Inclusion Aide-Preschool

NORTHWEST SPECIAL RECREATION ASSN•Rolling Meadows, IL

12d•$17 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

To support and assist individuals with disabilities participating in their local community park district. This role involves acting as an advocate for participants, providing disability awareness information, and emphasizing individual abilities and similarities. The Inclusion Aide will assist in the participation of recreational activities, provide necessary accommodations, and attend to participants' personal care needs including toileting and feeding. The goal is to encourage participants in developing friendships and to promote good relations within the program and community.

Requirements

At least 16 years of age.
Have an interest or experience working with children and adults with disabilities.
Demonstrate dependability, promptness, flexibility and punctuality.
Demonstrate enthusiasm in recreation programming and have the ability to engage in activities requiring physical exertion.
Willingness to learn and accept new ideas.
Able to work independently.
Ability to gather and transfer program equipment and to move heavy recreational equipment.
Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. and push a wheel chair up to 100 lbs.
Ability to safely lift, transfer and/or position individuals with mobility impairments in wheelchairs.
Ability to kneel, crawl, reach, rotate body position, reach into small spaces and run to maintain interaction with participants in programs who may need individualized assistance or close supervision.
Ability to maneuver wheelchairs through narrow or small spaces, such as doorways, washrooms, and vehicles, while operating doors and lifts and lift wheelchairs over obstructions such as curbs, small stairs, and other barriers.
Ability to manipulate a variety of objects such as eating utensils or G-tubes to perform personal care for participants as well as writing utensils, communication devices and recreation equipment of all types.
Ability to work a varied schedule of days and hours.
Ability to drive or ride long distances required for the program.
Ability to keep pace with active participants who may be aggressive or a flight risk.
Ability to work with individuals from all backgrounds and special interests in a respectable manner and to maintain a positive attitude in public places.
Ability to troubleshoot, problem-solve, and handle stress in a calm, professional manner.
Ability to perform in a variety of weather conditions, ranging from mild to severe, year round, and in facilities that may range in temperature, and/or have various exposures such as pool chemicals.
Ability to perform in outdoor situations where there is potential exposure to poisonous plants, insects, and wild animals.

Responsibilities

Assist with the inclusion of participants in park district programs.
Act as an advocate for participants and provide disability awareness information.
Assist in the participation of recreational activities and provide accommodations as needed.
Attend to participants’ personal care needs including toileting, feeding and changing.
Encourage participant in developing friendships with other participants within the program.
Communicate and contribute with ideas to co-workers.
Demonstrate creativity and enthusiasm in implementing activities.
Become actively involved and participate in program activities and tasks.
Promote good relations with participants, parents, employees, partner agency personnel and community contacts.
Follow through with direction on assigned tasks.
Implement and apply skills and techniques taught through training.
Communicate with participants during the program in a verbal or non-verbal manner.
Attend all orientations, meetings and trainings required by NWSRA and the assigned park district.
Greet parents/guardians, participants, employees and volunteers upon arrival.
Monitor participant’s belongings including bags, towels, lunch boxes, etc.
Follow agency policy and procedures including all payroll procedures of partner agencies and NWSRA.
Communicate all incidents/accidents from programs to Inclusion Coordinators and Park District Site Directors.