Position Summary

This ten-month position leads the design, coordination, and implementation of the HCOE WorkAbility I program services for Humboldt County high school students with disabilities and special education needs. Services include pre-employment training, career assessment, transition services, and the development and coordination of school-based and community-based job experiences for special needs youth based upon their interests and abilities, as well as providing various support services to help ensure successful job skills acquisition while in placement.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The WorkAbility Program Specialist serves as a key resource for high school special education teachers to ensure qualifying students receive support in their transition from high school to employment, postsecondary education, and independent living.  This requires strong collaboration with multiple programs to provide the WorkAbility I Array of Services either directly or indirectly for high school students with IEPs across Humboldt County.

Supervision Received and Exercised
This position reports to the Department Manager and serves under limited supervision, subject to organizational and program policies and procedures.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities (Examples of Essential Job Functions)

Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conducts one-on-one or small group career assessment, work-readiness, and self-advocacy lessons to high school students with special needs as a representative of the WorkAbility I team.
• Develops in-school and community-based job experiences for Life Skills and Special Day Class students possessing varying degrees of skills and abilities.
• Manages multiple student work crews throughout the county related to job skills development.
• Maintains inventories for student training programs, develops distributorships, and delivers products throughout the community for sale.
• Convenes and leads a quarterly WorkAbility Advisory Committee meeting consisting of special education staff and parents, employers, and public agencies such as the Department of Rehabilitation and the Redwood Coast Regional Center.
• Complies with special education laws, rules and regulations.
• Explains program regulations and guidelines upon request.
• Recommends appropriate skill development and training for students after careful analysis of the student’s abilities and interests and the nature of the work to be performed.
• May recommend specific vocational goals and objectives for inclusion in Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
• Represents the HCOE Workability program as a member of an IEP team and in interagency meetings.
• Monitors the progress of students while in job skills development and initiates modifications to skill development goals when appropriate.
• Provides small group and individual assistance related to job skill development.
• Assists special education teachers in developing and monitoring a student’s overall transition to achieve the highest independence possible.
• Demonstrates and models appropriate work skills and behaviors.
• Trains students to interact and communicate with public.
• Trains students in health and safety practices when working in community.
• May develop and conduct in-service programs for other staff and agency representatives upon request.
• Assists in the data gathering process for determining a student’s eligibility for subsidized services provided by the county office of education or other public agencies.
• Identifies barriers to employment and makes recommendations regarding ways or means of reducing/eliminating such barriers.
• May be required to serve on an on-call basis and/or to adjust work hours in a reasonable manner to accommodate the needs of students, parents, and/or employers and student work schedules.
• Makes referral to counselors, social workers, teachers, or other appropriate agency personnel when specialized services beyond the qualifications of the caseworker are required.
• Maintains records in compliance with program, audit and legal requirements.
• Enters all services to the WorkAbility database and files required back-up documentation.
• Performs follow-up calls and writes year-end report as required by the California Department of Education.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications (aka Employment Standards)

 Knowledge of

• Life Skills and Special Day classroom environments involving moderately and severely disabled students.
• Laws relating to employment of minors and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• WorkAbility I and Department of Rehabilitation program options and eligibility requirements.
• Appropriate career paths and future educational opportunities for eligible students.
• Various handicapping conditions and their effect upon productivity and worksite accommodations.
• Special education laws, rules, and regulations.

Ability to

• Work well with moderately and severely disabled high school students of varying ages, their family members, teachers, support staff, and agency personnel.
• Read and comprehend complex laws, rules and regulations.
• Organize work and communicate clearly and concisely.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Work independently as well as collaborate with others in a team setting.
• Meet established service goals.
• Exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Maintain accurate records and manage program tracking for program audit.
• Make formal presentations to small and large audiences with poise, confidence, and clarity.
• Adapt to changing work demands, including adjustments to work schedule, to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Work under varying degrees of stress.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups.
• Use appropriate software, including Google Drive, Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Read and comprehend fine print, such as contracts, spreadsheets, texts, catalogs, etc.
• Lift/move adaptive equipment, occasionally in excess of 50 pounds.
• Communicate effectively via telephone, email, and in person.

Education and Experience

Minimum Required: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education

Associate’s degree and/or technical school degree with study in the area of Special Education, career/vocational guidance, or a related field of study.  Bachelor’s Degree is preferred.

Experience

Two years of experience working with youth in a Life Skills or Special Day Class setting, (one year of experience as a vocational technician, rehabilitation technician, or similar experience may substitute one year of required experience).

Working Conditions (Work Environment)

The following conditions may be present:

• Will have a designated office space, but will provide services to local high schools and worksites throughout the county. This will require schedule flexibility and cooperation with the staff at each site.
• May be required to serve on an on-call basis and/or to adjust work schedule in a reasonable manner to accommodate the needs of students, parents and/or employers and student work schedules.
• Requires transporting to and supervising students at worksites. This may expose them to inclement weather, the public, and potentially uncooperative students and/or parents.
• Requires working with high school students with a variety of special education needs.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of the job, the employee may be required to:

• Stand, sit, and/or move about for sustained periods.
• Move about in non-traditional instructional environments ( e.g., areas of the community).
• Travel to multiple locations in a given day or during the work week.
• Participate in daily oral and written communication.
• Speaking and hearing ability to sufficiently hear over the phone and carry on routine conversations.

Operating a computer, calculator, copier and other equipment that involves repetitive arm and hand movements and hand-eye-arm and finger dexterity.

• Visual acuity sufficient to recognize people, words, and numbers.

Other Requirements

• Must be fingerprinted and a satisfactory Department of Justice records check must be received by HCOE prior to employment.
• TB testing and/or risk assessment will be required upon employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical (if applicable).
• May be required to obtain f]First Aid and CPR certificates within the first 12 months of employment.
• This position requires a California Driver’s License, proof of insurance, and possible participation in the DMV Pull Notice Program once employed.
• May require transportation of students and requirements associated with student transportation including background checks, medical examinations, drug and alcohol testing, and other requirements in accordance with SB88.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Range 12 | PC Approved 9/20/2022
Updated 6/8/2026
Approved 7/9/26