General Program Assistant

JOB PURPOSE:

Work cooperatively with the Program Leader and staff to support individuals with disabilities. The Program Assistants work directly with individual(s) with disabilities to reinforce instructions, encourage peer interactions, and provide behavior and communication support with the goal of maximizing active participation.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Must be at least 14 years of age with a work permit.
2. Desire to work with individuals with disabilities.
3. Must understand the needs of persons with disabilities and adapt activities to promote participation.
4. Must demonstrate strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication both written and oral skills, and ability to work effectively under stressful situations with people with disabilities, FVSRA staff, FVSRA Member Agency staff, parents/guardians, participants, as well as members of the general public. 
5. Be safety conscious, enforce and follow FVSRA, Park District/Department, Center for Disease Control, and the Illinois Department of Public Health safety policies and guidelines to ensure the participants and the environment are safe. 
6. Demonstrate creativity, enthusiasm, and take initiative.
7. Have the ability to engage in activities requiring physical exertion.   
8. Must pass a criminal background check pursuant to Park Code.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Attend all meetings, in-services, and training required by FVSRA. 
2. Implement modifications that maximize the ability of individuals with disabilities to participate in all program activities.
   1. Model and breakdown instructions for comprehension and understanding.
   2. Modify activities and use adaptive equipment to promote accessibility.
   3. Facilitate and encourage social interaction between individuals with and without disabilities.
   4. Promote positive behaviors through coping skills, behavior plans, safety rules, and clear expectations.
   5. Use augmentative and alternative communication devise, systems, strategies, and tools that replace or support natural speech.
3. Ability to follow directions and carry out such instructions in a safe and appropriate manner.
4. Communicate regularly with FVSRA Program Leaders regarding any program-related concerns and programmatic questions.
5. Assist and supervise up to four participants, including awareness of dietary needs, medications, allergies, seizures, behavioral management needs, wheelchair assistance and daily living skills, including feeding, dressing, and toileting.
6. Must be able to take initiative and help the Program Leader with program preparations such as set up/take down, greeting participants/parents/guardians, and collecting supplies.
7. Immediately communicate all accidents, unsafe conditions, problems, or concerns to the Program Leader or Program Manager.
8. Assist in solving simple to complex problems arising while supporting the participant.
9. Provide timely responses to phone and/or electronic communication.
10. Treat public concerns with the utmost and courteous attention.
11. Must be able to work under stressful situations.
12. Assume other responsibilities as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The Program Assistant must, with or without reasonable accommodations, be able to perform the following functions:

1. Frequently stand, walk; sit, or feel; reach with arms and hands. The employee must be able to talk, hear, and see (both near and far). Occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch.
2. Gather, load, transport, and set up equipment and supplies for activities.
3. Physically assist individuals in wheelchairs by pushing, pulling, or providing stabilization on unknown terrain.
4. Physically transfer individuals from wheelchair to chair, into and out of vehicles, from pool deck into pool, in washroom facilities, etc.
5. Active participation in programs may require the ability to be in a pool, swim, or tread water.

COGNITIVE DEMANDS:

1. Exhibit good problem-solving abilities and good judgment in accordance with the mission of FVSRA.
2. Demonstrate dependability and strong leadership skills when supporting staff and participants, promoting cohesiveness throughout the team and program.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Students seeking internships to gain meaningful experiences, to apply classroom knowledge and aid the student in being competitive for their next step after graduation are welcomed. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those of an outdoor/indoor work environment the employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing this job, the employee is exposed to all types of lighting, weather, temperature and environmental conditions, such as sun, heat, humidity, bugs and mosquitos. This position also may require working in close quarters on buses during field trips with participants and in various indoor/outdoor locations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud to very loud.

FINE PRINT

All positions are part-time and work schedules are based on your availability. Summer ONLY employees are eligible to work up to 40 hours per week. Reliable transportation is required to ensure attendance at all scheduled programs.

 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

FVSRA has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at the agency, which bases employment upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of an individual’s actual or perceived race (including but not limited to traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, sex, gender (including gender identity and expression), age, national origin, citizenship status, work authorization status, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, disability, association with a person with a disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, unfavorable discharge from military service or military status, civil union partnership, order of protection status, pregnancy, childbirth or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process may contact HR at HR@fvsra.org.

Qualifications

Salary : $16