute is hiring a full-time Community-Based Specialist for the WISCA program, a special education school program for students with High-Functioning Autism with locations in Sharpsburg, Bridgeville, and Sewickley, PA. This position will work Monday through Friday.
Job Benefits
At the Watson Institute, we invest in our employees personally and professionally. Check out a few of the employee benefits you’ll receive as a Watson employee:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurances as well as life and long-term disability and access to voluntary benefits.
- 403b Retirement Plan with Watson matching employee contributions after 1 year of employment.
- Access to Tuition Reimbursement to pursue further education and advanced degrees.
- Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and flexible spending accounts.
Learn more about what it’s like to work at the Watson Institute!
Employment Type: Full-time
Location: Sewickley, PA - Bridgeville, PA - Sharpsburg, PA
301 Camp Meeting Road | Sewickley, PA 15143
Transition Services Job Responsibilities:
- Provide support and instruction to students in vocational and community settings
- Work directly with students both within the campus program/building as well as directly supporting students in community-based experiences outside of the campus (these may include local businesses, community outings, volunteer organizations)
- Prepare and review CBI/CBVE activities and organize materials at vocational partnership sites, volunteer sites, and/or community settings
- Conduct group and individual lessons related to transition goals
- Maintain accurate and prompt data collection, participate effectively as a prepared team member, and contribute to the smooth operation of the WISCA program
- Manage CBI activities, implement review and monitoring procedures, assess student needs, and attend IEP meetings if necessary
- Write Present Levels and Transition sections of the IEPs as needed with Transition Coordinator
- Adhere to safety and health procedures, Department of Labor Guidelines, CBVE guidelines, IEP requirements, and individual agency regulations
- Interact professionally with coworkers, families, vocational partnership sites, and school district personnel
- Serve as liaison with community transition agencies such as OVR
- Travel daily to various sites and drive students in a van to and from various sites
- Assist to maintain transition caseload with Transition Coordinator
- Conduct mock interviews
- Assist students with applications and resumes
- Conduct assessments from online platforms, assign work to students from online platforms and conduct IEP transition surveys as part of updating IEPs
- Supervise students as necessary and plan in-house tasks with Transition Coordinator
- Maintain student portfolios
- Conduct research for transition resources and appropriate planning for WISCA, including current platforms being used by Pennsylvania Transition Resources
- Other duties as assigned
Specialist Job Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field required
- In lieu of Bachelor’s degree:
- A minimum of 5 years of experience working with students with autism in the field of transition
- A minimum of 10 years of experience working directly with students with special needs on functional life and vocational skills, social skills, and emotional regulation in a classroom setting
- The essential functions of this position require the ability to exert moderate physical effort, including bending, stooping, squatting, reaching, kneeling, crouching, brisk walking, and the ability to push, pull, lift, and carry up to 40 pounds
- Valid PA Driver’s License and the ability to drive students in a van
- Current PA Acts 34, 114, and 151 clearances