Advocate Community Integration

Disability Rights South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Disability Rights South Carolina seeks a Community Integration Advocate to advance the rights of people with disabilities to live, work, and participate in their community. You will work under the supervision of the Advocacy Coordinator for Community Integration with oversight from a DRSC attorney.

The role focuses on education, employment, and community access, including direct advocacy and client support within a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 1–3 years of relevant work experience required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Commitment to civil rights of people with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Direct advocacy for individuals with disabilities focusing on education, employment, and community access.
• Advise on policy issues and case problems with legal implications.
• Maintain accurate client records and required reports.
• Submit internal DRSC forms.
• Develop and implement action plans for systemic work.
• Keep up with disability laws and regulations.
• Initiate contact with organizations to raise DRSC awareness.
• Train staff, volunteers, and professionals in disability rights areas.
• Attend Team and All Staff meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Advocacy

Communication

Case management

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Confidentiality

Disability knowledge

Oral and written communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, social work, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Computer literacy

Job description

Disability Rights South Carolina (DRSC) is a private, statewide nonprofit that protects and advocates for the legal, civil, and human rights of people with disabilities. DRSC believes that people with disabilities are people first and are the primary decision makers in all areas of their lives. Our goals include Safety and Protection, Community Integration, and Equal Access for people with disabilities. This position plays a vital role in achieving these goals.

The Community Integration Advocate for DRSC shall work under the general supervision of the Advocacy Coordinator for Community Integration with oversight from a DRSC attorney. The Community Integration Advocate team focuses on the rights of people with disabilities to live, work, and participate in their community. This team advocates for education, employment, and community access. Team advocates also work with clients to strengthen their self-advocacy skills through resources and education. This position is full-time and classified as salaried nonexempt, eligible for overtime pay under federal Department of Labor regulations.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

Directly protect the rights of, and advocate on behalf of, individuals with disabilities through provision of information and referral and direct advocacy services, maintaining an active caseload as assigned by the Advocacy Coordinator for Community Integration. Such caseload may include individual and/or systemic advocacy for people with developmental, mental, or physical disabilities primarily in the areas of education, employment, and community access.

Advise the Advocacy Coordinator for Community Integration and appropriate legal personnel on policy issues and case problems/questions having legal implications.

Maintain accurate, up-to-date client records in the prescribed format. This includes the timely completion of client narratives and documentation for required reports and electronic data entry.

Timely submit all internal DRSC forms and records as required.

Assist the Advocacy Coordinator for Community Integration, as needed, to develop and implement action plans to meet the goals of systemic work.

Keep abreast of relevant developments in disability law, regulations, and policies of state agencies.

Initiate and maintain contact with volunteer and consumer organizations, service providers, and other relevant groups and individuals at the direction of the Advocacy Coordinator for Community Integration, acquiring a working knowledge of, and sensitivity to areas to improve awareness of DRSC services in South Carolina through information, training, and interaction with community leaders and organizations established in these communities.

Assist in training of staff, volunteers, interested citizens, and professionals in areas relevant to the needs and rights of individuals with disabilities.

Advise the Advocacy Coordinator for Community Integration on training and technical assistance needs.

Participate in Team and All Staff meetings.

Other duties as requested.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in education, psychology, social work, or a related field; and one to three years of relevant work experience.

Master’s level from an accredited college is preferred.

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Disability Rights South Carolina, and to the civil rights of people with disabilities.

Ability to work with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds and a demonstrated understanding of the overall organization and relationships among and between service areas and teams.

Ability to coordinate case research and perform overall case management. Problem-solving skills including the ability to influence, facilitate, mediate, negotiate, and manage groups and individuals.

Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others, maintain confidentiality, and deal effectively with and negotiate through confrontational situations and stressful interactions.

Knowledge of systems providing services to people with disabilities, disability laws and regulations, and the ability to communicate with people with disabilities.

Proficiency in oral and written communication and computer literacy.

Must be able to travel within the state. May be required to travel out-of-state for trainings or conferences.

State background checks will be requested.

EOE. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.