Under administrative direction, plans, implements and evaluates prescriptive developmental and behavior interventional programs for individual with developmental disabilities; provides functional supervision over developmental technicians; assist in training professionals, paraprofessionals and/or parents in conducting developmental programs; working towards remedial treatment of developmental disabilities; performs other duties as required. Provision of developmental and behavior interventional services is the Developmental Specialist’s/Behavior Interventionist’s primary job responsibility.
Individual Related Programming
- Individual Training: Participates in the development and implementation of training programs to insure that both frequency and quality are adequate; conducts individual, group, and community therapy sessions.
- Program Evaluation: Monitors and evaluates the progress or the lack thereof, of individuals and recommends treatment plan adjustments.
- Program Preparations: Identifies and prepares necessary resources and materials needed to facilitate treatment goals.
- Program Coordination: Under supervisory direction, coordinates treatment programs with inter–related programs such as social work, psychology, communication disorders, occupational therapy, physical therapy; may coordinate services with other public and private agencies and resources; may consult with parents/residential care providers regarding individual’s progress, specific disabilities, deficiencies and delays.
Individual Supervision
Supervision of Daily Routines: Oversees staff supervision of individuals and individuals while involved in treatment activities; when training staff or working directly with individuals, follows daily schedules and related training procedures.
Support Services
Work with individuals to develop independence in household chores by assisting with lunch preparation and everyday cleaning activities.
Record Keeping: Ensures that necessary program documentation is completed in a timely and complete manner.
Ensure maintenance of facility.
Communication
- Staff Meetings: Attends general staff meetings as requested.
- Staff Supervision: Supervises assigned developmental technicians.
- Developmental Program Training: Demonstrates specific therapy techniques related to the long and short term objectives; participates in staff training procedures; makes special needs known to senior staff.
Service Related Programming
- Latchkey Developmental Program: Under supervisory direction, initiates, develops, implement, and coordinate daily living skills therapy to school–age individuals with developmental and learning disabilities; supervise direct training professionals with treatment modalities and delivery; supervise and assist school–age individuals with their daily living therapy and social interaction; provide support and coordination to family, guardian, school, and/or residential.
- Summer School–Aged Program: Under supervisory direction, initiates, develops, implement, and coordinate daily living skills therapy to school–age individuals with developmental and learning disabilities; incorporate each child’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and integrate it into Plan of Service system to encourage development in affective development, communication, and sensory motor areas; ensure that the prescriptive developmental program is efficient, dynamic, and promotes health, comfort, and safety of the individual.
Minimal Qualifications
- Must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a human services field from a nationally accredited university or college.
- Must be able to provide documentation of one (1) year’s supervised experience working with children with developmental disabilities. Experience must be gained through paid employment or university practicum experience or internship;
- Must complete competency coursework approved by the Department to demonstrate competencies related to the requirements to provide behavior intervention; or
- Individuals working as Developmental Specialists for children age birth through three (3) or three (3) through 17, and individuals certified as Intensive Behavioral Intervention professionals prior to July 1, 2011, are qualified to provide behavior intervention. The individual must meet the requirements of the Department-approved competency coursework by June 30, 2013 to maintain their certification.