Community Engagement Instructor/Program Instructor (Music, Art, Drama, Dance, etc)

Community Engagement Instructor/Program Instructor

The Community Engagement/Program Instructor provides meaningful, engaging, and accessible creative arts education and adaptive skills training to individuals of all abilities, including individuals with developmental disabilities and autism. This position provides creative arts instruction through community workshops, Able ARTS Work’s Mobile Art Program (MAP), and day program settings.

The Community Engagement/Program Instructor develops and implements person-centered, strengths-based arts curriculum that supports creativity, self-expression, skill development, independence, social-emotional growth, community inclusion, and quality of life. The position requires the ability to adapt instruction to a wide range of physical, cognitive, communication, behavioral, and emotional needs.

This is a mobile position requiring travel to participants’ homes, community locations, and Able ARTS Work program sites. The Instructor works collaboratively with program managers, direct support professionals, therapists, caregivers, community partners, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.

Essential Responsibilities

Community Workshops

• Assist in planning and leading accessible community-based creative arts workshops for participants of varying abilities.
• Adapt instruction, activities, materials, and teaching methods to participants’ abilities, interests, communication styles, and learning goals.
• Prepare workshop spaces and ensure materials, equipment, and work areas are safe, organized, and accessible.
• Encourage creativity, participation, self-expression, social connection, and exploration.
• Build positive relationships with participants, families, community partners, and stakeholders.
• Share information about Able ARTS Work programs, services, workshops, and events as appropriate.
• Maintain adequate supplies and communicate supply needs to the Workshop Coordinator.
• Photograph workshops and artwork as needed in accordance with organizational policies and participant permissions.
• Clean and restore workshop spaces and properly store supplies and equipment.
• Submit workshop summaries, attendance, metrics, and other required documentation in a timely manner.

Mobile Art Program (MAP)

• Provide individualized, arts-based adaptive skills training in participants’ homes, community settings, and virtually when appropriate.
• Develop and deliver curriculum based on each participant’s strengths, interests, abilities, and goals.
• Create a supportive, accepting, and person-centered environment that encourages independence, growth, self-expression, and quality of life.
• Develop individualized goals, objectives, lesson plans, and activities in collaboration with the MAP Coordinator and program team.
• Adapt instruction based on participant response, progress, interests, and changing needs.
• Support participants in developing independence and meaningful participation in their homes and communities.
• Advocate for participants’ needs, preferences, concerns, and goals while supporting self-advocacy and choice.
• Ensure participants have appropriate materials and supplies and communicate replenishment needs to the MAP Coordinator.
• Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and respect when working with participants and families.
• Maintain accurate attendance records, progress notes, objective-related data, session documentation, and mileage records.
• Gather and communicate information regarding participant progress, concerns, and accomplishments to the MAP Coordinator and appropriate team members.
• Participate in team meetings and individualized program planning meetings as requested.
• Contribute professional knowledge to the interdisciplinary team.
• Pursue continuing education through trainings, workshops, conferences, and relevant professional resources.

Creative Arts Instruction

• Provide high-quality, person-centered creative arts instruction to individuals of all ability levels.
• Teach within areas of professional expertise, including visual art, music, drama, dance, movement, or other creative disciplines.
• Develop inclusive curriculum that emphasizes participants’ strengths, interests, creativity, and potential for growth.
• Create individualized goals and objectives in collaboration with the Program Manager and interdisciplinary team and incorporate them into Individual Service Plans (ISPs), as appropriate.
• Adapt instruction through adaptive equipment, hand-over-hand assistance, verbal or nonverbal prompts, visual supports, redirection, and other individualized strategies.
• Encourage participant-driven creative interests and self-expression.
• Teach and mentor participants with a range of learning, physical, communication, behavioral, and emotional needs.
• Manage organized, engaging, and high-quality classes and events according to established schedules.
• Demonstrate flexibility and make appropriate adjustments based on participant and program needs.
• Advocate for participants’ needs, concerns, preferences, and desires while encouraging self-advocacy.
• Maintain clear lesson plans, attendance records, class documentation, and records of achieved objectives and participant progress.
• Provide information regarding participant progress and community participation for individualized program planning meetings.
• Collaborate with direct support professionals, therapists, volunteers, supervisors, caregivers, interdisciplinary team members, and community partners.
• Represent Able ARTS Work professionally when interacting with participants, families, agencies, community members, and the public.

Day Program Responsibilities

• Provide creative arts instruction and adaptive skills support within Able ARTS Work day programs.
• Prepare classrooms and program spaces with appropriate materials and equipment.
• Maintain a safe, organized, accessible, and welcoming environment.
• Assist participants with mobility equipment, including wheelchairs, walkers, gait belts, and canes, using appropriate safety procedures and training.
• Assist participants with meals and feeding, including individuals who require full assistance.
• Assist with restroom and personal care needs as required, while maintaining participant dignity, privacy, and safety.
• Assist with changing disposable undergarments when required.
• Provide appropriate supervision and support during transportation, breaks, lunch, toileting, transitions, and community activities.
• Safely lift, transfer, reposition, and assist participants ranging from children to adults, including transfers into and out of wheelchairs, changing tables, and other adaptive equipment, when required and properly trained.
• Travel between Able ARTS Work program locations to provide instruction and ratio support.
• Participate in cross-training or temporary assignments to other programs as needed.
• Attend weekly staff meetings, monthly in-service trainings, and other required meetings.
• Maintain required certifications and trainings, including CPR, First Aid, mandated reporting, sexual harassment prevention, and other organizational requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Maintain safe, clean, organized, and hazard-free classrooms, studios, workshops, and community environments.
• Follow organizational health and safety policies, emergency procedures, universal precautions, and applicable OSHA requirements.
• Complete Special Incident Reports (SIRs) accurately and promptly when required.
• Accurately document significant incidents and participant-related concerns using objective, factual language.
• Recognize and report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other reportable concerns in accordance with DDS, APS, Regional Center, mandated reporting, and organizational requirements.
• Recognize and report significant changes in a participant’s physical, emotional, behavioral, or medical condition.
• Report concerns related to participant safety, hygiene, nutrition, mobility equipment, clothing, living conditions, or overall well-being.
• Respond appropriately and promptly to emergencies and follow established emergency procedures.
• Report equipment requiring repair or replacement and maintain safe storage of supplies, tools, equipment, and medications.
• Follow applicable Community Care Licensing Title 22 and Regional Center Title 17 requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality of all participant information, including oral, written, photographic, video, audio, and electronic information.
• Comply with HIPAA and applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements.
• Administer or assist with medication only when properly trained, authorized, and permitted by applicable regulations and organizational policies.

Documentation & Technology

• Complete required documentation accurately and within established deadlines.
• Maintain attendance, progress notes, lesson plans, objective-related data, mileage, time records, incident reports, and other required documentation.
• Use organizational technology and software for communication, documentation, scheduling, and program responsibilities.
• Demonstrate proficiency or willingness to learn Microsoft Office, Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, Zoom, Theranest, and other organizational systems.
• Communicate clearly and promptly with supervisors regarding participant needs, progress, concerns, scheduling, supplies, safety issues, and other program matters.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in art, music, dance, drama, education, therapeutic recreation, special education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated professional-level skills and experience in at least one creative discipline, such as visual art, music, dance, drama, or movement.
• Ability to develop and facilitate engaging, accessible, and inclusive creative arts activities.
• Ability to adapt instruction to individuals with varying cognitive, physical, communication, behavioral, and emotional needs.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn organization-specific software.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required certifications and trainings.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel between program and community locations.

Preferred

• Experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities, autism, or other disabilities.
• Experience providing adaptive, therapeutic, special education, or community-based arts programming.
• Experience developing individualized curriculum, goals, or lesson plans.
• Knowledge of person-centered planning and strengths-based approaches.
• Experience using adaptive equipment or providing direct support.

Physical & Work Environment

This is a mobile, community-based position requiring work in participants’ homes, community spaces, workshops, studios, and Able ARTS Work program sites.

The position may require:

• Frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and movement throughout program and community environments.
• Lifting, transferring, repositioning, and physically assisting participants when required and properly trained.
• Assisting participants with mobility equipment and personal care needs.
• Working with individuals who may exhibit challenging behaviors, including aggression, assaultive behavior, or self-injurious behaviors.
• Responding safely to emergency situations.
• Carrying program materials, supplies, and equipment.
• Working in environments with varying levels of noise, activity, sensory stimulation, and physical demands.