Statewide Clients' Rights Advocate

Individuals who are Deaf or Disabled are encouraged to apply.   Office Location: San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, or Remote within Northern California   Salary Range (Depending on Experience): Clients’ Rights Advocate 1: $58,383 - $78,234 Clients’ Rights Advocate 2: $63,063 - $84,513   Employment Status: Regular, Full Time, Exempt   WHO WE ARE Disability Rights California (DRC) is a statewide, non-profit legal organization dedicated to advancing the rights of Californians with disabilities to live with autonomy, dignity, and respect in a barrier-free, inclusive, and diverse world that values each individual and their voice.    Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy Disability Rights California contracts with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), State of California, to provide clients’ rights advocacy services for clients of each of the state’s 21 regional centers.  This contract with DDS funds the Clients’ Rights Advocate (CRA) position.   PURPOSE OF THE JOB This Statewide Clients’ Rights Advocate position will advocate for services and supports for regional center clients statewide and provide advocacy support for OCRA local offices as needed.  The Statewide Clients’ Rights Advocate also advocates for people with developmental disabilities who live in or who are at risk of living in institutions or other restrictive settings, with an emphasis on the right of people to receive services and supports in the least restrictive environment.     JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Essential functions are the job responsibilities an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The Statewide Clients' Rights Advocate essential functions include:   Assist Clients – 70% - Assist with the diverse legal needs of clients with developmental disabilities who are consumers of the state’s regional centers. - Represent clients at administrative proceedings related to IHSS, Regional Center Eligibility, Regional Center Services, Special Education, and SSI/SSDI. - Ensure the rights of client with developmental disabilities are enforced. - Identify and employ impact advocacy strategies to remove systematic barriers for individuals with disabilities. - Develop and engage in relationships and collaborations with a range of public and private community partners, including governmental agencies, and community-based organizations, to ensure integrative services for consumers of the state’s regional centers. - Investigate, facilitate, and report on findings on the resolution of complaints of violation, withholding, or denial of rights made by or on behalf of clients.   Supervision – 15% - Directly supervise one Assistant/Associate Clients’ Rights Advocate.    Outreach / Training – 15% - Develop, conduct, and participate in trainings with and for colleagues. - Develop and conduct outreach, education, and training for regional center clients, their families, community groups, and other stakeholders.   Other Duties - Perform other duties as assigned.   TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Occasional travel required: Ability to travel occasionally for activities such as hearings, meetings, training, or outreach activities up to 25% of the time.   WORKING CONDITIONS The following describes general working conditions and requirements of the job, which the CRA can perform with or without disability related reasonable accommodations. The CRA performs duties in an office environment, whether physically located in a DRC office or when working remotely.  Duties regularly require sitting using computer equipment and talking or hearing. Duties occasionally require periods of standing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching primarily related to filing and processing paperwork. Occasionally the CRA may lift and/or move filing boxes and other packages up to 25 pounds.