Independent Living Resources

Independent Living Resources

JOB DESCRIPTION 

INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALIST

Veterans Directed Care (VDC)

Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC)

TO APPLY:  Send Cover Letter and Resume to hr@ilr.org 

JOB DETAILS:

Work Location(s): Portland Area

Current FLSA Status: Non-exempt in Trial Work Period

Salary: $55,000 - $58,000, Hourly: $28.21 - $29.75

Exempt: Following Certifications and Trial Work Period

Salary: $61,000 - $65,000, Hourly: $31.29- $33.34

Type: Regular

Initial Pay Status: Hourly/Salary

Reports to: ILR Executive Director

Technical Assistance From: 

IL Services Coordinator, VDC Coordinator

Employee: 

MAIN PURPOSE & GOAL

The Independent Living Specialist position is trained as an ADRC Information & Referral Specialist, and Options Counselor, and Veterans Directed Care Specialist

MOST IMPORTANT TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Information & Referral Specialist: (25%) Respond to assigned ADRC resource inquiries from consumers, and document contacts in the Get Care portal

  • Become ADRC Info & Referral/Options Counseling Certified in Q2 2026

  • Reach out to 10-12 +/- assigned I & R consumer inquiries per week

  • Communicate consistently re call-backs to IL Services Coordinator
     

• Short-Term Options Counseling:  (25%) Resource planning for consumers

  • 4 – 6 appointments per week

  • Use Get Care online ADRC resource portal for charting contacts

  • Caseload 10 - 12 (closed after goals and task list plan developed)
     

• Veterans Directed Care Specialist: (30-40%) Train & Build VDC Caseload

  • After 6 to 8 weeks in ADRC, train in the VDC Program

  • Shadow, train and support VDC Coordinator for 2 months 

  • Build and manage services for a caseload of 10 - 12 VDC consumers

  • Provide backup for the VDC Coordinator’s Caseload (vacations, absence)
     

• Consumer Services: 

  • Assist people with disabilities to explore community resource options.

  • Help individuals develop self-advocacy skills, and live independently

• Representation and Outreach

  • Participate in assigned outreach events.

  • Represent ILR on local/state work-groups and/or committees, as needed
     

• Social Media Content Contribution: Write one engaging story per quarter for
  ILR’s social media editor on topics related to your scope of work at ILR
   

• Other duties as assigned.

MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS, VALUES & QUALITIES

• Work or personal life experience in disability services.

• Soft skills: organization, attention to detail, big-picture approach, analytical, etc.

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus but not required 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Recent MSW graduates with experience in goal-setting, home-based skills training and accessing Portland Metro Area safety net resources are preferred.

• BSW and/or various undergraduate majors with related off-setting experience in the above areas will also be competitive.

• Comfort working with marginalized populations

• Ability to understand and present complex concepts in a simplified way to VDC and ADRC consumers and/or those with varying abilities

• Ability to become a Certified Options Counselor after completing training program

• Ability to travel to veteran home locations in the Portland Metro area

• Ability to work via Zoom or telephone appointments for I & R, Options Counseling 

• Valid Driver’s License or access to transportation for outreach activities, service delivery, meetings, and events.

• Must be able to pass a criminal history background check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Mobility: The role may be performed by individuals who use mobility aids (e.g., wheelchairs, walkers). The workspace includes travel for home-visits with varying degrees of accessibility.

• Lifting: Minimal lifting required. Assistance is available for lifting tasks.

• Vision: Tasks can be adapted for individuals with visual impairments. Screen readers and other assistive technologies are supported.

• Hearing: The work environment welcomes users of hearing aids and other assistive devices.  Written, visual, or sign language communication are options..

• Manual Dexterity: Tasks can be adjusted for individuals with limited manual dexterity. Adaptive tools and technologies will be considered as accommodations.

• Work Environment: Flexible work arrangements, including limited remote work may be an option. The workspace is inclusively designed and accommodating.

POTENTIAL FOR CAREER PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES

• Diversification of work scope over time

• Opportunities to “pilot” new resources, support groups, courses for ILR

The Organization will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship for ILR.  

Independent Living Resources provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Independent Living Resources (ILR) is a Center for Independent Living (CIL) tracing our roots back to 1957. We are a peer-based disability service center, part of a national network of more than 500 CILs with shared core values and core services. Our vision is to offer people with all types of disabilities Information & Referral, Options/Peer Counseling, Skills Training, Transition Services to Independent Community Living and Self-Advocacy/Systems Advocacy. We are a staff of about 12 people with at any time two graduate social work students completing field work at our site. While most of the ILR staff are people with disabilities themselves, we are also professionals with certifications as Information & Referral Specialists, ADRC Options Counselors, Psychologists, Work Incentives Coordinators and Public Health Advocates.