Assistive Technology Specialist Trainee

Department Information

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADO ONLY.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5:00 PM ON MONDAY, JULY 8TH, 2024

There are multiple openings for this position. These positions are considered hybrid roles; one is housed in the Denver Metro DVR office while the other may be housed in either the Loveland DVR office or the Denver Metro office based on the applicant's preference. Reporting requirements to the office are at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business need.

The Department of Labor and Employment keeps Colorado strong and competitive. We connect workers with great jobs and assist those who have been injured on the job. We help people who are unemployed through no fault of their own by providing temporary wage replacement and we ensure fair labor practices. We provide an up-to-date and accurate picture of the economy that helps in decision making. And we protect the workplace - and Colorado communities - with a variety of consumer protection and safety programs.

This is a values-driven organization, committed to accountability, agility, collaboration, and respect. We believe in outstanding customer service, an inclusive culture, continued process improvement and in our role as a trusted and strategic partner. Recognizing that knowledgeable employees drive our success, we are seeking dedicated individuals who exhibit our shared values and our passion for quality and excellence in all we do.

In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer excellent benefits:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution

• Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• MotivateMe employee wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Access to participate in employer-supported employee affinity spaces

• RTD Eco-Pass Commuter Program

• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information go to https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs

Our agency website: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

CDLE has implemented a pilot program on March 1st, 2022 which will award Disability Hiring Preference Points similar to the Veterans' Preference Points program. During your application process you will be asked if you would like to be considered for either of these programs for additional points in the hiring process. To learn more about Disability Hiring Preference and what will be required to participate, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/state.co.us/disability-hiring-preference/home

PLEASE NOTE: With the beginning of this program, CDLE will no longer accept attachments of any kind with applications. Please be as thorough as possible in documenting your education and work history in the application system. Attachments will not be accepted or considered during any phase of the hiring process including minimum qualification screening, comparative analysis, or interviews.

Description of Job

Classification: Training Specialist II (H4I2XX)

Salary Range:

$23.97 - $31.16 Hourly

$1,917.23 - $2,492.77 Biweekly

$4,154.00 - $5,401.00 Monthly

$49,848.00 - $64,812.00 Annually

Description of Job:

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation helps individuals with disabilities prepare for and secure employment. We help them take their rightful place in the workforce and in the community. The Personal Adjustment Training Unit exists to assist individuals whose primary disability is blindness or visual impairment in attaining a level of functioning that will enable them to enter, re-enter, or maintain employment and enhance skills necessary for living independently.

This position, as a trainee working alongside a highly specialized team of professionals, exists within the Personal Adjustment Training Unit to train individuals who have severe visual and/or other disabilities. This position provides training on accessible computer and phone programs, and other assistive technologies for persons served by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Provides instruction in the use of assistive technology and computer and phone application programs for personal, educational, and vocational use, including but not limited to JAWS, ZoomText, and VoiceOver. This individual will be responsible for conducting individualized interviews with persons we serve to determine the nature and scope of training needed to meet client expectations. They will be responsible for formulating instructional plans and providing appropriate instruction to meet the needs of students, including monitoring student performance, satisfaction, progress, and outcomes. This position is designed to be reallocated to a Training Specialist III within 5 years of the hire date provided all training and performance standards are met. Reallocation to a Training Specialist III will require obtaining Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist for Individuals with Visual Impairments (CATIS) certification.

The duties for the positions are as follows:

Assistive Technology Instruction

• Conducts individualized interviews with person we serve to determine the nature and scope of assistive technology training (under supervision and guidance of team leadership).

• Monitors performance, satisfaction, progress, and outcomes. Has ability to formulate instructional plans (under supervision and guidance of team leadership) and provide appropriate instruction to meet the needs of the person we serve.

• Analyzes performance and determines trends, changes and effectiveness to formulate conclusions and recommendations to the training plan.

• Implements pre-developed course materials, class concepts, objectives and content for specific computer training in order to meet individuals' computer training needs.

• Addresses foundational training needs of a person we serve and collaborates with other work group members on advanced individualized training needs.

• Use Microsoft Office products, e-mail system, and the Internet, plus specialized software/hardware for persons who are blind and/or visually impaired, including but not limited to JAWS, ZoomText, and VoiceOver.

• Complies with Federal and State regulations regarding expenditure of funds, consults with supervisor regarding budgetary needs for this training area.

• Maintains, tests, and modifies software and other adaptations of computer systems as needed for persons with disabilities who attend this program.

Information, Assimilation, and Analysis

• Prepares written reports (under supervision and guidance of team leadership) with recommendations for training programs, software, hardware, and other training needs.

• Documents performance of a person we serve in conjunction with established vocational plans to accomplish goals and objectives in the plan.

Empowerment and Adjustment

• Evaluate teaching needs in a variety of settings (work, home, community), and modify teaching needs that change during evaluation and service delivery throughout the rehabilitation process, counsel persons we serve to develop training goals, identify service needs and plan appropriate types and duration of training services (under supervision and guidance of team leadership), and document progress towards meeting plan objectives, develop relationships with employers and other agencies and coordinate and collaborate with other agencies when appropriate and provide follow-up as needed.

• Maximize services and ensure cost effective use of tax dollars.

• Facilitate the empowerment of blind individuals and their families by providing adjustment counseling and assistance in accessing peer networks and community resources.

Professional Development

• Possess working knowledge of Federal and State policies/regulations and legislation as well as various changes and updates; meet established individual production goals; knowledge of medical terminology; investigate updated and current technologies and training techniques; research equipment to meet individual's needs.

• Participate in staff meetings and in-service training/conferences, consult with peers and other professionals within and outside the agency, read professional literature to assure optimum level of professional competency in teaching/counseling techniques, staying abreast of emerging assistive technology in the field, and provide specialized training in the community to increase public knowledge of issues pertaining to blindness in a variety of environments.

• Designates the necessary time to obtain educational and work experience required to be eligible for advancement to a Training Specialist III (Assistive Technology Specialist).

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor degree in Assistive Technology, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Special Education, or a closely related human services field such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, Disability Studies, Behavioral Science, Special Education, Adult Education, Counseling, Information Technology, or Computer Science.

AND

One year of professional experience in providing services and education to individuals with disabilities in Assistive Technology and/or ongoing education to include volunteer and internships as part of ongoing professional education and development.

OR

A combination of related education(as stated above) and/or relevant experience (as stated above) in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to five (5) years

Condition of Employment

You must obtain the Assistive Technology Specialist credential within 5 years of your start date in order to advance to the Training Specialist III position. This position is designed to transition into a Assistive Technology Specialist (Training Specialist III).

Required Competencies:

• Ability to instruct techniques for integrating assistive technology, devices, hardware and software into the individual's daily activities including home and work.

• Ability to apply learning styles and learning theory to suit the individual's need.

• Ability to create a training plan specific to individual's abilities, goals and needs and adjust scope, structure and pace of instruction to the individual's learning style and capacity for new information.

• Ability to determine the necessary and appropriate assistive technology devices, hardware, and software for the person's individualized needs, goals, skill level, and degree of vision loss.

• Ability to instruct basic to intermediate screen reader skills, including JAWS, VoiceOver, etc.

• Ability to instruct typing skills via accessible platforms.

• Proficient in Windows.

• The ability to instruct basic to intermediate screen magnification software skills, including ZoomText, Windows Magnifier, etc

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Screen Reading Software and/or Screen Magnification Software.

• Experience with Blind and Low Vision services.

• Technical training in Assistive Technology for individuals who are blind/visually impaired.

• Technical training in mainstream computer hardware and/or software.

• Professional experience working to assist people with disabilities to achieve successful employment outcomes.

• Experience in vocational counseling, career counseling, and/or academic advisement.

• Performing duties similar to those assigned to the position as a classified State of Colorado employee

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be a Colorado resident at time of application.

• Must pass a thorough background check prior to employment, which will include E-verify.

• These positions are considered hybrid roles, and remote work will be available based on business need and at the discretion of the supervisor.

• There are multiple openings for this position; one is housed in the Denver Metro DVR office while the other may be housed in either the Loveland DVR office or the Denver Metro office based on the applicant's preference.

• You must obtain the Assistive Technology Specialist credential within 5 years of your start date in order to advance to the Training Specialist III position. This position is designed to transition into a Training Specialist III, Assistive Technology Specialist.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department's action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.

Supplemental Information

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact: david.stevenson@state.co.us

Minimum Qualification Screening

A Human Resources Analyst will only review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of the official State of Colorado online application, CDLE does not accept attachments of any kind during the application process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience and qualifications must be specifically documented on your online application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application. CDLE does not accept attachments of any kind during the application process.

Comparative Analysis Process - Structured Application Review

After minimum qualification screening and the online skills test, the comparative analysis process for this position will involve a review and rating of all the information you submit with your application materials. Therefore, it is extremely important to document in the work experience/job duties portion of your online application the extent to which you possess the education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications as outlined in the job announcement. It is also important to thoroughly answer all supplemental questions (if listed) as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase.

Supplemental Questions

Answer the supplemental questions on the application completely and thoughtfully. Your answers may be rated based on your writing ability (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing) as well as the content of your answer.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE VACANCIES

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Sean Montoya, at sean.montoya@state.co.us. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For all other inquiries about this recruitment effort, please call 303-318-8200.

While a salary range is posted for this position, an eventual salary offer is determined by a comprehensive salary analysis, which considers multiple factors including but not limited to education and experience compared to others in the organization doing substantially similar work.