What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vocational Skills Trainer position at Ascendigo?
Ascendigo Autism Services is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in the
Roaring Fork Valley near Aspen, Colorado. Founded in 2004 as a summer sports camp for children
with autism, Ascendigo has expanded to offer year-round outdoor recreational options including
summer and winter sports, a suite of community-based services for autistic adults, and behavior
therapies for children. Our goal is to integrate people with disabilities into community life, whether
through outdoor recreation, assisting in basic life skills, finding compatible employment, or simply
going out with friends to restaurants, museums, or concerts. Ascendigo takes full advantage of the
unmatched natural facilities offered by Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, as well as the area’s charitable
community spirit to open physical, experiential, and collaborative opportunities to individuals with
autism. Currently, Ascendigo employs approximately 65 full- and part-time staff members with an
additional 60-65 seasonal employees during the summer months.
Job Summary: The primary responsibility of the VOC Case Manager is to inspire and coach
Ascendigo and DVR clients to achieve their goals and see their best selves in the Skills Trainer’s eyes.
Specific responsibilities include providing behavioral health services to adult clients on the full
spectrum and any other disability such as job coaching, leading recreational activity outings,
independent living support and general life skill building. Case Managers may also provide services to
clients in other Life Enrichment programs, including Adult Comprehensive Experience (ACE) and
Residential. The ST will collaborate with Ascendigo’s Vocational Manager, Clinical Manager and ACE
Manager to learn and implement Behavior Plans or other guiding documents included in the client’s
Individualized Plan.
Essential Job Functions:
VOC JOB Training:
o Working with clients with any kind of disability.
o Creating community connections and partnerships.
o Well versed in excel and have some accounting/billing experience.
o Work with other members of the Life Enrichment team (including but not limited to
Residential, ACE, resident families, clinical or behavioral consultants, therapists, other
staff, friends, and community partners) to coordinate care, facilitate care transitions, and
implement resident goals and objectives.
o Complete a 40-hour course to obtain Registered Behavior Technician status provided by
Ascendigo (full time, year around staff only).
o Facilitate interactions with peers, coworkers, and families.
o Keep clients motivated to learn through preference assessments.
o Use naturalistic teaching methods with our clients to teach them the skills that they need.
o Take client into the community while helping them interact with the community and the
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environment appropriately.
o Help client achieve any educational goals in plan i.e.: typing, reading, writing, coding, etc.
o Support client in recreational outings weekly i.e.: skiing, surfing, rafting, hiking, paddle
boarding, etc.
o Support client in workplace settings, collaborating with workplace staff and finishing any
job duties client is not able to do.
o Accurately record data on the client’s progress or lack thereof using catalyst (data
collection system).
o Proactively communication with one’s manager.
o Use solid Risk Management skills and follow policies and procedures of the organization
o Use a courteous & professional demeanor with colleagues, families, and community
partners.
o Communicate confidentially and professionally with other behavior analysts, Skills trainers
& parents.
o Complete detailed notes describing what the client did that day, and behaviors that
occurred throughout the day dependent on client’s service plan provided by the CDPHE.
o Collect receipts and track them in provided receipt log.
Vocational Support:
o Help create a productive, and positive work environment for clients.
o Provide onsite instruction and offsite training for all work-related skills needed for
independent employment.
o Facilitate an ongoing professional relationship with each client, their families, and their
employers.
o With each client’s whole-life team (Ascendigo staff, consultants, family, friends, community
members), assist clients in building the skills needed to be successful, responsible, and
independent, with a focus on work skills and personal skills that allow them to be prepared
and successful at work.
o Make sure clients’ goals, passions, interests, and abilities are considered while conducting
the job search.
o Support client in discovering passions and talents through experimentation of new
activities i.e.: clay class, cooking class, art class, scrap booking etc.
o Get to know clients and their unique personalities to build a report.
o Collect receipts and track them in provided receipt log.
o Other Job Duties: Arrives to work on time. Engages in appropriate behavior with clients at
and outside of work. Employs appropriate interactions with supervisors & managers.
Attends trainings and meetings, checks work emails daily. Encouraged to complete a 40-
hour course and assessment provided by Ascendigo to obtain Registered Behavior
Technician (RBT) status (we pay $2/hour more for completing one’s RBT). May be asked to
help with other Ascendigo programs as needed.
Physical Requirements/Equipment Used: Basic computer skills (MS Office, email, social media),
lifting and moving light to heavy objects (up to 25 pounds), use of full physical prompts for teaching
or safety, competent to learn new technologies related to disabilities, able to accompany residents in
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Effective Date: 12/15/21
all exercise and recreational activities. Applicants are required to have and use their own smart
phone for work duties. Ascendigo provides a monthly cell phone stipend for this use.
ALL ASCENDIGO EMPLOYEES WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH CLIENTS MUST BE FULLY
VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 AND PROVIDE PROOF.
Qualifications:
- Knowledge of the field of autism as it pertains to adults.
- Understanding and ability to learn behavioral approaches as practiced by Ascendigo,
including the ability to allay maladaptive behaviors while maintaining calm and composure,
principles of Natural Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI), using positive behavior
support plans and recognizing natural teaching opportunities and acting on them.
- Knowledge of healthy nutrition and basic cooking skills.
- Basic knowledge of physical fitness and exercise regimens and willing to engage in physical
- Ability to handle the personal care of residents with sensitivity and caring.
- Possess effective skills in active listening, coaching, and human supervision.
- Display a positive attitude, show concern for people and community, demonstrate presence,
- Be organized and exhibit “follow through” on tasks and goals.
- Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to collaborate with colleagues.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently, set priorities and meet deadlines.
- Must be a team player.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends and extended hours for
- Access to a vehicle for travel throughout local community.
- Follow the policies and procedures of the organization.
- Must be age 21 or over and have legal working status.
- Must maintain a valid driver’s license and excellent driving record.
- Must successfully complete required training.
- Must provide a current CPR/First Aid certification.
- Must obtain certifications or successful training completion for crisis management and
medication administration. Willingness to take Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) classes
and obtain certification.
- Should have at least a high school diploma.
- Understands that some households may be under security surveillance including but not
limited to video monitoring, and that video may be reviewed on a need-to-know basis on
request by the Ascendigo CEO/President
- Must have flexibility to travel for occasional professional development and resident
- Must have a cell phone that can receive texts and phone calls
Personal Characteristics: Should be committed and passionate about the Ascendigo mission of a
holistic, active, community-based, independent, and person-centered life. He/she should believe in
the dignity and potential of our clients. Additionally, should:
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- Show maturity, responsibility, and dependability and follow through on tasks with modest
- Be diplomatic and discreet: commitment to maintain strict confidentiality and respect of
- Be proactive: taking the initiative, willing to pitch in and assist.
- Behave ethically: understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure that their
- Build relationships: establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both
- Communicate effectively: speak, listen, and write in clear, thorough, and timely manner
- Creativity/Innovation: develop new ways to improve operations of Ascendigo and to create
- Focus on client needs: anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of clients to meet
- Foster teamwork: work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve
- Lead: positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of Ascendigo.
- Make decisions: assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make
- Organize: set priorities, develop a schedule to accomplish required tasks monitor progress
- Solve problems: Assess problems situations to identify courses, gather and process relevant
information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or solve the
problem.