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Advocacy Specialist
A significant portion of DLC’s work is helping individuals with disabilities when they make a service request. These requests are made by phone, email, and mail and can be made by the individual themselves or another individual on behalf of an individual with a disability. The Advocacy Specialist is responsible for providing information and referral, technical assistance, and short-term advocacy to these individuals by answering calls, emails, and letters as well as conducting interviews with potential DLC clients. The specialist acquires and maintains up-to-date information about all program priorities and community resources. The specialist also coordinates work with the lead attorney for the self-advocacy team, as well as other staff within DLC.
Posting Date
September 30th, 2023
Closing Date
October 20th, 2023
Classification
Salary Range
$45,800 to $68,800 annually
Location
Anywhere in Colorado (Hybrid)
Reporting Relationship
The Advocacy Specialist reports directly to the Intake and Self Advocacy Support Services Attorney Team Leader. This position does not have any direct reports.
Responsibilities
The following duties are an overview of the primary duties and responsibilities of the Advocacy Specialist and should not be considered an all-inclusive list.
- Responds to incoming calls (in real-time whenever possible), emails, and mailed intakes to obtain information and identify and assess the legal issues during intakes
- Determining whether a concern fits within the DLC’s area of work or will be addressed by referrals or other supports
- Provides information, referrals, and technical assistance. Provides short-term assistance to people with disabilities, their family members, advocates, and others, which includes, but is not limited to, referrals to other agencies and organizations, self-advocacy materials, and self-advocacy coaching
- Maintains expertise in all of DLC’s program priorities, services, and community resources
- Maintains expertise in the Disability Advocacy Database (DAD), correctly logging in all intake information
- Provides input for intake discussion at intake staff meetings
- Maintains basic knowledge of current statutes, regulations, and policies affecting people with disabilities
- Respects the values of the disability rights movement, as demonstrated by a commitment to disability culture and language, as well as advancing the public image of DLC as a trusted and competent resource
- Assists the legal team in updating relevant resources for clients interacting with the intake process
- Performs other duties, as assigned
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The individual must also possess these qualifications:
- Ability to work independently in a hybrid or remote environment, as well as under general supervision and on a team
- Determination of suitability from the Social Security Administration within the first six months of employment and the ability to preserve that credential during the course of employment
- Commitment to DLC’s mission, including delivering services with the highest ethics and integrity
- Experience entering data correctly and in a timely manner into a database system such as DLC’s DAD
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, and collaboration skills to be able to work effectively with others inside and outside of the organization
- Ability to interview clients, identify potential issues, and screen clients for the fit with DLC’s services
- Ability to conduct and synthesize research and provide accurate, relevant, and current information to clients
- Demonstration of appropriate and professional behavior in working with members of the public who may often be in crisis
- A commitment to understanding and updating knowledge about disability legal issues, including how to work with people with disabilities of all kinds
- Proficiency with office technology, databases, Microsoft Suite applications, and other relevant applications, such as Zoom
- Experience conducting triage of client needs in a fast-paced environment that includes phone, email, online, and mailed intake requests
- Diligence and attention to detail in maintaining accurate records and following records retention guidelines
- Ability to provide coaching about self-advocacy strategies that are effective and respectful of clients’ needs
- Willingness to adapt intake and self-advocacy coaching services and processes toward continuous improvement and creative problem-solving
- Understanding of and commitment to legal ethics for nonlawyers, the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, and the National Disability Rights Network’s standards
- At least two years of experience advocating with or for people with disabilities and/or other marginalized populations
- Ability to work nonstandard hours and/or travel, as needed
- High school diploma or G.E.D.
Preferred Qualifications
The following qualifications are highly desired to advance DLC’s work, but they are not required:
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a relevant field, such as social work, legal studies, or public policy
- Multilingual
- Experience working in a customer service center role
- Experience working with ASL interpreters, assistive technology, people whose primary language is not English, and accessibility problem-solving
Work Environment
The Advocacy Specialist must live within Colorado or be willing to relocate to Colorado before they begin the position.
DLC promotes a mostly remote work environment, with the understanding that employees will travel and meet in person as needed to conduct their job functions and collaborate with other staff members, the Board, clients, and partners. (DLC currently has office space in Denver, which is available for employees’ use, but not required.) DLC provides equipment to employees to work successfully in a remote environment, including, but not limited to, laptops and phones.
DLC provides reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their jobs.
Compensattion and Benefits
The hiring range for this position is $45,867-$68,800 annually, full-time (36 hours/week), depending on experience. (For reference, $57,300 represents DLC’s salary for people with 5 years of experience in a similar position.) Disability Law Colorado offers competitive salaries; generous leave; and an excellent benefits package, which includes a 403(b)-retirement savings plan and medical, dental, vision, life, and short-term and long-term disability insurance. DLC employees also enjoy a 36-hour workweek as full-time employment, as well as flexible hours.
Application Process
We encourage candidates with disabilities and others with lived experience and diverse backgrounds to apply.
Candidates should submit a cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume to Esther Brieno at ebrieno@disabilitylawco.org by October 20, 2023, with the subject line: Advocacy Specialist Application, for priority consideration. Candidates wishing to mail or fax their materials, instead, may send them to the Hiring Manager.
Hiring Manager
Esther Brieno, Operations Manager
Disability Law Colorado
455 Sherman Street, Suite 130
Denver, CO 80203
FAX: (303) 722-0720
NOTE: Disability Law Colorado is committed to providing a work environment that is free of unlawful discrimination and unlawful harassment. Disability Law Colorado’s policy prohibits harassment and discrimination based on age (40 & over); ancestry; national origin or ethnicity; citizenship; immigration status; race; color; hairstyle or hair texture; marital, registered domestic partner or civil union status; pregnancy and perceived pregnancy (including breastfeeding or related medical conditions); religion; sex; gender, gender identity or expression; sexual orientation or an employer’s perception thereof; wage disclosures; lawful off-duty, off-premises activities; because the person is a victim of a crime, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking; military or veterans’ status; physical or mental disability; family or medical care leave status; or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
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