POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Autism Resource Specialist
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 2556
GRADE 43
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director, Project ACCESS
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Autism Resource Specialist (ARS) provides a comprehensive, sustained, and intensive approach to improving school-based personnel ability to effect measurable educational progress by students with autism or a related developmental disability. This position coordinates and develops three primary activities: performing consultations with school personnel, providing professional development for school personnel, and by creating and providing resources and expertise to school personnel. This role manages all aspects of Project ACCESS programs in the field, working with a broad spectrum of public-school personnel including teachers, administrators, related service providers, and para-educators. The ARS is responsible for consulting with and training school-based multidisciplinary teams in assessment of students who present with autism spectrum disorder behaviors or characteristics to determine eligibility for special education services. This position advocates for the use of research-supported autism evidence-based interventions in the development of programming and behavior support plans, as well as, assists school-based multidisciplinary teams in establishing autism programs including the design of the school environment, assessing personal professional development targets for educators, and development of Individualized Education Plans for students, creates written, graphic, and multimedia resources appropriate for use in the school environment.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A master’s degree in education, special education, psychology, applied behavior analysis, communication sciences and disorders, occupational therapy, or physical therapy is required.
Experience: At least five years of experience in working with individuals with autism including assessment, programming, and support of these individuals is required. A minimum of two years of experience in an educational setting is required. Documented experience in, classroom teaching, and online content development and delivery of instructional content and instructional resources is preferred.
Skills: Comprehensive knowledge of current research-based instructional and assessment practices related to facilitating educational progress of public-school students with autism, including the identified autism evidence-based practices is required. Comfort in using and the ability to effectively use technology tools is required, including but not limited to, the use of mainstream office suites (including group calendaring and appointment/meetings), learning management systems, instructional design tools (slideshow software, graphic design, video editing), social media tools (podcasting, blogging, social media apps), research and data reporting tools (survey software, forms software), marketing tools (email marketing systems, list servs, web forum), and cloud-based storage systems. Strong verbal and written communication skills including effective public speaking skills and knowledge of strategies used to teach adult learners are required. The ability to efficiently research topics relevant to autism and maintain current knowledge of best practices in autism and educator training is required. The ability to critically evaluate IEPs, program plans, behavior support plans, and research data for relevance and scientific support is required.
Other: The scope of the position requires occasional out-of-town, state-wide travel and overnight stays to attend conferences, workshops, seminars, and to provide on-site consultation in the public schools.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Provides professional development training in autism to education staff including designing instruction, development of instructional media, constructing online workshops, and presenting to school personnel in person. Manages all aspects of planning, producing, and delivering instructional content through a variety of modalities, including synchronous and asynchronous, virtual and in-person. Uses knowledge of school operations and uses data collection and feedback to modify instruction and program planning as needed to ensure optimal outcomes based on best practices.2. Provides consulting services to schools via onsite observations and classroom coaching, evaluating school autism programs and providing best practice feedback, conducting assessments or training school teams to conduct assessment, and making programming recommendations consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and derivative legislation.
3. Develops and distributes materials that support training and consulting functions including but not limited to fact sheets, podcasts, social media posts, visual supports and classroom resources, slide shows and presentations, handouts, videos, and other media useful to educators.
4. Maintains professional competence and expands the knowledge base and ability of the agency to serve local education agencies (LEA) by maintaining a personnel professional growth strategy that may include but is not limed to attending professional development opportunities, researching, reading, and summarizing research information from books and peer-reviewed journals, networking with others who are knowledgeable in the field, and participating in university course work.
5. Promotes awareness of autism spectrum disorders and Project ACCESS services by assisting the program Director in the marketing of the Project via social media, by networking with educators, presenting at conferences, moderating online discussion forums, and authoring distributable branded content.
6. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds. Likewise interacts with school staff and students in a manner consistent with the BACB code of ethical conduct.
7. Collects and reports data to the Project, the University, the Director, and the state department of education that can be utilized to determine efficacy of efforts, compliance with financial management, and completion of contract deliverables with fidelity. Uses data effectively to inform practice and decision-making, and makes adjustments to materials and methods as appropriate.
8. Ensures training of Project ACCESS staff and monitors progress toward goals and effective delivery of services by new Project ACCESS staff.
9. Contributes to the overall success of the Project ACCESS office by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Autism Resource Specialist supervises Full-time, Part-time and other staff in the absence of the Director and Associate Director including graduate students and non-exempt staff.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED NOVEMBER 2023