Community Integration Specialist

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) works to support networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education including instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance support. OSD provides the tools and resources to ensure that all students with disabilities receive a high-quality public education that prepares students for success. OSD supports networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education, including instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance support.

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Manager, Academic Access for OSD, the Community Integration Specialist will provide direct service to students with disabilities (other than those with visual impairments), supporting them in developing the skills, techniques, and behaviors necessary to safely and independently travel in the community. This position will also assist with the planning and facilitation of experiences for students with disabilities to help foster the development of skills needed for employment and other post-school adult living objectives (e.g. state ID days, job fairs, CBI events, etc). The Community Integration Specialist will collaborate with OSD colleagues and will assist the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) and instructional team with the completion of tasks, as determined by the Manager, Academic Access. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Community Integration Specialist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Provide students with disabilities with individualized travel training and instruction to support the development of skills needed to utilize public transportation, such as using pedestrian skills, employing problem-solving skills, communicating effectively, recognizing assistance needs and asking for assistance, maintaining appropriate behavior for travel, using purposeful movement and mobility skills, orientation skills, etc. and techniques for handling travel contingencies
• Use methodologies such as completing student observations, face-to-face interviews, and other relevant methods, conduct pre- and post-travel training assessments with students to determine candidacy for participation in travel training as well as successful completion of the training program and readiness to travel independently

• Develop student instructional plans and behavioral/performance tasks for analysis to determine readiness for independent travel

  • Determine, review, and evaluate the safest and most effective routes for student travel, including contingency routes

• Collaborate with school staff (ex: case managers, teachers) to provide input on IEP goals for students who require skill development before receiving travel training services

  • Regularly communicate with the appropriate school staff members and parents on all aspects of the travel training process

  • Collaborate with the Manager, Academic Access to assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of travel training policies, procedures, projects, and initiatives

• Maintain ongoing, timely documentation regarding student progress using established departmental record-keeping tools (ie: electronic and/or physical workbooks)

• Successfully connect eligible travel-trained students to services, such as free transit passes or government-assisted wireless services, such as phones and wireless plans

• Provide community-based instruction for students who are not ready for travel training or for schools requesting additional assistance with community-based instruction

• Assist Transition team colleagues with DRS referral processing/completion and school/student support (e.g. parent/student education session, training for schools, students, and families)

  • Actively support the creation and execution of Transition Events (e.g. College, Trades, and Job Fairs)

Maintain ongoing, timely documentation regarding student progress using established departmental record-keeping tools (ie: electronic and/or physical workbooks)

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to promote access to community services

• Other duties as assigned
  
   

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Community Integration Specialist must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• High school diploma or GED equivalent 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with individuals with disabilities in an educational setting (e.g., Direct Support Professional, Personal Care Assistant, or Job Coach roles), including the following, is required: 

  • Experience providing individuals with disabilities with direct support, direction, and guidance in the development of life skills

  • Experience collaborating and communicating with community partners

  • Experience in a role responsible for providing customer service, maintaining accurate documentation and handling confidential information

• Case management experience, preferred

Other Requirements:

• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish and/or American Sign Language (ASL), strongly preferred

• Access to reliable transportation, including a car and public transportation

• Familiarity and comfort with using public transportation and accessing various public transportation resources, including CTA, Metra, and Pace.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of laws related to disability, access and equity (e.g., IDEA, ADA, etc.) 

• Capable of assessing student capabilities to determine and advocate for appropriate services to support skills development

• Familiarity with classroom or community-based strategies related to managing and addressing the unique needs of students with disabilities

• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills; capable of communicating effectively and professionally with school staff, community partners, parents, students, and other CPS team members

• Strong time management capabilities, including the ability to complete work tasks independently and effectively support multiple concurrent tasks and/or priorities

• Proficient in using Google Workplace, including Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc.

Benefits:

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice

CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

Medical Plan Options

Pharmacy

Dental

Vision

Behavioral Health & EAP

Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow

We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

Basic Life Insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

Pension Plans

Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life

CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

Paid Leave

Sick Leave

Vacation Days

Parental Leaves

Short-Term Disability

Religious Holidays

Leaves

Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.