Intellectual/Developmental Disability Specialist- Personal Services Contract

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Corrections is seeking an expert in Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) to serve as the primary subject matter expert on its new Expanding Literacy Attainment and Special Education Opportunities Grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) within the U.S. Department of Justice. This exciting project has two primary objectives meant to address long-standing shortcomings in the delivery of education within IDOC. The first line of work, and the focus of the I/DD Specialist, will focus on helping IDOC to better identify and provide specialized services to individuals in custody with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, people with learning disabilities and people who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. The second line of work seeks to improve the overall quality and reach of IDOC’s adult education programs.

This position is for a Personal Services Contract, not a full-time employee position. An individual signing a Personal Services Contract is not covered by the provisions of the Personnel Code 20 ILCS 415 et seq. This individual agrees to be bound by and comply with the policies and procedures of the Agency. They are not entitled to any employment benefits such as paid sick, vacation, holiday, and personal leaves, retirement contributions, health insurance, or life insurance or access to Personnel Code or Civil Service grievance procedures. They are covered by Worker's Compensation and Unemployment Insurance.

Job Responsibilities

• Convene, lead, and support regular meetings of a multi-stakeholder working group that will help to determine the best assessment tools and best practices to bring to IDOC around specific disability populations (I/DD, TBI, and LD).
• Lead the identification of appropriate assessment tools to identify people with I/DD, TBI, and/or LD.
• Perform extensive research on best practices in the community and departments of corrections around the identification and support of people with I/DD, TBI, and/or LD
• Make recommendations on how and where to implement access accommodations for the I/DD, TBI, and LD populations
• Communicate regularly with staff to understand existing IDOC policy, practice, and challenges and develop a clear understanding of how recommended changes effect different staff.
• Advise leadership on how to modify or create new policies to better support these disability populations;
• Work with counterparts in other state agencies to identify different local, state, or federal programs that each disability population should be connected to
• Advise the Chief of Programs on how to modify existing pre-release or post-release processes to better meet the needs of these disability populations.
• Help to design programs and interventions appropriate for each of these disability populations;
• Lead the drafting of a position description for a cognitive disability educator/coordinator to serve in the final year of the grant
• Provide regular updates to IDOC Executive Leadership and Manager of Adult Education on progress, barriers, and opportunities.
• Support Project Lead as needed.

Minimum Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, social work, or a related field.
• At-least 8 years of professional work experience
• At least 3 years of professional work experience focusing on serving individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities
• Knowledge and understanding of national best practices in serving individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, including on how to support self-advocates.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, to develop reports and navigate roadblocks.
• Ability to work independently and with minimal oversight.

Preferred Requirements

• A master’s degree in education, psychology, social work, a natural science, or a related field along with at least 5 years of work experience focused on individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities or a Ph.D. and three years of work experience focused on individual with intellectual/developmental disabilities
• A Ph.D. in education, psychology, or a related social or natural science
• Eight (8) or more years’ experience working on issues related to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Three (3) or more years’ experience working on issues related to learning disabilities and/or traumatic brain injuries
• Previous experience writing reports, writing memos, delivering presentations, and leading meetings
• Previous experience in project management and playing a leading role in project implementation
• Previous experience working on a state or federal grant and/or working directly with state, local or federal governments
• Previous experience in adult education
• Previous experience in direct service delivery or education delivery

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel statewide.
• Requires the ability to pass the IDOC Background
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen.
• Requires the ability to abide by agency vaccine and medical requirements.

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Corrections is a multicultural agency deeply committed to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion. This commitment is at the forefront of our operations, hiring, policies and procedures, and training. We recognize the benefit of workplace empowerment, the importance of diversity and fully support an environment where ALL employees are treated fairly, respectfully, and have equal access to opportunities and resources necessary to thrive and contribute to the agency’s success. IDOC genuinely values the differences of individuals in our custody and is committed to ensuring a healthy living environment where they feel valued, respected, and included.

Through our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), we shall establish and uphold agency policies and practices conducive to eliminating all forms of exclusion including, but not limited to, racism, ageism, ableism, sexism, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender, and religious oppression.

The IDOC team works to serve justice in Illinois and increase public safety by promoting positive change in behavior of individuals in custody, operating successful reentry programs, and reducing victimization.

The Illinois Department of Corrections is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.