Inclusion Aide

Northwest Special Recreation Assn; Rolling Meadows (IL); On-site; USD 22,730 - 23,419; Part time

Job summary

Northwest Special Recreation Assn is hiring a part-time position in Rolling Meadows, IL, focused on supporting individuals with disabilities in park district activities. Responsibilities include ensuring safety, assisting with personal care, and fostering community engagement.

Candidates should be at least 16 years old with a willingness to learn and engage in physical activities. This role requires dependability and effective communication skills.

Qualifications

• At least 16 years of age.
• Interest or experience with individuals with disabilities.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm in recreation programming.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals with disabilities in community park activities.
• Respond to communications promptly.
• Assist in participants' personal care needs.

Skills

Ability to lift up to 60 lbs

Ability to communicate with participants

Dependability and flexibility

Job description

Location: Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. Position type: Part Time. Salary: $16.50 - $17.00 per hour.

Job Purpose

To support and assist individuals with disabilities participating in their local community park district.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Communication and Outreach

• Provide timely responses to phone calls, voicemail and written materials, whether received by mail, fax, or email sent by NWSRA.
• Treat public complaints and concerns with the utmost attention and be courteous in all cases.

Safety

• Understand safety policies, maintain a working knowledge of all general and departmental‑specific safety policies and inspect work and program areas for compliance with safe work practices and policies.
• Enforce safety policies by improving employee and public knowledge while correcting unsafe behavior and conditions.
• Cooperate and assist in the investigation of accidents/incidents and attend all required safety program and education meetings.

Position Specific Responsibilities

• Assist with the inclusion of the participants in park district programs, while also acting as part of the park district program.
• Act as an advocate for participants, provide disability awareness information, and emphasize the individual's abilities and similarities while de‑emphasizing the differences.
• Assist in the participation of recreational activities and provide accommodations as needed.
• Attend to participants’ personal care needs including toileting, feeding and changing.
• Encourage participants in developing friendships with other participants within the program.
• Communicate and contribute with ideas to co‑workers.
• Demonstrate creativity and enthusiasm in implementing activities.
• Become actively involved and participate in program activities and tasks.
• Promote good relations with participants, parents, employees, partner agency personnel and community contacts.
• Follow through with direction on assigned tasks.
• Implement and apply skills and techniques taught through training.
• Communicate with participants during the program in a verbal or non‑verbal manner.
• Attend all orientations, meetings and trainings required by NWSRA and the assigned park district.
• Greet parents/guardians, participants, employees and volunteers upon arrival. Smile and be friendly.
• Monitor participant’s belongings including bags, towels, lunch boxes, etc.
• Follow agency policy and procedures including all payroll procedures of partner agencies and NWSRA.
• Communicate all incidents/accidents from programs to Inclusion Coordinators and Park District Site Directors.
• Other duties needed to help drive our Vision, fulfill our Mission, and abide by NWSRA’s Core Values.

Qualifications – Weight Bearing

• Ability to gather and transfer program equipment and to move heavy recreational equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. and push a wheelchair up to 300 lbs.

Qualifications – Agility/Flexibility/Balance

• Ability to safely lift, transfer and/or position individuals with mobility impairments in wheelchairs.
• Ability to kneel, crawl, reach, rotate body position, reach into small spaces and run to maintain interaction with participants in programs who may need individualized assistance or close supervision.

Manual Dexterity

• Ability to maneuver wheelchairs through narrow or small spaces, such as doorways, washrooms, and vehicles, while operating doors and lifts and lift wheelchairs over obstructions such as curbs, small stairs, and other barriers.
• Ability to manipulate a variety of objects such as eating utensils or G‑tubes to perform personal care for participants as well as writing utensils, communication devices and recreation equipment of all types.

Stamina

• Ability to work a varied schedule of days and hours.
• Ability to drive or ride long distances required for the program.
• Ability to keep pace with active participants who may be aggressive or a flight risk.
• Psychological Considerations: Ability to work with individuals from all backgrounds and special interests in a respectable manner and to maintain a positive attitude in public places.
• Ability to troubleshoot, problem‑solve, and handle stress in a calm, professional manner.

Environmental Considerations

• Ability to perform in a variety of weather conditions, ranging from mild to severe, year round, and in facilities that may range in temperature, and/or have various exposures such as pool chemicals.
• Ability to perform in outdoor situations where there is potential exposure to poisonous plants, insects, and wild animals.

Qualifications

• At least 16 years of age.
• Have an interest or experience working with children and adults with disabilities.
• Demonstrate dependability, promptness, flexibility and punctuality.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm in recreation programming and have the ability to engage in activities requiring physical exertion.
• Willingness to learn and accept new ideas.
• Able to work independently.