Adaptive Skills Specialist

Jay Nolan Community Services•Santa Clarita, CA

3d•$28 - $32

About The Position

Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS) is hiring an Adaptive Skills Specialist to provide individualized, hands-on support to people with autism and other developmental disabilities. The role helps individuals build daily living skills, confidence, self-advocacy, and independence so they can participate more fully in their homes and communities. The position is based in Santa Clarita, California, with a listed schedule of Wednesday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., flexible, for 66 hours monthly. English is listed as the language requirement. Pay is $28.00–$32.00 per hour. The specialist partners with individuals and their support teams to carry out personalized skill-building plans based on each person's strengths, preferences, and goals. Instruction may cover safety and community navigation, personal care, household management, meal preparation, technology use, communication, social functioning, choice-making, and self-advocacy. The specialist uses positive, respectful, person-centered approaches, supports people in applying skills across settings, monitors progress, and maintains service documentation. The role also involves collaboration with families and professionals, participation in IPP meetings and training, and ongoing professional development. JNCS describes the role as an opportunity to contribute to inclusion and independence while building experience and a career pathway in human services. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides individualized support to children, teens, and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. It describes its workplace as inclusive, supportive, and community-oriented and identifies itself as a Certified Great Place to Work. JNCS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, Counseling, Nursing, Social Work, Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavioral Medicine, Speech and Language, Rehabilitation, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a comparable human services field.
Knowledge of positive, person-centered, and non-invasive behavioral support practices.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal, time-management, planning, organization, and conflict-resolution abilities.
Ability to collaborate with individuals, families, colleagues, and community partners from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Proficiency with technology, including smartphones, mobile applications, and electronic documentation systems used for service delivery.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles and practices.
Professional or personal experience supporting individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Depending on assignment, a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and current automobile insurance.

Responsibilities

Partner with individuals and their support teams to implement personalized skill-building and independence plans based on individual strengths, preferences, and goals.
Teach practical life skills through evidence-based, person-centered instruction and adaptive skills training.
Support safety skills and community navigation.
Teach personal hygiene, dressing, grooming, toileting, and feeding skills, including support for picky eating and sensory-based food challenges.
Support housekeeping, food purchasing, meal preparation, and home management.
Support technology access and digital literacy.
Develop communication, social functioning, and relationship-building skills.
Support choice-making, self-advocacy, and decision-making.
Help individuals establish routines and take part in meaningful, age-appropriate activities at home and in the community.
Apply positive, respectful, individualized strategies addressing behavioral, physical, communication, and other support needs.
Help individuals generalize learned skills across environments, relationships, and life situations.
Foster independence, self-confidence, inclusion, and community participation.
Monitor progress, collect measurable data, and maintain accurate service documentation, including daily notes, incident reports, and Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) requirements.
Collaborate with families, Service Coordinators, supervising professionals, and interdisciplinary teams.
Participate in IPP meetings, trainings, and ongoing professional development opportunities.