Employment Specialist with ASL

Brooklyn Community Services•Brooklyn - Downtown/Fulton Mall, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Brooklyn Community Services is one of Brooklyn’s first and largest non-sectarian social services agencies and serves more than 10,000 individuals annually. The agency provides services related to education and child care, strengthening families, and fostering self-sufficiency for adults. Reporting to the Director of Supported Employment, the Employment Specialist with ASL supports deaf individuals in obtaining and maintaining paid, competitive employment in the community. The role provides individualized job development and placement, English-to-ASL and ASL-to-English interpretation, and on-the-job coaching. It also supports individuals with and without hearing disabilities through job preparation, placement, and ongoing employment services. The position is based at 151 Lawrence St., 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, and is scheduled Monday through Friday for 35 hours per week. Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be needed depending on clients’ employment schedules, along with travel within New York City.

Requirements

Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL).
Bachelor’s degree.
At least one year of experience in rehabilitation placement or a related field.
Enrollment in a specialized course approved by ACCES-VR.
Must be vetted by ACCES-VR.
Knowledge of employer expectations regarding performance and employee behaviors.
Knowledge of the local job market.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent judgment and sensitivity to clients’ needs.
Must undergo pre-employment screenings, including the Criminal Background Check required by OPWDD.

Responsibilities

Meet with community employers and educate them about deaf workers and individuals with other disabilities.
Interpret between English and ASL for deaf individuals and employers during interviews.
Develop employment opportunities in the community, especially for deaf individuals.
Support individuals with and without hearing disabilities in finding and retaining employment through individualized job searches, preparation, and post-employment job coaching at the work site.
Develop positive working relationships with employers.
Help employers communicate with individuals, clarify job duties, provide safety information, and support productivity, motivation, and attendance.
Provide job coaching and proactive, extended support services to an assigned caseload of employed clients, at and away from the job site, to help them remain employed in the integrated labor market.
Provide travel training, counseling, case management, and other supportive services needed to maintain employment.
Advocate for clients’ accommodation needs at work and other off-site advocacy needs.
Help individuals who have lost jobs return to employment by reassessing their goals, needs, and interests and assisting with interviews.
Enlist the assistance of parents and natural supports.
Complete required chart documentation and monthly reports in a timely manner.