Developmental Specialist - Early Childhood In

The Developmental Specialist provides and oversees the educational programs for students in the Specialized Services at the Center. Another key role of the Educational Specialist is providing advice to teachers, administrators and support staff on the students educational, behavioral and social functioning. They provide training in the use of educational materials and techniques. Intervention Specialists comply with local, state and national standards.

This position reports directly to the Administrative Staff

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Participates as part of a multi-disciplinary team in providing evaluations, ongoing assessments, services and coaching to families and caregivers eligible for early intervention services
• Demonstrates knowledge in overall child development and intervention strategies for children with autism and developmental delays.
• Demonstrates knowledge of family dynamics and cultural diversity, making appropriate accommodations as necessary
• Maintains documentation of all services (indirect, direct, consultative)
• Work cooperatively with regular classroom teachers, interpreting the abilities and

disabilities of these students, assisting in classroom intervention strategies, modifying general education curricular as necessary, and assisting the student with regular class assignments.

• Educate and coach families, team members, caregivers in the developmental strategies and assist in integration into the natural environment.
• Develop and implement an Individualized Educational Program of each child directly in their care as well as students in the Specialized Services classrooms as directed complimentary to his/her educational strengths and needs as defined through the multifactored evaluation and I.E.P. process, and Regular Education Curriculum.
• Complete necessary reports and record keeping as required by state and local policies and procedures.
• Monitor the progress of his or her entire caseload, maintains records, and communicates with teachers and parents
• Manage and orders materials that are necessary for performing job functions
• Participate in professional growth activities through staff development, inservice,

workshops, and higher education.

• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Staff.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• Holds a Bachelor’s degree or Graduate-Level Degree in education, health, social, or behavioral science, social services, human services, or other related field from an accredited college or university; or
• Holds a Bachelor’s Degree or Graduate-Level degree in an unrelated field from an accredited college or university, and has at least two (2) years of full-time, supervised, paid experience working with children ages 3-5 with disabilities, developmental delays, or autism; or
• Is eligible for (and are pursuing), or has current certification, as Early Intervention Specialist by Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, or Ohio Department of Education, with at least two (2) years working with children ages 3-5 and their families, preferably with delay; or to be a graduate of Kent University Early Intervention Specialist co-hort.

Key Competencies

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to organize team members and implement the organization’s policies. Language skills to effectively present information in one-on-one and small and large group situations to staff, and clients, or outside inquiries.
• Shows the ability to create and maintain a safe, orderly environment that is conducive to learning
• Great arbitration and organizational skills are also necessary for satisfactory performance.
• Demonstrates the ability to make appropriate recommendations to teachers based upon collected data
• Demonstrates a patience for working with students who may have serious learning disabilities
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace
• High comfort level working in a diverse environment
• Ability to follow instructions, respond to management direction, take responsibility for own actions, keep commitments. Commits to extended hours of work when necessary, completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan
• Observes safety and security procedures. Determines appropriate actions beyond guidelines. Reports unsafe conditions, uses equipment and materials properly.
• Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent. Arrives at meetings and appointments on time. Understands that the need to work extended or after hours may be necessary at times, which can be compensated with overtime or comp time.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

• Ability to regularly sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. Required to stand for periods of time, walk, climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste and smell.
  

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.