Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Specialist

Job Posting: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist

This position is a full time 40 hour a week employee. This position will be a combination of remote and occasional in-office responsibilities. Employee will need to travel regularly around the state and to and from Lansing to exchange Assistive Technology equipment. Employee must live and work remotely in Michigan.

About us:

The mission of Michigan Disability Rights Coalitionis to cultivate disability pride. It strengthens the disability movement by recognizing disability as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity while collaborating to dismantle all forms of oppression. MDRC envisions a world where people with disabilities can live full lives within the community with equal rights, equity, and opportunities. Where people with disabilities are valued as essential and vital members of the community, and they can be their whole selves in all their identities, in all aspects of their lives. MDRC works to create spaces for self-discovery, cultivate community, and develop pride.

Michigan Disability Rights Coalition's (MDRC) Michigan Assistive Technology Program (MATP) is a comprehensive program that works with people with disabilities of all ages, across all types of disabilities, increasing access to and acquisition of assistive technology. MATP works with people with disabilities, family members, businesses, and other entities.

Summary:

MDRC's program expansion includes a new full-time position to specifically target the needs related to augmentative communication. AAC AT Specialist will provide training, technical assistance, information and referral services, and demonstrations with a primary focus on augmentative and alternative communication assistive technology needs.

Focus Areas:

• Increasing access to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
• Identifying gaps in service, while working with individuals of all ages.
• Outreach following MATP’s commitment to support historically underserved or excluded populations with intersectional identities.

MDRC pays for staff time to learn about new assistive technology and to expand knowledge to better serve Michigan. MDRC also pays for training that supports all of our staff to serve in the most equitable and unoppressive way possible.

The hiring manager is looking for the following:

MDRC is looking for someone with at least three to five years of experience with assistive technology who is excited to work on this project. MDRC is looking for someone that recognizes that access to assistive technology is a systems issue where systems create barriers to access for Michigan’s BIPOC community. Barriers include implicit bias, white supremacy, discrimination, lack of prioritization, and racism.

The most essential knowledge we are looking for from applicants is knowledge of AAC devices and assistive technology devices and a love for the work they will be doing, treating people with disabilities with respect, and a willingness to learn about disability pride. We are looking for an applicant that believes in all aspects of our mission. This exciting program can change people's lives and allow individuals with disabilities to participate in activities they are passionate about.

Travel:

The MATP program serves the whole State of Michigan. This position will require travel with or without accommodations to provide demonstrations across the State of Michigan. Employees travel to and from Lansing when necessary to exchange AT equipment. This is a participant-focused program which means service activities may need to be completed during evenings and weekends. Employees may choose how to flex their schedule and to arrange with the participant the best time to meet.

MDRC pays employees for their travel time and the hours they work. MDRC does not pay for hours off the clock, even when traveling. For example, you are not paid for your evening hours at the hotel or when you are sleeping. MDRC does provide a rental car when traveling outside of your home location to deliver services.

MDRC reimburses travel and per diems at the federal rate. MDRC pays for the gas of all rental cars. MDRC provides accommodations for travel, including paying drivers and personal attendants when needed as an accommodation.

Activities while traveling can be up to 50% of your time.

Essential Functions All MATP Staff:

• Provide quality demonstrations of assistive technology products and services to individuals and groups.
• Provide training to Michigan’s community on assistive technology. This includes people with disabilities, businesses, families, and other entities.
• All staff will be required to facilitate demonstrations. This requires in-person service, travel, and ongoing education.
• The Program Director(s) will work to assist in the acquisition of additional knowledge needs. The Program Director(s) may assign training on any of the demonstration devices based on the teams and community's needs. Staff must respond to this need by acquiring new device knowledge.
• Complete all necessary reports to meet established deadlines and provide timely data to meet state and federal reporting.
• Demonstrate a passion for the mission.
• Treat customers, families, and others with respect and ensure confidentiality of individual's records.
• Demonstrate excellent people, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to drive one’s work, often working independently, learning quickly, setting goals, being resourceful and asking for help when needed.
• Willingness to accept responsibility and feedback.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by Program Director(s) and Executive Director with a positive attitude. Program Director(s) and Executive Director will decide the activities that will be performed by the MATP program to meet the federal guidelines, the MATP State Plan, and MDRC's mission. Program Director(s) and Executive Director will assign tasks based on their decisions of what needs to be completed.
• All employees who work on the MATP program will cover for each other during vacation, parental leave, or if someone is out sick. This means staff may occasionally take on tasks related to the program outside the normal scope of their job as assigned by the Program Director(s) and Executive Director.

Common Conditions of All MDRC Positions:

• Support full inclusion and self-determination for all persons with disabilities in every job-related decision we make.
• Accept personal responsibility for careful use of the MDRC funds and equipment.
• Assume personal responsibility for building and maintaining productive relationships with other MDRC staff and community partners.
• Identify and surface problems that might interfere with MDRC's ability to fulfill its mission, or prevent working in a spirit of collaboration.
• Abide by the conditions of the MDRC personnel manual.
• Abide by the conditions of MDRC's time and effort reporting procedures.
• Attend trainings focused on ending racism and white supremacy at the personal, organizational and societal levels to ensure full access for all people with disabilities in all MDRC activities.

Compensation:

Pay is based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, and experience. PLEASE NOTE our benefits package for a full-time employee includes earned paid time off (8 hours biweekly), 14 days of holiday pay, low-cost platinum level medical insurance, free dental and vision insurance, 403(b) employer match, paid cell phone plan, and paid parental leave. Employees also start their employment with a generous 208 hours of paid time off (prorated based on how many months are left in the year at the time of hire).

The salary pay range for the 40-hour position is $45,000- $55,000. Pay will be based on candidate experience, knowledge of assistive technology (formal and/or through work), knowledge of outreach planning and implementation, and years of formal or informal work experience in the disability and or other fields related to this specific goal.

Application Process:

MDRC values and specifically seeks applicants who are people of color, women, LGBTQIA and gender fluid people, people with disabilities, veterans, and members of other diverse identities. If this is you, know that your contributions and leadership are especially valuable at MDRC.

All qualified individuals will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

People interested in this position need to submit the following materials to MDRCemploymentAT@mymdrc.org

• A cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position. Applicants who do not include a cover letter will not be considered.
• A current resume

After the interview process and the applicant has been offered the position, but before the first date of employment, the applicant will have to complete a background check as a requirement of our funder.

For questions regarding this announcement or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process, contact MDRCemploymentAT@mymdrc.org

To be considered for an interview, please submit your application materials no later than May 25, 2023

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Do you understand that if you do not submit an application with a cover letter you will not be considered? Cover letters should be specific to this job posting. We do not care if you use AI to help with your cover letter, but your cover letter should highlight why you want this specific job and highlight your ability to do so.

Work Location: Remote

Salary : $45,000 - $55,000