Disabilities Coordinator

One Hope United•Chicago, IL

About The Position

At OHU, our Hope Members are the heartbeat of our organization. Together, we have built a culture of support, trust, and care. Disabilities Coordinator “We are such an inclusive organization, we don’t turn anybody away. Everybody is welcome. Working here, I feel like family. I’ve never felt so appreciated working in a place before. They really take care of you here, listen to your concerns and act on them. It’s just amazing! And it’s really easy to make it amazing when the people you work with are amazing.” Shari Conley, Joliet Early Learning Center (Joliet, IL) Culture of Care The ELCD program at OHU is known for its closely-knit teams who often work together for years at a time! The team members join their shared love of educating young children towards creating a warm and positive working environment. New employees who come from a corporate environment quickly fall in love with the atmosphere at an OHU child development center! What you would be doing: Assisting family support specialists with the enrollment process to meet grant requirements for enrollment of children with special needs, including a minimum of 10% of children with diagnosed disabilities Developing and implementing the recruitment plan for children with special needs Completing reports of enrollment status as required Identifying children with special needs, supporting the referral process, and ensuring that appropriate individualization and supports are provided for children with identified or suspected special needs Providing classroom support to ensure the total inclusion of children with suspected and diagnosed disabilities Collaborating with Education Coordinators on implementing the Conscious Discipline curriculum across the program Assisting staff in developing appropriate individualizations and monitoring progress to target a child’s IFSP/IEP goals Collaborating with the Mental Health Coordinator and consultants to support children with social‑emotional concerns Supporting the documentation of child observations of children with diagnosed and suspected disabilities Serving as a liaison between the programs and LEA and early intervention practitioners in the community Providing necessary support and technical assistance to staff in meeting Head Start, NAEYC, and other regulatory requirements for children with special needs Conducting formal classroom and individual child observations and providing ongoing feedback and support to the teaching team Monitoring progress of children with identified special needs and adjusting plans as necessary to achieve positive gains Working closely with the Inclusion Aide to support children Providing or coordinating at least three staff trainings each school year Developing respectful, culturally sensitive relationships with families Assisting families through referral processes and providing information on rights and responsibilities for special education in Illinois and advocacy tips Attending IFSP and IEP evaluations and eligibility meetings with families as appropriate Providing or coordinating at least three family training sessions per school year on topics related to child development and disabilities Working closely with case managers and service coordinators within Chicago Public Schools and school districts across Lake County to ensure effective collaboration and delivery of services for children with diagnosed disabilities Having a working knowledge of the ADA and IDEA and providing guidance and technical assistance to program staff to ensure compliance Advocating appropriately for the needs of children and families Attending Start Early Child Service monthly meetings as appropriate What you can expect from us: OHU program leaders work to provide warm and supportive leadership that flexes around your life as much as possible when needed A flexible full-time schedule Staff Celebrations (including weekly lunches!) Ongoing professional development tailored to yours and your classroom needs If you desire to advance in your career over time, program leaders will work with you to do so (OHU has 5 child development centers in the Chicagoland area!) You will be part of a center that grows programs in keeping with the community needs You will also be part of a well-respected company (OHU is 125 years old!) that has a seat in community partnerships In addition, you will receive the following benefits: 3 time off banks! Up to 4 weeks paid vacation days; up to 6 paid personal days and up to 5 paid sick days annually Tuition assistance up to $2500 per year Medical, dental, vision, 403b retirement, flexible spending accounts, short-term disability options Agency paid life up to $50K based on salary Voluntary Supplemental Life for Employee, Spouse and Child(ren) Voluntary Legal Plans Agency paid long term disability after 1 year of employment What we will expect of you: Education BA/BS degree in Child Development, Social Work, or Counseling with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education and/or Child Development required Master's degree preferred Experience Five years' experience working with children with disabilities and/or challenging behavior in an early childhood or childcare program required One Hope United does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. One Hope United is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace. OHU participates in eVerify. In the spirit of caring for one another and our community, please note that upon accepting an offer of employment from One Hope United, you will be required to share proof of a Covid-19 vaccination. The requirement is subject to accommodation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Requirements

BA/BS degree in Child Development, Social Work, or Counseling with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education and/or Child Development required
Five years' experience working with children with disabilities and/or challenging behavior in an early childhood or childcare program required

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred

Responsibilities

Assisting family support specialists with the enrollment process to meet grant requirements for enrollment of children with special needs, including a minimum of 10% of children with diagnosed disabilities
Developing and implementing the recruitment plan for children with special needs
Completing reports of enrollment status as required
Identifying children with special needs, supporting the referral process, and ensuring that appropriate individualization and supports are provided for children with identified or suspected special needs
Providing classroom support to ensure the total inclusion of children with suspected and diagnosed disabilities
Collaborating with Education Coordinators on implementing the Conscious Discipline curriculum across the program
Assisting staff in developing appropriate individualizations and monitoring progress to target a child’s IFSP/IEP goals
Collaborating with the Mental Health Coordinator and consultants to support children with social‑emotional concerns
Supporting the documentation of child observations of children with diagnosed and suspected disabilities
Serving as a liaison between the programs and LEA and early intervention practitioners in the community
Providing necessary support and technical assistance to staff in meeting Head Start, NAEYC, and other regulatory requirements for children with special needs
Conducting formal classroom and individual child observations and providing ongoing feedback and support to the teaching team
Monitoring progress of children with identified special needs and adjusting plans as necessary to achieve positive gains
Working closely with the Inclusion Aide to support children
Providing or coordinating at least three staff trainings each school year
Developing respectful, culturally sensitive relationships with families
Assisting families through referral processes and providing information on rights and responsibilities for special education in Illinois and advocacy tips
Attending IFSP and IEP evaluations and eligibility meetings with families as appropriate
Providing or coordinating at least three family training sessions per school year on topics related to child development and disabilities
Working closely with case managers and service coordinators within Chicago Public Schools and school districts across Lake County to ensure effective collaboration and delivery of services for children with diagnosed disabilities
Having a working knowledge of the ADA and IDEA and providing guidance and technical assistance to program staff to ensure compliance
Advocating appropriately for the needs of children and families
Attending Start Early Child Service monthly meetings as appropriate

Benefits

A flexible full-time schedule
Staff Celebrations (including weekly lunches!)
Ongoing professional development tailored to yours and your classroom needs
If you desire to advance in your career over time, program leaders will work with you to do so (OHU has 5 child development centers in the Chicagoland area!)
You will be part of a center that grows programs in keeping with the community needs
You will also be part of a well-respected company (OHU is 125 years old!) that has a seat in community partnerships
3 time off banks!
Up to 4 weeks paid vacation days; up to 6 paid personal days and up to 5 paid sick days annually
Tuition assistance up to $2500 per year
Medical, dental, vision
403b retirement
Flexible spending accounts
Short-term disability options
Agency paid life up to $50K based on salary
Voluntary Supplemental Life for Employee, Spouse and Child(ren)
Voluntary Legal Plans
Agency paid long term disability after 1 year of employment