Transition Counselor for Students with Severe Disabilities

About Us: LABBB Collaborative provides educational programming and support services for over 300 special needs students from over 65 districts. LABBB serves students ages 3 to 22 years old with a variety of special needs including students on the autism spectrum, students with multi-handicaps, pervasive development disorders, developmental delays, language deficits and social/emotional challenges. The LABBB community has a vision of skill-based instruction that considers the whole student from early childhood to adult living. Our staff is committed to creating a professional working environment through teamwork, communication, and respect. We are very excited for you to join us!

About the Role: The Transition Counselor works directly under the supervision of Program Coordinator and acts as a member of a student’s multidisciplinary team in providing academic, behavioral, transition and therapeutic support to students throughout the day; implements direct instruction, actively supervises students, and ensures that the physical and emotional needs of children are being met on a daily basis.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• Valid MA DESE License/Certification to practice as a Special Education Teacher, Vocational Rehab Counselor, or other related field (OT, SLP, SAC, etc.) DESE license for moderate special needs or severe special needs as indicated by your program.
• Strong background in use of assistive technology, curriculum, services, and laws related to the Transition to Adulthood
• Willingness and experience working with students with a variety of disabilities with a focus on social emotional needs who potentially present with challenging behaviors.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to commute between buildings/programs and drive a LABBB van during the day.

Responsibilities:

• Provide direct instruction and transition services for adolescents and young adults in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local codes and regulations for educational and school-based purposes
• Provide consultation, support and training to classroom staff regarding appropriate transition curriculum and employment related activities.
• Write and implement goals, objectives, accommodations, modifications, service delivery, transition planning, and summary of student performance as needed for the IEP
• Assure that transition processes and documents as utilized by the Collaborative are implemented; and that transition components in IEPs are complete and integrated within the IEP and program activities.
• Support students to understand their disability and strengths.
• Maintain contact with agencies providing adult vocational services and share information with parents and LEA staff when appropriate.
• Consult with other team members to determine appropriate post-secondary options for students.
• Review transcripts with students and design a plan to strengthen those areas identified in need of improvement.
• Facilitate Chapter 688 and/or agency (DDS, DMH, MCR) referrals including appropriate communication with agency representatives.
• Explore out-of-school time activities, work experiences, internships, that will foster social growth, self-advocacy and independence.
• Support students to participate in community work experiences (paid or unpaid) to build self-determination, develop and strengthen independent living and community skills, develop and generalize hard and soft employment skills, provide a sense of giving to the community
• Attend required staff meetings; professional development trainings; and serve, as appropriate, on staff committees
• Complete regular documentation including data collection, progress notes, individualized education plans, formal and informal assessments, and Medicaid billing as indicated
• Consult to and supervise Community Instructors in the use of instructional methods and materials that are appropriate for accomplishing transition goals and are appropriate for the maturity and skill level of students.
• Support students' development of independence, social awareness, language, academic skills and appropriate behavior.
• Create and modify curriculum materials, supports, and instructional strategies as necessary to meet students’ needs in the classroom and community settings.
• Coordinates job development and placement programs, contacting prospective employers, placing clients in jobs, and evaluating the success of placements.
• Maintain close contact with students and employers/community partners during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.
• Arrange for physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing students’ needs and developing transition plans.
• Confer with students to discuss their options and goals so that transition programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
• Arrange for on-site job coaching or assistive devices, such as specially equipped wheelchairs, to help students adapt to work or school environments.
• Locate barriers to student employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, and transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
• Assesses, interprets, and uses test results as a diagnostic aid in the process of gaining a thorough understanding of a student.
• As part of job development, determines appropriate job match for student and arranges interviews with employers. Assists in resume development and job application. procedures.

Schedule: Monday-Friday approximately 8:00am-2:45pm

Salary Range: $72,457 to $133,474, commensurate with experience and education. *2025-2026 Salary range is for school year and includes compensation for required 4-week summer program.

Benefits: Full-time employees at LABBB Collaborative enjoy low-cost benefits offerings that includes medical, dental & vision insurance plans, partial employer-paid basic life insurance, optional employee and dependent life insurance, voluntary medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, 403(b) retirement plan and state employees’ pension plan, paid time-off, tuition reimbursement, employee assistance program and much more!

Salary : $72,457 - $133,474