Education Advocate

The Education Advocate provides information and resources to families of students with disabilities to support their understanding of their rights and remedies under special education law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The Education Advocate supports client advocacy for people with disabilities by advising
families/students of their rights and providing them with appropriate information about available procedural safeguards and remedies and referrals to other sources of support. The Education Advocate also helps to create resources about rights and remedies to support parent self-advocacy.

Jobn Duties: 

• Provides to families with children with disabilities information about their procedural
  safeguards in special education over the phone.
• Provides short-term assistance to families with children with disabilities to support their self-advocacy. Short-term assistance may include reviewing records, reviewing school district policy, supported referrals to other advocacy organizations, and contacting school districts for information.
• On a case-by-case basis, the Education Advocate may attend an IEP meeting or other
  school meeting.
• Obtains and reviews documents including educational, medical, vocational, and
  employment records.
• In consultation with supervisor or legal staff, assists in making determinations concerning merits of complaints and legal rights violations.
• Refers/identifies cases where legal evaluation is necessary for resolution, or an increased level of assistance is supported by the facts and DRO’s priorities.
• Identifies trends and patterns and matters for systemic work and makes recommendations for changes in rules, policies, and practices, based on trends in case load, and review of information including client records and complaints.
• Maintains case files in accordance with state and federal legal and professional standards, tracks actual and appropriate hours on all matters.
• Attends conferences and participates in continuing education and professional
  development as assigned.
• Assists with development of materials for agency publications and conducts public
  speaking to clients and related groups as assigned.
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to mission of the P & A and to the civil rights of all people.
• Understanding of and commitment to client directed advocacy.
• Knowledge of community resources, service delivery systems, familiarity with statutes, rules and standards governing providers of education services to people with disabilities, including good knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• Proficiency in oral and written communication, computer literacy.
• Ability to work with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds and abilities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to deal effectively with and negotiate through confrontational situations and stressful interactions.
• Ability to manage a large number of cases.
• At least 5 years of experience providing information and resources to families about their rights and remedies in special education.
• Ability to travel.

Job Title: Education Advocate
Reports To: Education/Employment Team Leader
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
This is a bargaining unit position.

Disability Rights Ohio (DRO) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment activities based on any protected class. This job description is designed to be a good representation of the job requirements but is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee. Employment DRO is at-will; this job description does not constitute a contract of employment.