Client Assistance Program (CAP) Advocate

Client Assistance Program (CAP) Advocate

ABOUT DISABILITY JUSTICE

Disability Justice is a nonprofit civil rights organization. Over the last 50 years, we’ve led the fight for dignity and inclusion — recognizing, as Dr. King did, that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Our team of advocates, attorneys, and investigators forms Colorado’s Protection and Advocacy system. Our goal: to make Colorado the best place in America for people with disabilities to live, work, and thrive.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Client Assistance Program (CAP) Advocate provides advocacy for clients who have complaints about services they have or have not received from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and Centers for Independent Living (CILs). The CAP Advocate gathers information from clients, provides clients with information about their rights and options, reviews DVR and CIL case files, and facilitates information-gathering and dispute resolution between clients and DVR/CIL staff.

The CAP Advocate stays current on the laws and regulations governing DVR and CILs and provides training to DVR and CIL staff on CAP. As appropriate, the CAP Advocate also coordinates with other Disability Justice staff on cases, community trainings, and outreach.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The CAP Advocate reports directly to one of the Co-Legal Directors. The CAP Advocate has no direct reports.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responds promptly to newly assigned clients and manages cases from initial contact through resolution.
• Gathers information from clients and investigates complaints of wrongful denial or delay of services by DVR or CILs, including outright/constructive denials, process barriers, and communication breakdowns.
• Advocates on behalf of clients, informing them of DVR's and CILs' service obligations and their rights.
• Documents casework accurately and communicates case status to the attorney supervisor, requesting guidance as needed.
• Maintains subject-matter expertise on laws and regulations governing DVR and CILs, and stays current on rules regarding the unauthorized practice of law.
• Develops and maintains up-to-date CAP materials, fact sheets, and resources for clients and the community.
• Conducts outreach for CAP and PABSS programs statewide, including transition events (events supporting youth with disabilities as they prepare to move from high school to post-secondary education or employment).
• Represents the organization on community committees (e.g., the State Rehabilitation Council)
• Monitors case numbers and client feedback to ensure effective use of resources and high-quality service.
• Assists with federal reporting requirements related to CAP.
• Upholds the values of the disability rights movement and Disability Justice's reputation as a trusted, competent resource.
• Performs other duties as assigned, including additional advocacy work directed by the Co-Legal Directors and participation in Disability Justice meetings.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The individual must also possess these qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• At least 3 years of experience providing direct client services
• Ability to obtain suitability credentials from the Social Security Administration, as required by our grant, within the first six months of employment. You do not need to complete this process before applying for this position. For more information about the process, please see: shorturl.at/abeR6
• Ability to work independently in a hybrid or remote environment, as well as under general supervision and on a team
• Experience entering data correctly and in a timely manner into a database system
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstration of appropriate and professional behavior in working with members of the public who may often be in crisis
• Proficiency with office technology, databases, Microsoft Suite applications, email, the Internet, and other relevant applications, such as Zoom
• Understanding of and commitment to legal ethics for nonlawyers
• Ability to work nonstandard hours and/or travel, as needed

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The following qualifications are highly desired to advance our work, but they are not required:

• Bilingual or multilingual
• Three years experience working with and advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a relevant field, such as social work, legal studies, or public policy
• Personal or professional experience navigating the vocational rehabilitation system
• Experience working with ASL interpreters, assistive technology, people whose primary language is not English, and accessibility problem-solving

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Applicants for this position must live in Colorado or be willing to relocate to Colorado before beginning employment. We allow employees to work from home or from our Denver office, with the understanding that they will meet in person as needed to conduct their job functions and collaborate with colleagues, clients, and partners. We provide equipment to employees to work successfully in a remote environment, including but not limited to laptops and phones.

Disability Justice provides reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their jobs and participate in the recruitment and interview processes. For support with the application process, please contact Gina Brown at View email address on click.appcast.io.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The hiring range is 65,000 to 72,000 annually, depending on experience. This is a full-time position of 36 hours per week. Disability Justice offers paid holidays, parental leave, annual leave, sick leave, and bereavement leave; as well as medical, vision, dental, and retirement plans for full-time employees.

Disability Justice strives to build a team that reflects the community we serve. The call of disability rights work is: “Nothing about us without us.’’ We encourage candidates with disabilities and others with lived experience and diverse backgrounds to apply.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

Disability Justice prohibits harassment and discrimination based on disability; age; ancestry; national origin or ethnicity; citizenship; immigration status; race; color; hair style or hair texture; marital, registered domestic partner, or civil union status; pregnancy and perceived pregnancy (including breastfeeding or related medical conditions); religion; sex; gender, gender identity or expression; sexual orientation or an employer’s perception thereof; wage disclosures; lawful off-duty, off-premises activities; because the person is a victim of a crime, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; military or veterans’ status; family or medical care leave status; or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. 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.