Developmental Specialist - Center Based presso Kidango

About The Role

Kidango’s Developmental Specialists serve as members of the Early Intervention and Inclusion Team providing specialized intervention services and consultation to children ages birth to five and their caregivers. Kidango’s Early Intervention and Inclusion Program embraces a holistic approach to early childhood development, fostering integration, parental involvement, and evidence-based  interventions in the natural environment to ensure each child reaches their fullest potential. Through collaborative efforts and tailored support, children and families thrive in a nurturing and inclusive educational setting.

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Provide direct support/early intervention  and inclusion services to children referred either internally or from local regional centers, between the ages of 0 to 5 years, in a natural environment.
• Work to meet child and family goals and needs in coordination with other agencies, organizations and the medical community (regional centers, school districts, etc.).
• Administer required screenings and assessments, including the DAY-C and the Battelle Developmental Inventory-3rd Edition, in accordance with regional center and Kidango assessment requirements.
• Provide written reports as required
• Maintain a caseload of children, between the ages of 18 months and 5 years old, who  may reside in Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties
• Facilitate classroom meetings to consult, coach and support staff and ensure children meet developmental goals
• Take part in weekly supervisory and reflective supervision sessions
• Provide information and support to families
• Participate in relevant/appropriate meetings (i.e. EIIS meetings, EIIS trainings, discipline meetings, classroom meetings).
• Attend and participate in outside meetings related to caseload (IFSP, IEP, transition meetings, etc.).
• Seamlessly integrate with Early Learning teachers, adapting curriculum, supporting IEP/ IFSP goals, and increasing early learning staff’s capacity to include children with disabilities.
• Focus on six developmental domains: cognition, language, gross motor, fine motor, social-emotional, and self-help skills.
• Collaborate with parents, preschool teachers, and specialists to devise integrated plans for children’s development and inclusion.
• Consult with teachers to align with child and family goals, coordinating with external agencies and medical professionals.
• Build caregiver capacity for accommodating children in activities and routines, including schedule development and material preparation.
• Provide progress updates to staff and parents, co-creating supplemental activities
• Engage families in their child's programming through regular updates and home visits
• Facilitate smooth transitions to preschool, kindergarten and school district programming
• Assist parents in making referrals for additional support services
• Maintain confidentiality of children, families and employees of Kidango
• Work as a member of the agency team by promoting the mission and philosophy of Kidango,including representing Kidango at community and professional events.
• Organize time and equipment/supplies effectively
• Conduct in-service training and provide consultation to general Kidango staff as needed
• Maintain appropriate records and files as necessary to account for delivery services
• Communicate with children, families and other staff in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor

 Preferred qualifications

• Direct experience administering early intervention support services to children between the ages of 0-5 with identified disabilities in center based and home based settings
• Valid, un- expired Associate Teacher Permir from the CTC )Commission on Teacher Credentialing)
• Strong knowledge of theory and practice of child development and early intervention
• Experience working with families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds
• Knowledge and direct experience with curriculum development and curriculum adaptation for children with learning differences
• Experience working with children on the autism spectrum
• Relationship-based and family system based knowledge and applied practice
• Experience administering developmental screenings such as the Ages and Stages (ASQ) Questioner and the Ages and Stages Social Emotional Development (ASQ/SE)
• Experience administering early childhood development assessments such as the Battelle Early Learning Profile, the HELP (Hawaii Early Learning Profile,) and DAYC-2 (Developmental Assessment of Young Children 2nd Edition)
• Child observation, documentation and qualitative note taking abilities
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• MA in child development/early childhood special education preferred
• Will consider candidates with a BA and equivalent experience in the field of early intervention, and  child development/education
• Bilingual applicants are highly desired and encouraged to apply