College Student Support Specialist - Southeast Region of MA

About the role

ESMA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play. Join our team to make an immediate and powerful impact in the lives of the clients we serve! College Navigators provide on-campus and virtual support to college students with disabilities as they adjust to academics without IEP accommodations and navigate campus living. This position requires onsite presence at Bristol Community College (campuses in Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton), UMass Dartmouth, and Dean College, with possible on-site availability at other nearby colleges in the Southeast region of Massachusetts.

Responsibilities

• Develop action plans each semester that address each student’s goals as they relate to their transition into college
• Provide 1:1 coaching to develop and support concrete goals in areas of higher education and independent living to meet each student's unique needs and encourage independence
• Support the student with executive functioning skills such as time management, organization, scheduling, etc.
• Identify potential barriers and problem-solve around them with students and college staff
• Create a supportive environment between the college and the student
• Advocate for the student by identifying their needs and explain them to college staff
• Maintain ongoing documentation related to monitoring and evaluating client progress on goals
• Communicate with referring agencies and program manager including monthly notes, weekly check-ins, and identifying and problem-solving challenges with clients
• Meet expectations, standards, and protocols of work sites and referring agencies
• Assist students with navigating online learning platforms including Blackboard, Canvas, and Moodle
• Help students understand the current college culture and expectations
• When applicable, assist clients in the consistent and appropriate use of assistive technology as outlined in the action plan to develop greater self-sufficiency and functioning
• Review and discuss with the program manager potential referrals for other ESMA programs and services
• Provide ongoing program ideas for improvement to the program manager
• Attend transition-related conferences and represent Easter Seals Transition Services in local and state meetings, as requested
• Resolve routine administrative problems
• Adapt communication style to effectively communicate with all individuals, including those with different communication abilities
• Regularly interface with students, families, disability professionals, and educators

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; Master’s degree in a related field preferred
• Experience with young adults with disabilities preferred
• Knowledge of pertinent academic areas and learning situations including secondary educational systems such as Blackboard, Moodle, Canvas, etc.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams) and Zoom video conferencing
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• TB test and health documentation clearing for work
• COVID-19 vaccine (strongly preferred due to campus policies)