PROGRAM SUMMARY: Easterseals Academy is a therapeutic school that provides schooling for children with an autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. School districts refer students to Easterseals Academy where the schools provide an alternative school placement for these students to help them to achieve independence. Easterseals Academy has three campuses, located in Chicago, Machesney Park, and Tinley Park.

POSITION LOCATION: This position is located at the Easterseals Academy - Machesney Park Campus at 8301 Mitchelle Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: This position has clinical, communication, and professional development components.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Clinical:

• Complete functional behavioral assessment or behavior evaluation for student IEP's or behavior programs
• Develop and update behavior intervention plans quarterly, for EDC or AR meetings, and 30-day reviews and throughout the school year as needed in collaboration with educational and clinical teams
• Develop emergency behavior treatment plans for students on caseload as needed
• Monitor all behavior intervention plans for students on caseload on an ongoing basis throughout the school year
• Conduct and document monthly check-in meetings with classrooms and identified implementers of all behavior intervention plans on caseload throughout the school year
• Implement and track school-wide reinforcement/positive behavior support system linking classroom behaviors to a reward system for all students throughout the school year
• Participate in IEP/FIE/30-day review meetings for students on caseload throughout the school year
• Participate in all scheduled clinical meetings throughout the school year
• Participate in all scheduled classroom team meetings for students on caseload throughout the school year
• Participate in all scheduled medical case review meetings for students on caseload throughout the school year
• Observe students in crisis and evaluate, provide recommendations, and support

Communication:

• Establish and maintain consistent communication with the parents/guardians of students on caseload throughout the school year
• Interact with administration and classroom staff regarding clinical recommendations written
• Provide support, resources, and recommendations for all classrooms on caseload as needed throughout the school year
• Quarterly check-in meetings with agency behavior consultants regarding students on their caseloads
• Participate in agency-wide behavior review committee meetings as needed

Professional Development:

• Participate in at least 2 outside trainings per school year directly related to serving students with disabilities, particularly those diagnosed with autism, behavior management techniques, evidenced-based practices (ABA, Positive Behavior Support, etc.), etc
• Participate in all scheduled in-house training throughout the school year
• Orientate new teachers and clinicians on behavior programs
• Provide ongoing in-servicing/training to staff members on behavioral management strategies and interventions
• Provide 2 in-services individually or in conjunction with another clinical area, for the entire staff
• Provide 2 inter-department pieces of training regarding evidenced-based practices (ABA, Positive Behavior Support, etc.)
• Supervise Masters-level behavior analysis interns
• All other duties as assigned

Education/Certification:

• Master’s degree (or potential graduation date) in Applied Behavior Analysis or a related field
• Must obtain or be willing to obtain national certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) within 3 years of employment, and such certification must be maintained throughout employment

Experience Required:

• Working knowledge of Illinois State Board of Education guidelines for behavioral intervention
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders and/or related disabilities and co-occurring challenging behaviors
• Experience in the development and implementation of positive behavior support plans based upon principles of behavior analysis

Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to multi-task in a high-stress environment
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities
• Ability to perform all functions necessary to obtain certification in agency-required crisis prevention and intervention training, and CPR
• Ability to participate in all Department of Human Services training requirements

ADA: Easter Seals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.