Paid Disability Support Intern

Organization Overview 

PosAbilities Academy, LLC d/b/a PosAbilities Center provides structured, person-centered programs and operational supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization focuses on independence, social engagement, community participation, life skills, vocational readiness, quality improvement, and inclusive programming in a supervised human services environment. 

PosAbilities Academy, LLC d/b/a PosAbilities Center is a proud participant in the InternshipsVA program. #InVA 

Position Summary 

PosAbilities Center is seeking Paid Disability Support Interns / Seasonal Program Assistants for structured summer programming. This internship provides supervised, hands-on experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in group-based program activities. Interns will receive training, mentorship, and feedback while assisting with activities, transitions, communication support, social engagement, skill-building routines, and inclusive recreational programming. 

Internship Purpose 

The purpose of this internship is to provide students with practical, career-connected exposure to disability services and person-centered support. Interns will learn how structured programming, positive support strategies, teamwork, safety awareness, and respectful communication support meaningful participation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

InternshipsVA Alignment 

This is a paid internship and seasonal non-exempt employee position. 

The internship will meet or exceed 6 months.

The intern will be paid through payroll and will not be classified as a 1099 independent contractor. 

The internship includes defined learning objectives, supervised work assignments, mentorship, and professional feedback. 

For InternshipsVA-supported placement, the intern must be currently enrolled or intend to enroll in the upcoming semester at a Virginia public or private 2-year or 4-year college or university, have a high school diploma or GED, and must not have already completed an undergraduate degree. 

The employer is responsible for sourcing, selecting, onboarding, hiring, supervising, and managing the intern. 

Essential Responsibilities 

Support participants during structured group activities, recreational activities, social engagement, and daily routines. 

Assist with arrival routines, departure routines, transitions, snack/lunch routines, movement breaks, and activity flow. 

Prepare, organize, and clean up materials for instructional, recreational, and skill-building activities. 

Encourage communication, participation, cooperation, independence, and respectful peer interaction. 

Use person-centered language and positive support strategies under staff direction. 

Observe and learn basic prompting, reinforcement, transition support, visual supports, and environmental structure. 

Follow participant support instructions as trained by program leadership. 

Communicate participant needs, safety concerns, incidents, or barriers to lead staff promptly. 

Participate in staff check-ins, debriefs, coaching, and supervision meetings. 

Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times. 

Learning Objectives 

Develop foundational understanding of intellectual and developmental disabilities and individualized support needs. 

Apply person-centered support practices that promote dignity, choice, communication, and participation. 

Learn how structured group activities are planned, adapted, and implemented for participants with varying support needs. 

Observe and practice basic positive support strategies such as prompting, reinforcement, redirection, transition support, and environmental structure. 

Build professional communication skills with supervisors, team members, participants, and families as appropriate. 

Develop safety awareness and understand when to seek staff support or escalate concerns. 

Explore career pathways in special education, ABA, psychology, human services, social work, therapy-related fields, recreation therapy, and disability services. 

Supervision and Mentorship 

The intern will be supervised by a Program Lead, Program Manager, Executive Director, or designee. Supervision will include orientation, role-specific coaching, observation, feedback, and opportunities to reflect on learning. Interns will not be assigned duties beyond their training, role, or authorized access level. 

Initial orientation to the organization, role, policies, and professional expectations. 

Regular supervisor or mentor check-ins. 

Task-specific coaching and review of assigned work. 

Midpoint feedback and/or progress discussion. 

Final evaluation focused on professional growth, reliability, communication, confidentiality, and role-specific skills. 

Required Qualifications 

High school diploma or GED. 

For InternshipsVA-supported placement, current enrollment or intent to enroll in the upcoming semester at a Virginia college or university and no completed undergraduate degree. 

Interest in special education, psychology, ABA, human services, social work, therapy-related fields, recreation therapy, or disability services. 

Reliability, professionalism, patience, and willingness to learn. 

Ability to work as part of a team in an active program environment. 

Completion of required onboarding, training, background checks, and health/safety requirements before working with participants. 

Complete this questionnaire in order to be considered: PosAbilities Internship Screening Questionnaire – Fill out form

Preferred Qualifications 

Coursework or experience related to disabilities, education, psychology, ABA, human services, or therapy-related fields. 

Prior volunteer, work, or academic experience with children, teens, or adults with disabilities. 

Strong communication skills and comfort supporting group activities and transitions. 

Interest in future employment in disability services, education, therapy, behavioral health, recreation, or human services. 

Role Limitations and Internal Controls 

The intern may assist with assigned duties under supervision but may not independently perform restricted duties or make final organizational decisions. The intern may not independently: 

Develop behavior plans or make clinical decisions. 

Lead crisis response unless specifically trained and authorized. 

Administer medication unless separately authorized under policy and applicable requirements. 

Transport participants unless specifically approved, insured, and documented. 

Work with participants before required onboarding, background checks, and training are complete. 

Access participant information beyond the minimum necessary for the assigned role. 

All intern work must be reviewed by the assigned supervisor or authorized leadership before being finalized, submitted, or used for official purposes. 

Confidentiality and Professional Conduct 

The intern may have access to sensitive business, participant, employee, financial, compliance, or operational information depending on the assigned internship track. The intern must maintain strict confidentiality, complete required confidentiality training, and follow all PosAbilities Academy documentation, privacy, and records-management procedures. 

Physical and Environmental Expectations 

This role occurs in an active in-person program environment. Interns should be able to stand, walk, sit, bend, move throughout the day, assist with setup and cleanup, and support indoor and outdoor activities as appropriate. 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

PosAbilities Academy, LLC d/b/a PosAbilities Center is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity, professionalism, inclusion, and respect for individuals with disabilities, families, staff, interns, and community partners.