Adaptive Recreation and Inclusion Specialist

Northwest Autism Center’s Skills and Recreation Center provides a safe and inclusive environment for offering specialized and adaptive recreational activities for adults and children with intellectual disabilities.  We believe social engagement opportunities foster enjoyment and cultivate lifelong learning.  Monthly activities offered through our programs feature individualized topics and target skills and activities to promote teamwork, problem-solving, turn-taking, and life skills while simultaneously building self-confidence, autonomy, dignity, respect, and agency and minimizing barriers to community engagement.  

We encourage you to apply if you are dedicated to promoting inclusivity and passionate about working with diverse populations!  Join us in our mission to create enriching recreational experiences for every individual, no matter their challenges. 

Job Summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented person to help Northwest Autism Center continue to build and expand the new programming offered through its Skills and Recreation Center.  This specialist will play a vital role in ensuring programs run smoothly, meet their objectives, and provide a welcoming space of both interactive learning and social enjoyment for the participants enrolled.  

Essential Duties

• Supervise the implementation of social, recreation, and skill building programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities
• Teach staff and volunteers strategies for working with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities
• Communicate with parents, caregivers, caseworkers, and agency staff
• Maintain proper documentation

Key Responsibilities:

Program Management:

• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of program activities.
• Ensure timely and efficient approach to intake and enrollment processes, and report any systemic barriers or challenges.
• Identify areas for improvement in client engagement, independence, and enjoyment, and work with staff and volunteers to adopt resolution strategies
• Track attrition and absenteeism and share follow-up strategies
• Identify and track milestones and progress thresholds for ensuring successful programming
• Develop volunteer onboarding, training, and oversight – work with HR for appropriate documentation requirements.
• Ensure adequately staffed for program delivery.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for program stakeholders, including team members, clients, and external partners.
• Communicate effectively with NAC staff to ensure alignment and collaboration on program goals, scheduling, and marketing.
• Help identify the potential for DDA waiver alignment with program offering – engage DDA rep/caseworkers to determine how compensation may be secured for DDA-eligible clients.
• Work with leadership and supervisor to determine how to implement a fee schedule for program offerings.
• Collaborate with NAC leadership in identifying and executing opportunities for increasing public awareness, understanding, and investment in the skills and rec center.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of program activities and identify metrics for ongoing evaluation and assessment.
• Provide progress notes as well as daily recreational attendance documentation.
• Meet monthly or as needed with the finance director to review budget needs.
• Meet monthly with CC and/or CC coordinator to debrief on the intake process, phone calls, questions, emails, etc.….
• Prepare and deliver regular progress reports on client, staff, and program performance to leadership. Supervise survey input, track responses, and report to leadership.  Discuss any needs for survey modifications to better capture client experiences. 
• Collect, analyze, and summarize data to evaluate programs' success and identify areas for improvement.

Problem-Solving and Issue Resolution:

• Identify potential safety issues or risks and work proactively to address and resolve them.
• Identify barriers to inclusion and work proactively to address and resolve
• Ensure that any challenges are communicated to management promptly for timely resolution.

Administrative Support:

• Meet regularly with staff/volunteers to debrief and plan for programming sessions. Manage program schedules, meetings, and documentation.
• As needed, assist with preparing grant applications, proposals, and other funding documents.