Anderson Center for Autism

Are you a compassionate, mission-driven person seeking a clear, meaningful career path with robust benefits and opportunities for professional advancement?

Do you want to help adults with autism enjoy the sense of belonging, autonomy, and purpose that we all deserve to experience, while likewise having the chance to fully thrive as well?

As a Day Habilitation Specialist at our Wappingers Falls (Wappingers Falls, NY) location, you can enrich life for autistic individuals in meaningful ways by fostering independence, promoting skill acquisition, and empowering them to achieve the personal goals that allow them to shine. Through structured programming, community experiences, and activities designed to build skills (like learning how to cook or garden, use technology, express themselves artistically, and more confidently communicate), you can optimize the quality of life for the adults we serve.

And, in doing so, you can enhance your own well-being too; this role is often the first stop on an exciting, fulfilling career trajectory that can empower you to thrive - now and in the future!

What You Will Do as a Day Habilitation Specialist

• You will offer nurturing support as you ensure day-to-day safety, supervision, and engagement of our program participants, maintaining direct accountability for ensuring that Individualized Service Plan (ISP) goals are carried out in real-world settings.
• You will attend to the educational, physical, social, and emotional needs of residents, while assisting the team with goal-oriented and structured daily programming and data collection in an assigned service delivery area.
• You will help program participants gain an understanding of social, daily living, and self-advocacy skills that help them enjoy a more self-directed journey.
• You will help facilitate activities and plan outings designed to help practice ISP goals.
• You will work with colleagues to develop and implement Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) that meet OPWDD requirements for each participant in their service delivery area.
• You will assist in the residential home and transport to our Lifelong Learning Centers (located in either Pleasant Valley, Poughkeepsie, or Saugerties).
• You will help ensure that high-quality services are provided and supported at all times.
• You will help create a culture of unconditional positive regard that maximizes strengths while effectively navigating any challenges that arise.

• Dependability, compassion, and a genuine desire to foster independence and self-worth for individuals with autism while participating in vocational and recreational activities alongside them.
• Alignment with our mission and values.
• An openness to mentorship and ongoing guidance as you navigate your role.
• Adaptability, integrity, strong interpersonal skills, and an ability to be present.
• A desire to potentially explore our career tracks, which may advance you from this position to other roles such as Instructor, Supervisor, Manager, Program Specialist, Behavior Specialist, and more. 

• Have earned a High School Diploma or GED.
• Hold a valid NYS Driver's License, and that you obtain and maintain agency driving privileges.
• Are 21 years of age or older.
• Are capable at all times of initiating or assisting in all components of crisis intervention should needs arise.
• Obtain and subsequently maintain qualifications in all health, safety and crisis intervention procedures of the agency, such as First Aid, CPR, SCIP-R and medication administration certification.
• Complete agency training.
• Fulfill all mandated reporting requirements, ensure compliance with agency policies, and adhere to organizational protocols.

• Up to 6 weeks of paid time off (starting in your first year!)
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match and annual contribution
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Wellness program
• Ongoing professional development
• Discounted tuition at select colleges/universities
• Scholarship program for those seeking educational experiences aligned with the role (*restrictions apply)
• Invitations to staff appreciation events and experiences
• And much, much more!

To get a better understanding of the benefits that will be available to you, visit andersoncenterforautism.org/benefit.

Pay Range: $20.00 - $24.25 Hourly / commensurate with experience
and education.

Hours: Monday - Friday:  7:30am-3:30pm

Ready to Bring Your Purpose to Life?
A bright future for you begins here at Anderson Center for Autism.
Open the door to a rewarding career with advancement opportunities; expand possibilities for yourself AND for individuals with autism, their families, your colleagues, our cause, and society as a whole!

Apply today. You’ll contribute to a meaningful mission, now and for years to come!

Life as Part of our Anderson Center for Autism Team
If you are looking to build a career that brings you a deep sense of purpose and a high quality of life, Anderson Center for Autism might be just the landing place you’ve envisioned.

Here you will enjoy a supportive, friendly work environment that values your ideas and insights, provides rewarding mentorship experiences, and opens doors to new professional opportunities that can transform your journey.

And by working at Anderson, you will be part of a movement so much bigger than all of us. Founded over 100 years ago (in 1924), our award-winning, evidence-based educational, vocational, residential, clinical, and consulting/training programs have successfully optimized the quality of life for individuals with autism for decades now. In addition, we work every day to cultivate a broader culture of acceptance in society, further adding to the legacy of compassion for which we have come to be known throughout the country and around the world.

In addition to a rewarding career experience, as part of our team you’ll also enjoy competitive pay, a generous retirement plan (including employer match and annual contribution), abundant vacation time, robust benefits, ongoing opportunities for learning and advancement, wellness programs, staff appreciation events, and a chance to work alongside wonderful professionals in a positive environment.

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This position description in no way states or implies that the responsibilities listed are the only duties to be performed by the person filling this position. The person in the position may be required to perform other duties as necessitated by the situation or requested by his/her supervisor.

Anderson Center for Autism is committed to providing a diverse workforce by ensuring that discrimination barriers to equal employment opportunity and upward mobility do not exist here. Equal opportunity means employment, development, and promotion of individuals without consideration of race, color, disability, religion, age, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, unless there is a bona fide occupational requirement which excludes a person in one of these protected groups. Anderson Center for Autism is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

EOE