Disability Rights Information Specialist

Job Description 

Disability Rights Information Specialist - (250000C6)

Description

Functional Title: Disability Rights Information Specialist

Pay Title: Program Coordinator I (NAGE BU6)

Agency: Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD)

Annual Salary: $63,031.80 - $64,942.28

Hours: Full-time – 37.5 hours

Schedule: Hybrid - office 2 days and remote 3 days per week

Location: One Ashburton Place, Boston

Note: First review of applications will occur on February 14, 2025.

What is the Massachusetts Office on Disability?

The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) is a small state agency (currently, a staff of 15) that provides information, guidance, and training on disability-related civil rights and architectural access to people with disabilities, employers, service providers, landlords, advocates, and state and local government. We help people understand their disability rights and obligations, how regulations apply to the specifics of their situation, and practical steps they can take to assert their rights and comply with the law.

Job Overview

The Disability Rights Information Specialist will work within the Disability Rights Unit, answering disability rights inquiries from the public by phone and email. Inquiries may cover matters related to reasonable accommodation, equal access, barrier removal, how to comply with disability rights laws, and more.

Job duties and responsibilities

1)    Orient callers to what type of issue they have (e.g. disability rights, tenant rights, consumer rights, customer service, looking for services) and point them in a useful direction, while setting realistic expectations.

2)    Answer disability rights inquiries from the public in topics such as employment, housing, state and local government, public accommodations, and transportation (typically done over the phone in 1-2 conversations, with email follow-ups):

a)    Assist individuals (including people with disabilities, advocates, landlords, employers, business owners, ADA Coordinators, local government) in defining their issues, goals and priorities.

b)    Discover the facts of the caller’s situation and use plain language to explain what disability rights laws say and how they apply to the specifics of the situation

c)    Perform research, as needed. This might be legal research into official guidance, wording of the law, or case law. It can also be research to clarify the caller’s situation or point them in a sensible direction.

d)    Assist callers in wording a reasonable accommodation request, verbally or in writing.

e)    Guide callers on the productive options the individual has for addressing their issue, including what they are legally required to do, best practice, practical approaches, and pointing them to organization that provide the assistance they need. Highlight key considerations in choosing how to proceed and set realistic expectations.

f)      Communicate and maintain clear boundaries: MOD is not an enforcement agency, so we do not report complaints, investigate, or enforce the law. We cannot intervene in disputes, advocate on behalf of callers or provide ongoing support. We give legal information, not legal advice or representation.

3)    Identify systemic issues and disability rights questions that MOD could address.

4)    Undertake individual or team projects, such as:

a)    Review or write new guidance and training materials for the public.

b)    Participate in outreach activities and events.

c)    Write or update internal reference materials.

5)    Maintain accurate records, provide information for reports and follow policies, including public records, protection of private information, and record retention.

What we are looking for

Essential:

• High level critical analysis skills and experience.
• Resilience to handle difficult conversations. Ability to think on your feet and direct a conversation productively and respectfully.
• Strong research skills to find and evaluate the information needed for someone’s situation.
• Problem solving skills and experience, such as resolving demanding customer service issues and complaints.
• Ability to communicate complex and nuanced information in digestible language and to adjust your communication depending on the individual’s needs.

·       Problem solving skills and experience, such as resolving demanding customer service issues and complaints.

• Reliable and cautiously independent. Excellent judgement for when to consult or ask questions to ensure that you never give out inappropriate guidance.
• Intellectual curiosity and skill at learning a lot of information.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, especially as part of a small team.
• Ability to work with computers, particularly Microsoft Office.
• Ability to travel within Massachusetts for events (possibly 1-2 days per year).

Valued:

·       Ability to put yourself in the shoes of people on both sides of a situation and imagine their experience and concerns. Ability to maintain neutrality and diplomatically give someone the benefit of a different perspective. You are accurate and wary of misinterpretations and assumptions.

• Skill writing concisely using plain language principles.
• Knowledge of disability rights laws and their complaint and enforcement procedures.
• Fluency in ASL or other languages commonly spoken in Massachusetts.

How to apply

To be considered for interview, your application must include ALL of the following:

1. A cover letter addressed to the Disability Rights Unit, explaining your interest in and suitability for the position

2. A resume

3. Your responses to our example scenario exercise. Please download the file and attach your edited version with your responses. Do not request edit access.

Interview Process

There will be 2 rounds of interviews.

1.    A virtual interview with a few members of MOD’s team

2.    A second-round interview, which may be in person so that applicants can complete a case scenario in the office to judge your analysis and problem-solving skills.

Benefits

Employee benefits include health insurance (75% employer paid), 10 vacation days (for new hires), 3 personal days, 12 holidays, and a generous pension plan with the ability to invest in a deferred compensation program

Diversity and Reasonable Accommodations

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.  We encourage minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact Meghan Sisk meghan.sisk2@mass.gov or 617-878-9889.  (Please do not contact Meghan with general questions about the position.) 

Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative or managerial experience in business administration, business management or public administration the major duties of which involved program management, program administration, program coordination, program planning and/or program analysis, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for the required experience.*

II. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major other than in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.*

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Official Title: Program Coordinator I

Primary Location

: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-1 Ashburton Place

Job

: Administrative Services

Agency

: Massachusetts Office On Disability

Schedule

: Full-time

Shift

: Day

Job Posting

: Jan 31, 2025, 12:04:13 PM

Number of Openings

: 2

Salary

: 2,424.30 - 2,497.78 Biweekly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Meghan Sisk - 6178789889

Bargaining Unit: 06-NAGE - Professional Admin.

Confidential: No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule: Yes