Disability Peer Advocate - Bilingual/Spanish

Boston Center for Independent Living; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & holidays

Insurance: medical/dental/vision

Long/Short-term disability

403b retirement plan

Job summary

Boston Center for Independent Living in Boston seeks a Bilingual Disability Peer Advocate to provide peer mentoring, skills training, advocacy, information and referral to people with disabilities for independent living.

The role involves coordinating services, delivering Spanish-language workshops, and documenting activities, with opportunities for public education and advocacy as prioritized by a supervisor. Collaboration with a diverse team is essential.

Qualifications

• Must identify as a person with a disability.
• Bilingual Spanish/English required.
• Ability to take direction and manage time effectively.
• Flexibility and the ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Strong communication skills (expressive, receptive, written).

Responsibilities

• Mentor and support consumers to assess independent living needs and develop ILSPs.
• Provide skills training and peer mentoring in self-advocacy.
• Arrange meetings at BCIL office or alternative locations within BCIL service area.
• Coordinate services with other agencies and BCIL staff.
• Engage in community outreach and advocacy activities as directed by supervisor.
• Deliver workshops in Spanish for BCIL consumers.
• Document activities in BCIL database per standards and timelines.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and supervision sessions.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish/English

Communication skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Public speaking

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Boston Center for Independent Living is a frontline civil rights organization led by people with disabilities that advocates to eliminate discrimination, isolation, and segregation by providing advocacy, information and referral, peer support, skills training, PCA services, and transitional services to enhance the independence of people with disabilities.

BCIL serves a very diverse clientele, and our staff reflect much of that diversity. All applicants are welcome.

Position Overview

The Bilingual Disability Peer Advocate provides peer mentoring, skills training, advocacy, information & referral, and other supportive services to people with disabilities to live independently. Experience working with people with disabilities or in an independent living setting is a plus. This position will also have the opportunity to participate in public education and advocacy activities as prioritized by their supervisor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Works with consumers to help them assess their personal independent living needs and develop independent living service plans (ILSPs)
• Provides consumers with skills training, peer mentoring in self-advocacy, and information & referral services, individually or in groups
• Arranges to meet with consumers at the BCIL offices, or, when the consumer is unable to travel, arrange to meet at other mutually agreed upon locations within the BCIL service area
• Assists in the coordination of services with other agencies and BCIL staff members
• Engages in community outreach and systems advocacy efforts to help promote organization goals
• Assists with providing workshops and presentations in Spanish to BCIL consumers
• Documents all activities according to accepted BCIL standards and timelines, utilizing the BCIL database system
• Actively participates in:
  • monthly staff meetings (all-staff, direct services, and case conference), and other mandatory meetings as required
  • on-going training opportunities (mandatory and optional) to ensure up-to-date knowledge of federal, state, and local government benefits and regulations, as well as community resources
  • weekly or bi-weekly supervision, coming prepared to discuss successes, challenges, productivity, documentation, and professional development goals
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Must identify as a person with a disability.
• Must be bilingual: Spanish/English.
• Ability to take direction and follow through on assigned tasks and manage time effectively
• Flexibility and the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team
• Ability to model clear professional boundaries, social skills, and work etiquette
• Ability to travel throughout BCIL service area (driver’s license not required)
• Strong communication skills (expressive, receptive, and written)

Equipment Operated

Computers, copier, scanner, Microsoft Office, printer, and other office equipment/programs.

Working Environment

Office area is a shared workspace divided by cubicles. Verbal communication can be heard from other staff in adjoining cubicles. Position requires both in-office and remote work per BCIL policy and includes seeing consumers in person. Remote work opportunity only begins after successful completion of 90-day probationary period.

Hours

40 Hours – Full Time

Benefits

• 2 weeks’ paid vacation (increases with length of service) with potential to add time based on relevant professional experience.
• 2 personal days, 13 holidays, 12 sick days
• Medical, dental, vision insurance (75% paid by agency). Short-term disability, long-term disability, group life insurance 100% company paid.
• Optional FSA medical and dependent care accounts, critical care insurance and additional life insurance available (employee paid).
• 403b retirement accounts available.
• MBTA Perc to Work Program

Salary

$45,500

Reasonable accommodation is provided as needed for employees and other affiliates. Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) checks are part of BCIL’s standard procedure.

Required Qualifications

• Must identify as a person with a disability.
• Must be bilingual: Spanish/English.
• Ability to take direction and follow through on assigned tasks and manage time effectively
• Flexibility and the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team
• Ability to model clear professional boundaries, social skills, and work etiquette
• Ability to travel throughout BCIL service area (driver’s license not required)
• Strong communication skills (expressive, receptive, and written)