Introduction

Do you have four (4) years of experience in providing direct service to individuals with an intellectual disability? If so, we invite you to take this opportunity to join our team!
The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) – South Southbury Training School - is accepting applications for two (2) Developmental Services Adult Services Instructor positions located in Southbury, CT.
We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Developmental Services Adult Services Instructor to support individuals in achieving meaningful employment, independence, and personal growth. In this role, you will develop and implement teaching strategies aligned with the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (OPS) and Follow Along Plan (FAP), while providing individualized supports tailored to each person’s unique strengths, needs, and goals.
The ideal candidate will actively participate in person-centered planning processes—including career planning, Individual Plans (IP), and futures planning—and collaborate closely with individuals, families, and support networks to identify desired outcomes. Responsibilities include assessing job compatibility, developing natural and community supports, adapting tools and materials to enhance accessibility, and connecting individuals with opportunities that match their interests and abilities.
This position also involves active engagement in team committees and work groups, transporting individuals, and ensuring health and safety through medication administration, CPR, First Aid, and Physical/Psychological Management Training (PMT). If you are committed to empowering others and making a meaningful impact in your community, we encourage you to apply.
Position Highlights:
- PCN 16844
- Full-time | 1st Shift | 70 hours bi-weekly
- Monday – Friday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Regular days off: Saturday, Sunday
- However, schedule flexibility required to meet the needs of the agency.
- Must have a valid driver's license
- Will be required to travel.
- Must be able to obtain an F-Endorsement on driver's license by the completion of the working test period.
- Must have the ability to obtain Medical Administration Certification from the Department of Developmental Services.
- PCN 16220
- Full-time | 1st Shift | 70 hours bi-weekly
- Monday – Friday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Regular days off: Saturday, Sunday
-
- However, schedule flexibility required to meet the needs of the agency.
- Must have a valid driver's license
- Will be required to travel.
- Must be able to obtain an F-Endorsement on driver's license by the completion of the working test period.
- Must have the ability to obtain Medical Administration Certification from the Department of Developmental Services.
What we can offer you:
- View our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
- A healthy work-life balance to all employees!
- The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.
DDS Mission Statement:
The mission of the Department of Developmental Servicers is to partner with the individuals we support and their families, to support lifelong planning and to join with others to create and promote meaningful opportunities for individuals to fully participate as valued members of their communities.
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
- Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Rocky Young at Rocky.Young@ct.gov
If you require an accommodation to participate fully and fairly under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Edward Magnano, EEO Manager at (860) 418 – 6148 or Edward.Magnano@ct.gov
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Department of Developmental Services this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in Day Services including teaching strategies, providing direct support to individuals with an intellectual disability, or performing duties related to development and implementation of in-service programs.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
DAY SERVICES:
- Develops teaching strategies consistent with goals of Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (OPS)/Follow Along Plan (FAP);
- Provides individual supports for individual specific needs as they relate to employment (individual job, group, sheltered) or habilitation;
- Participates in person centered planning such as career planning, individual designs, Individual Plan (IP), transitional meetings and futures planning;
- Consults with individuals (consumer, supporter and/or families) regarding program plans, futures plans and desired outcomes;
- Assesses job compatibility for individuals;
- Identifies and develops natural supports;
- Assists with adaptation of materials (tools and equipment) to individuals ability;
- Identifies and develops community resources and matches with individual interests;
- Participates in intra-regional and intra-facility committees and work groups;
- Transports individuals;
- Administers medication, CPR and first aid;
- Utilizes physical/psychological management training (PMT);
- May conduct, with supervision, individual assessments using standardized instruments for evaluation;
- Performs related duties as required.
IN-SERVICE:
- Develops, prepares and conducts in-service training programs to agency staff, including but not limited to physical/psychological management training, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and abuse and neglect prevention;
- Tracks employee registration, attendance and course completion using a web-based learning management system;
- Conducts new employee orientation which may include the use of web-based College of Direct Support (CDS);
- Conducts various presentations using multi-media equipment or computer-based presentation software;
- Schedules training sessions and attendees;
- Prepares reports;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Knowledge of
- current practices and trends in services and supports for individuals with an intellectual disability;
- principles and techniques of in-service training;
- education methods and techniques including computer based training and related equipment;
- state agencies and community organizations and supports as they relate to services for individuals with an intellectual disability;
- processes and material used in specific vocations and trades;
- relevant equipment and emergency procedures;
- interdisciplinary process for development of individual supports;
- program evaluation;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- behavior management of individuals skills;
- Skill in manual and machine operations of relevant vocations or trades;
- Ability to
- work cooperatively with individual and other staff;
- gather data independently and prepare reports;
- develop positive relationships with individuals;
- utilize teaching and/or training techniques for individual needs;
- support individuals and participate in recreational and occupational activities;
- Supervisory ability.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Four (4) years of experience in providing direct service to individuals with an intellectual disability.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
- College training in special education, vocational rehabilitation, social work, mental health fields or behavioral sciences may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
- For state employees three (3) years of experience as a Developmental Services Worker 2 or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with adapting and implementing various opportunities for creative activities for elderly individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
- Experience with greenhouse horticulture projects and promoting sales.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
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Incumbents in this class may be required to maintain CPR, PMT, Medication Administration and First Aid certificates.
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Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
WORKING CONDITIONS
DAY SERVICES: Incumbents in this class may be required to lift individuals and/or use behavioral or physical intervention and may be exposed to risk of injury or exposure to occupational disease.
Conclusion
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.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.