SUMMARY
Champaign and Urbana Park Districts provided quality recreational programs and services for residents with special needs. Participants of all ages have the opportunity to explore new areas of interest, make new friends and learn lifelong skills. All hiring for this program is done through the Champaign Park District. Here is a list of all the positions available at Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation (CUSR)
Inclusion Assistant
The Inclusion Assistant provides support to an individual with a disability so they may succeed in Park District programs. Inclusion Assistants engage in activities alongside their participants, reinforce the recreation leader's instructions, encourage peer interactions between individuals with and without disabilities and emphasize the fun of recreation!
Duties include adapting activities, following inclusion or behavior plans, maintaining a safe environment, assisting with daily living tasks (depending on the participant's needs), and promoting success in a program. An Inclusion Assistant works one on one with an individual who has a disability or with a small group of participants if appropriate in a mainstream setting within the Champaign or Urbana Park Districts. Preferably, Inclusion Assistants will have prior knowledge and/or experience working with individuals with disabilities in order to best support the registered individuals.
This position requires an energetic personality, effective communication skills, dependability, teamwork, and most importantly patience and empathy! The hours for this position vary based on the participant's enrollment throughout the park districts programs.
Sports and Community Support Staff
The Community Support Staff assists the Program Leaders in leading classes for people participating in CUSR programs. Duties include program implementation, supervision, and safety of CUSR participants, and equipment while working therapeutic recreation programs, trips, and special events. Community Support Staff must demonstrate initiative, as well as the ability to receive delegations from Program Leaders. CUSR will invest in people who are leaders, are flexible, creative, organized, disciplined, take ownership and pride in their work and is a team players. A variety of different programs and special events will be offered including, but not limited to, aquatics, bowling, fitness, sports, crafting, community outings, and social events.
Sports and Community Program Leader
The Sports and Community Program Leader, with assistance from the Sports and Community Support Staff, leads classes for people participating in the CUSR programs. Their duties include the implementation of activities, supervision of participants with disabilities, the leadership of assistant staff, budgeting, and fiscal responsibilities, communication with parents/guardians, maintaining a safe environment, enforcing risk management procedures, and promoting success in the program. Program leaders should demonstrate initiative and be motivated to train others. A variety of different programs and special events will be offered including, but not limited to, aquatics, bowling, fitness, sports, crafting, community outings, and social events.
Youth Program Leader
The CUSR Youth Program Leader assists the Youth Program Director and Assistant Directors in leading activities and supervising people participating in CUSR Summer and Afterschool Youth Programs. Duties include maintaining a safe environment, enforcing risk management procedures, and promoting success in the program. Youth Program Leaders will work with youth and teen participants in a variety of activities including crafts, outdoor play, and cooking.
QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 16 years of age.
- Confidence and proven experience with individuals with disabilities of various diagnoses and ages.
- Display an attitude of enthusiasm and commitment to providing recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
- Interest in working with people who have disabilities.
- Ability to adapt and modify activities.
- A positive "CAN-DO" team attitude.
TRAINING - All obtained through the Park District
- Bloodborne pathogen training.
- Attend and complete CPI training as requested at the next available training date.
- CPR, First Aid, and AED certification from American Heart Association or from an accredited agency.
- Heads Up Concussion through the Center forDisease Control.
- Facility training.
- Champaign Park District vehicle training for anyone over the age of 21.
- Harassment prevention training.
- Mandated reporter certification.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Follow all Park District safety policies and perform all work in a manner that ensures the safety of the public, fellow employees, and themselves.
- Communicate all accidents/incidents to supervisor immediately and complete appropriate forms.
- Attend staff meetings.
InclusionAssistant:
- Provide assistance to an individual with a disability so they may succeed in a park district program.
- Attend to the participant's personal care needs (toileting, changing, feeding) as deemed necessary by the CUSR Inclusion/Program Specialist, CUSR Manager, and the Park District Program Coordinator.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding participant information.
- To facilitate and encourage social interaction between individuals with disabilities and their peers.
Sports and Community Support Staff
- Perform all tasks within the guidelines of agency safety program.
- Assist in leading, supervising, and organizing program activities.
- Assist Program Leaders in completing all necessary paperwork as assigned.
- Communicate and contribute ideas concerning CUSR programming, the participants, and program progress, concerns, issues, or suggestions on a daily basis to Program Leaders and Program Coordinators.
- Store equipment, supplies, and materials. Return in proper condition at the conclusion of the program/season.
Sports and CommunityProgram Leader
- Assist in leading, supervising, and organizing program activities.
- Give direction, guidance, and supervision to support staff and volunteers assigned to program.
- Communicate and contribute ideas concerning CUSR programming, the participants, and program progress, concerns, issues, or suggestions on a daily basis to Program Coordinators.
- Store equipment, supplies, and materials. Return in proper condition at the conclusion of the program/season.
- Approach all activities with an enthusiastic and positive attitude at all times.
- Assist in maintaining and monitoring the program's first aid kit.
Youth Program Leader
- Assist in leading, supervising and organizing program activities.
- Communicate on a regular basis all progress, problems, concerns and suggestions to the SYP Program Director and SYP Assistant Directors.
- Approach all activities with an enthusiastic and positive attitude at all times.
- Assist in maintaining and monitoring the program's first aid kit.
- Notify the Program Director of first aid supplies needed.
- Properly handle and dispose of biohazardous materials.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Must be able to provide creative program-solving and be flexible with adaptations.
- May feel stress when working to include individuals in all aspects of the program.
- Must be able to resolve differences with inclusion assistants, leaders, and customers.
- Must be able to understand the needs of the individual being supported and adapt the activities to enable participation.
- Must be able to positively relate with people who have severe limitations or behavioral problems.
- Ability to respond to problem situations in a mature manner and within the Policies and procedures of Champaign and Urbana Park Districts and CUSR.
PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Physically assist individuals in wheelchairs by pushing, pulling, or providing stabilization on unknown terrain'
- Physically transfer individuals from a wheelchair, chair, agency transportation vehicle, pools, and restroom facilities, etc.
- Provide personal care to individuals being supported.
- Gather, load, transport, and set- up equipment and supplies for activities.
- Supervise individuals, including at times the use of a physical restraint.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
- May be exposed to all weather conditions including rain, wind, snow, extreme hot and cold temperatures, etc.
COGNITIVE CONSIDERATIONS
- Must possess good safety awareness, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
