Youth Educator

Youth Educator

Reports to: Director of Youth & Transition Services

JOB SUMMARY

The Youth Educator, part of the Youth and Transition Services team, provides direct assistance, postsecondary counseling, and training to young people ages 14-26, parents, and professionals working with young people with disabilities. Youth Educators help young people and their families develop postsecondary plans, navigate special education and other systems such as college and job training programs, and support the development of soft skills and self-advocacy skills. Youth Educators conduct community outreach, collaborate with schools, community organizations, and other stakeholders to promote positive outcomes for people with disabilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Post-Secondary Counseling

• Provide one-to-one postsecondary counseling (college and vocational training) to youth with disabilities and their families via in-person and remote communication, assess needs, and connect them to the appropriate support and resources.
• Conduct effective follow-up with youth to ensure progress toward their goals and that their needs are being met.
• Support youth in developing essential skills, such as communication, self-advocacy, and self-disclosure.

• Develop and deliver workshops for transition-age youth on topics such as professional networking, email skills, Google Drive skills, traveling around NYC, and developing healthy living habits.
• Facilitate workshops for students with disabilities in partner high schools or community organizations around New York City.
• Facilitate parent and professional development training on topics such as transition planning, college access and accommodations, and building self-advocacy skills for students.
• Reflect on and refine personal training practices on an ongoing basis.

• Attend conferences, participate in coalition and policy meetings on special education, transition, and youth issues, and represent INCLUDEnyc at outreach events as needed.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partner schools, organizations, and host sites.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Care Coordinators, Vocational Rehabilitation counselors, and other stakeholders in the youth's life.
• Participate in ongoing feedback loops and professional development training on counseling and training practices.

• Accurately track, document, and report on case progress, workshop delivery and attendance, and outreach in a secure Salesforce database.
• Stay current on special education, ADA, and other disability-related issues, and help support programs department teams on critical changes in transition issues.
• Support additional Youth & Transition Services and other program projects and professionals as needed.

• Bachelor's degree or high school diploma and equivalent work experience required.
• Master's degree in Special Education, Social Work, or a related field is preferred.
• 5+ years working with young people with disabilities in educational or vocational contexts.
• An education or counseling background is strongly preferred, particularly experience with the special education system, IEP process, and/or transition-aged youth.
• Previous experience in college access/success, vocational training, and/or job readiness programming is strongly preferred.
• Skills in developing curriculum and learning resources.
• Receptive and responsive to feedback on counseling practices, training, and other practices.
• Self-directed, well-organized, and committed to program efficiency with a strong ability to multitask and collaborate within and across teams.
• Strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills, with the ability to remain calm, patient, and professional when faced with difficult or demanding situations.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Google Apps for Business (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar), virtual conference platforms, and Microsoft Office; working knowledge of Salesforce preferred.
• Willingness/ability to travel via public transportation to locations across the five boroughs.
• Occasional evenings and weekends are required.
• Commitment to INCLUDEnyc's mission of building positive educational outcomes for young New Yorkers with disabilities, parent leadership, and self-advocacy skills in youth.