COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Job Posting: Client Assistance Program (CAP) Advocate

Pay title: Program Coordinator I (Bargaining Unit 6 NAGE)

Annual salary: $64,292.54 - $66,241.24 with full benefits

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours/week)

Schedule: Hybrid. In-office (1 Ashburton Place, Boston) two days/week, remote up to 3 days/week

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed starting August 27, 2025.

Background

The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) provides information, guidance, and training to help the public navigate and understand their disability-related legal rights and obligations under local, state, and federal laws and regulations. MOD is a dynamic state government agency with just under 20 employees that sits within the Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F).

The Client Assistance Program (CAP) is a federal grant-funded program within MOD that provides information and advocacy to people receiving vocational rehabilitation from MassAbility or the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) or independent living services from Centers for Independent Living (“clients”). The CAP team is made up of the CAP Director and two CAP Advocates.

Job duties

The CAP Advocate informs, guides, advocates for, and represents people with disabilities who are receiving or are applying for vocational rehabilitation or independent living (VR/IL) services (“clients and applicants”).

This position works under the federal Client Assistance Program (CAP) grant. 

Specific job duties:

• Gather facts and assist clients in defining problems and potential strategies and recourse for resolving them under the applicable regulations according to the particulars of the situation
• Determine and provide the most appropriate method of advocacy to address specific barriers to service and/or improve service delivery for clients or applicants of VR/IL services. Examples of advocacy may include, but are not limited to:
• Contacting a third party to address an issue of concern,
• Researching,
• Attending meetings with the client,
• Using creativity to develop a strategy for resolving an issue,
• Presenting the position of a client to a third party verbally and in writing,
• Providing technical assistance,
• Representing clients in administrative reviews, mediations, and fair hearings
• Draft case summaries and evaluations, position statements, and daily case note

·       For clients or applicants of VR/IL services, public and private service providers, and program administrators:

• Provide oral and written technical assistance about their responsibilities under federal and state vocational rehabilitation and independent living regulations, laws and Executive Orders;
• Provide oral and written technical assistance on Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Analyze and apply relevant regulations and laws to specific fact scenarios in vocational rehabilitation and independent living
• Develop written content on vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and employment rights
• Plan and participate in outreach activities throughout the state to promote the CAP program, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and disability-related employment rights
• Support the CAP Director’s service on various bodies that promote the vocational rehabilitation and independent living rights of individuals with disabilities
• Identify issues that appear to represent a systemic barrier
• Maintain accurate records of the above, prepare statistical reports, and undertake special projects at the request of the CAP Director

Required qualifications