General Summary

Provides leadership, staff development and technical assistance to Program clusters and classroom staff in the planning, development, implementation, management, and evaluation of disability for the Head Start 0-5 Program.  Assists the staff to identify and support the children with disabilities to meet their special needs and those of their parents.  Plans and schedules arrangements with other agencies to assure timely efficient services.

Primary Responsibilities

1.  Serves as a training and technical assistance resource and works closely with staff to achieve qualitative and quantitative disabilities outcomes by providing instructional material, performing on-site assessments and analysis, developing and providing training for identified issues.

2.  Organizes, schedules, and participates in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal meetings, to include:  the compilation of appropriate documents, progress reports and assist families to have input on developing individual goals as they participate in the Individualized Education (IEP) and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).IEP’s and progress reports.

3.  Utilize the inter-agency referral form to track and assure that children with disabilities concerns are referred and receive the necessary services in a timely manner.

4.  Assures that all children receiving services for disabilities have been professionally diagnosed within a timeline that is in accordance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards.

5.  Designs systems and processes and recommends practices in the disability content area to support the growth and development of children and parents, and to assure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, School Readiness Goals and other applicable requirements.  Works closely with other content areas to provide comprehensive services and strategies.

6. Guides the development of an efficient system for documentation and reporting for the disability services, including instruments used to assess and measure the number of disability services provided and assures compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards and other applicable requirements.

7.  Assist in collecting and analyzing child outcome data from the LAP-D, and track on a monthly basis to determine training and technical assistance needs, trends and areas of improvement.

8.  Provides documentation, prepares reports and other data as directed to include supplies, equipment, training and other costs as directed by the immediate supervisor.

9.  Provide and/or coordinate training and educational opportunities for parents and develop links to area-related agencies and organizations.

10.  Utilizes and maintains current information, material, guides and other resources and community organizations and disseminates materials to staff on a regular basis.

11.  Assist staff in the selection of materials and equipment being used in the classroom at a given time to meet the needs of special needs children.

12.  Support cluster staff with concerns of the classroom environment that impede learning and inclusion of children with special needs. Guides staff and parents concerning screening, assessments, referrals, and strategies to support student needs.

13.  Participate in the planning, implementation and reporting in the disability service area of the annual self-assessment, PIR, annual report, and community needs assessment.

14.  Guides the development of annual quantitative and qualitative goals and objectives for disability services in the Head Start Program including each cluster area and the classroom.

15.  Networks with community organizations in order to promote the Head Start Program.

16.  Assist with classroom duties and child-staff ratio as needed.

17.   Complies with the Program’s confidentiality policy.

18.   Any other duty as assigned by the Head Start Education Director.

Work Experience

● At least 3 years experience in Head Start

 Education/Certifications/Licensure

● Baccalaureate degree preferably related to the discipline they oversee.
● Additional annual certification and training in the following are required:  First Aid Certification and Adult and Infant/Toddler CPR Certification.
● Must attend 24 clock hours of professional development and staff training per year to include training on methods to handle suspected or known child abuse and neglect cases, that comply with applicable federal, state, local and tribal laws, training that builds their knowledge, experience and competencies to improve child and family outcomes and any other trainings as outlined by the Head Start Program Performance Standards and Minimum Standards from the State of Texas.
● Ensure disability coordinators have sufficient training, experience, and competency to be able to effectively fulfill the responsibilities of their role(s),

Skills Required

● Good communication skills in written and oral forms are necessary. 
● Computer skills and experience in maintaining automated recordkeeping systems are required. 
● Bilingual ability (Spanish/English) is preferred. 

Physical Requirements

If a preliminary offer of employment is extended, a physical will be required before the offer can be accepted.

Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 10 lbs., and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
 
Working Conditions:                                                                                                                                                  Work is performed in a classroom/office setting where minimal exposure to injury exists. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours and average at least 40 hrs. Per week. There will be work variations in work hours due to employee special projects, and deadlines.