Independent Living Specialist

WE'RE HIRING!

Join Independent Living Resources (ILR) as an Independent Living Specialist focused on assistive technology and home modification assessments, where you’ll help individuals create safer, more accessible living environments that support independence. In this role, you’ll evaluate homes, vehicles, employment sites, and daily living needs to recommend practical, customized solutions that empower people with disabilities to live on their own terms. Guided by the Independent Living Philosophy, you’ll collaborate with consumers as the experts in their own lives, ensuring their choices and goals drive every assessment. Your work will combine strong problem-solving skills, hands-on evaluation, and detailed reporting to design meaningful environmental changes. If you’re passionate about accessibility, innovation, and making a direct impact in people’s homes and communities, this is an opportunity to turn your expertise into life-changing results. Bring your lived experience or professional background and help transform everyday environments into spaces of independence and possibility. ILR will provide extensive training for this position.

INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALIST - FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

About us:

Independent Living Resources (ILR) is a consumer controlled, community based nonprofit Independent Living Center. ILR works with individuals with disabilities of all types across the lifespan. At least 51% of ILR’s staff and Board of Directors are required to be individuals who are living with a disability, providing a unique base of lived experience and expertise in providing support.

About the role:

The role of an Independent Living Specialist (ILS) is to provide our five core services using the Independent Living Philosophy as the basis for all interactions with consumers and the community. IL Philosophy states that people with disabilities are the experts in their own lives and we respect the choices and voices of consumers.

Essential Functions of the Job:

Understand and demonstrate IL Philosophy in daily work activities

Provide Information and Referral Services

Learn and provide information on disability and community resources to callers and walk-in consumers

Provide Advocacy Services

Support and educate consumers in advocating for their rights and choices

Participate in Systems Advocacy in areas that are important to people with disabilities

Provide Peer Support Services

ILR is a cross-disability organization that values lived experience with a disability

Employees with disabilities may provide peer support services to consumers as applicable

Provide Skills Training Services

Work with consumers to develop skills to maintain and enhance their lives in the home and community

Provide Transitional Services

Identify specific populations of individuals with disabilities for Institutional Transition and Youth Transition services

Provide follow up with consumers and other service providers as needed to ensure that they receive high quality services

Use professional judgement in all areas

Ability to self-manage own schedule and caseload requirements as appropriate per consumer

Participate in larger agency efforts and continue professional development

Participate in staff meetings, workgroups, and committees

Identify and participate in trainings to advance knowledge and skills

Identify areas of interest, specialty, and passion to act as an agency resource

Ability to travel to our 13-county service area through agency, personal, or arranged transportation

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

REQUIRED:

High School Diploma, GED, or HSED required

Two years of experience working with people with disabilities or firsthand experience with a disability required

Ability to communicate effectively required

An insured vehicle and valid driver’s license available for daily use or ability to arrange own transportation required

ILR has vehicles available for employee use as well

Knowledge of and ability to use computer and Microsoft Office required

Experience developing and accomplishing goals required

Experience developing and implementing skills training required

Knowledge of disability rights and IL Philosophy required

PREFERRED:

Knowledge of the service system, benefits, entitlements, and supports utilized by people with disabilities preferred

Experience facilitating teams and/or support groups preferred

Experience in delivering presentations preferred

Working knowledge of community resources available preferred

Knowledge of Assistive Technology (AT) preferred

Knowledge of accessible and affordable housing preferred

Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other civil rights laws preferred

Additional Essential Functions as Related to Specialized ILS Duties:

Assistive Technology (AT) & Home Modification Assessor:

Must have good problem-solving skills

Must have good essay-style report writing skills

Must be able to physically access inaccessible spaces/homes/vehicles to provide evaluations

This hiring process will be driven through BambooHR emails and occasional phone calls. Please be sure to respond as soon as possible.

If you have a special need/accommodation to aid your participation in our hiring process, please contact Sara at ILR at 608-787-1111 to make appropriate arrangements.