Developmental Services Transition Advisor

Do you have experience providing special education or professional services to individuals with intellectual disabilities? If so, the State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) invites you to discover this outstanding opportunity!

We are recruiting for the position of Developmental Services Transition Advisor. In this role you will join our Individual and Family Support (IFS) Division to educate individuals and families on the opportunities available to them as they transition into adult life. You will support individuals between the ages 16 to 22 during their transition from Local Education Agency (LEA) supported programs into employment or vocational programs.

Discover the Opportunity to:

• Provide support and analysis for the employment and day service array.
• Work with the qualified employment and day provider community, Resource Managers, Case Managers, Self-Advocates and other departments.
• Be a part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Promote relationships between businesses and advocates and ensure advocates promote employment with peers.
• Continuously focus on best practice and service development.

We Offer:

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening and must specify their qualifications on their application.

Please note you will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Elizabeth Weston at Elizabeth.Weston@ct.gov.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

At any point later in the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: performance reviews, attendance, supervisor references, college transcripts, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

If you require an accommodation to participate fully and fairly under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Renee LaBarge, DDS EEO Director at 860-418-6022 or Renee.LaBarge@ct.gov.

In the Department of Developmental Services, this class is accountable for independently providing consultation and assistance to individuals with intellectual disabilities, and their families and legal guardians, to understand the individual’s educational rights and opportunities and to plan, prepare and achieve a successful transition from secondary school to adult life and/or to plan, prepare for and achieve a successful transition into meaningful employment.

• Guides students and their families or guardians in the formulation of a transition plan.
• Provides information about the Department to the student, family and education professionals in the school system and state and private agencies.
• Assists student and their families to identify, navigate, obtain and coordinate needed health, community and education services during the high school years.
• Consults and assists in the completion of the Level of Need (LON) assessment for students in conjunction with schools and families to determine eligibility for Department programs and state and federal resources as needed.
• Attends and participates in the school district interdisciplinary Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings for student transition planning purposes.
• Provides consultation to the PPT with regard to student profile information and recommends needed testing (not limited to behavioral, adaptive, physical/occupational therapy, sensory, vocational), accommodations or educational modifications to further plan and develop for a successful transition.
• Evaluates education and services provided by the school in support of the transition plan.
• Gathers, interprets and analyzes data regarding transition-age students to determine trends impacting agency eligibility and program services.
• Develops transition educational materials and provides related in-service training.
• Prepares case notes, prepares reports summarizing consultation services provided and maintains relevant documentation.
• Assists the department Case Manager in the development of individualized budgets.
• Performs related duties as required.
• More information can be found here.

Considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of intellectual disabilities, individual centered planning and Individual Education Plans, and Individual Plans; considerable knowledge of developmental, educational and employment milestones; considerable knowledge of and ability to apply the principles of self-determination and the Department's Employment Initiative; knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; knowledge of educational school systems, educational assessments and teaching practices; knowledge of businesses and community resources; knowledge of cultural competencies; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communications skills; ability to counsel individuals and to design and implement family interventions; ability to utilize computer software.

A Bachelor's degree in Education, Educational Counseling, Social Work, Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation or a closely related field from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of professional experience in one of the following:

1. Providing professional services to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

OR

2. Delivering special education services in an accredited school system.

A Master's degree in Education, Educational Counseling, Social Work, Special Education, Vocational Rehabilitation or a closely related field and one (1) year of the professional experience noted above may be substituted for the General Experience.

• Experience working with educational school systems, businesses and community resources providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations of students.
• Experience interacting with and explaining information to individuals in a fast-paced environment that involves considerable phone, email, and in person contact.
• Experience preparing and presenting information at conferences, meetings and forums to students, families, advocates, and teachers.
• Experience using the full range of Microsoft Office Suite including managing data, creating formulas, report writing, tracking work and scheduling meetings.

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.