Information About Us

AbilityFirst provides a variety of programs designed to help people with disabilities achieve their personal best throughout their lives. We do this by creating targeted programming to help an individual successfully transition from childhood to adult life.

Our Mission

Looking beyond disabilities. Focusing on capabilities. Expanding possibilities.

Summary

Responsible for

• Work in coordination with individuals, his or her parents, care providers, service coordinators and other professionals to determine most appropriate program and resolve related problems.
• Work with individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities to identify Person-Centered goals and objectives.
• Develop and implement an effective community-based program designed to experience activities that are important to the individual.
• Ensure safety of individuals while involved in community activities.
• Schedule meaningful community activities in line with the participant’s Person-Centered Plan.

Primary duties

• Gathers, organizes, and analyzes information about individuals’ progress through, attendance records and interviews with professional sources to assess their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and personality characteristics for use in community-based activities.
• Coordinates with prospective participant’s support team and Regional Center Service Coordinator to schedule intake meeting and procure paperwork; collaborates with staff members in making decision on participant’s intake into program.
• Assists individuals in understanding and overcoming social and emotional issues through case management.
• Collects all necessary documents for consumer files; establishes and maintains complete and accurate documentation; manages individual files in accordance with AbilityFirst policies and procedures, and the requirements of state regulations and organizations providing contractual funds; enters current program participant information in case records, initiates completion of financial approval forms, gathers data and prepares a variety of reports on caseload activity for management use and decision-making.
• Does preliminary work, coordinates, schedules and facilitates participant’s Person-Centered Planning meetings and other program planning meetings.
• Schedules and facilitates meetings with staff members to coordinate implementation of PCPs and to ensure individual needs are appropriately addressed.
• Acts as an advocate for individuals in the program in all areas of case management.
• Develops and maintains knowledge of AbilityFirst’s program services, policies and procedures.
• Maintains effective communication with individuals in the program, service providers, and other professionals.
• Conducts interviews with potential applicants and determines the appropriateness of programs and services.
• Identifies, reports, and follows up on unmet services.
• Refers individuals to supported employment and other services as needed.
• Assists individuals in communicating with other agencies and service providers.
• Conducts training as needed in community-related issues such as grooming, hygiene, appropriate attire, and appropriate social behavior.
• Develops and maintains professional working skills in the social service field through seminars, workshops, or other forms of training/education.
• Works cooperatively with Community Coaches and Resource Developer to ensure participants are safe and engaged in community activities.
• Communicates with participants, their support team, and Community Coaches to develop or update Person-Centered Plan.

Secondary duties

• Performs any or all duties as required or requested by the Center Director or other members of the management team.
• Fills in as Community Coach as needed to meet ratio.

Supervisory responsibility

The Community Navigator in this position does not have supervisory responsibility. However, he or she is expected to provide professional leadership to other members of staff, consumers and their families or caretakers.

Environment

The working environment for this position is an open office that is clean and comfortable. It may include some minor annoyances such as noise, odors and drafts. The Community Navigator is in a non-confined, office-type environment in which he or she is generally free to move about at will. However, when working with individuals in the program, he or she may not leave them unattended until replaced by another staff member or the parent/caregiver. In addition, the Community Navigator may work throughout the agency’s facilities in which developmentally and physically disabled children and adults are being served. He/she is expected to travel within the community on a periodic basis using his/her own vehicle and/or public transportation.

Physical activity

While performing this work, the Community Navigator will spend the majority of the time sitting, speaking and listening. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the job.

Equipment operation

The Community Navigator in this position operates the following equipment:

• Telephone.
• Computer.
• Copy machine.

Position requirements

These specifications are general guidelines based upon the minimum ordinarily considered essential to satisfactory performance in this position. Individual skills and abilities may result in some deviation from these guidelines.

To perform effectively in this position, the Community Navigator is required to have:

• A working knowledge of learning methods and programs and services for adults with developmental and/or physical disabilities.
• Skills and experience in developing and matching community program and resources for developmentally and physically disabled adults.
• Case management skills, with the ability to work with individuals remotely as they develop skills to be successful in their communities.
• Demonstrated leadership and team building skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and keep projects on task with minimal supervision.
• Personal computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, Word and other programs or applications needed skills.
• Ability to work independently and make sound and well thought out business decisions.

Typically, these requirements may be met by a combination of education (including a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related discipline) in vocational services, social services, education, or related discipline and several years’ experience in a similar field. Prior education and/or experience in vocational habilitation are preferred.

The Community Navigator must be able to perform this job safely, without endangering the health or safety of him/herself or others.

Competencies

Adaptability - Adapts to change. Open to new ideas, responsibilities, and ways of doing things.

Communication - Communicates well; both spoken and written. Able to break down and convey concepts and ideas on the level of the audience. Ensuring that supervisors, co-workers, and clients receive all relevant information is a high priority.

Conflict Management - Good interactive listening skills. Committed to finding solutions (finding the “Yes”). Works well with difficult people.

Customer Service - Promotes a positive image of AbilityFirst and the program. Strives for customer satisfaction.

Dependability - Meets deadlines. Works independently with minimal supervision. High level of accountability. Punctual and maintains a good attendance record.

Quality - Strives to eliminate errors. Makes accurate work a priority. Seeks opportunities to improve services provided.