Communications Coordinator Job Description: Disability Rights Iowa is seeking a passionate and civil-rights oriented Communications Coordinator to support the agency’s communication, outreach and programing efforts. The Communications Coordinator’s primary focus will be on developing and implementing Communications, Outreach and Education programming plans focused on increasing Iowans’ awareness of the work of Disability Rights Iowa, as well as providing a richer understanding of disability and disability inclusion. The Communications Coordinator will be charged with promoting positive images of disability rights and Disability Rights Iowa in the media and with the public in order to further Disability Rights Iowa goals. Website maintenance, social media, event planning and fund raising will be important parts of executing these efforts.

Read the full job announcement here!

Our Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) services now cover all of Iowa and several counties in Northwestern Illinois!

• WIPA is a grant-funded program sponsored by the Social Security Administration.
• Disability Rights IOWA (DRI) staff members who provide WIPA services are called Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs). They focus on beneficiaries’ choices, future, and especially work goals.

Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) provide work incentives planning and assistance services to Social Security beneficiaries who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), who want to pursue gainful employment/self-employment or who are already employed or self-employed.

• If you have basic questions about how earnings may affect your Social Security disability benefits, start by calling the Ticket Helpline 1-866-968-7842.
• If you need services that are more detailed, the Ticket Helpline will refer you on to a CWIC that covers YOUR part of the state.

Northwestern Illinois Counties now served by Disability Rights Iowa:

Adams

Boone

Brown

Bureau

Carroll

Cass

DeKalb

Fulton

Hancock

Henderson

Henry

Jo Daviess

Knox

LaSalle

Lee

Marshall

Mason

McDonough

Menard

Mercer

Morgan

Ogle

Peoria

Putnam

Rock Island

Schuyler

Scott

Stark

Stephenson

Tazewell

Warren

Whiteside

Winnebago

Woodford

Jo Daviess

Knox

LaSalle

Lee

Marshall

Mason

McDonough

Menard

Mercer

Morgan

Ogle

Peoria

Putnam

Rock Island

Schuyler

Scott

Disability Rights Iowa Job Opening – Community Work Incentives Coordinator

Opening Date: July 1, 2021

Closing Date:  August 1, 2021

Program Description:  DRI receives funds from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to operate the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project.  WIPA projects are community-based organizations that provide counseling and support to disabled beneficiaries of the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.   The purpose of the program is to support beneficiaries who want to return to work to make a successful and profitable transition to the workforce.  Beneficiaries who continue to work improve their economic independence and financial security.   The WIPA project helps beneficiaries take advantage of SSA’s work incentives programs, which may delay or reduce the effect of work on monetary benefits and health insurance.  Additionally, WIPA projects act as repositories for information about other work incentives, benefits counseling services and other resources that may help beneficiaries succeed in their work attempts, or may assist beneficiaries to improve financial stability as they return to work.

Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) Position:  CWICs provide beneficiaries who are working or actively seeking employment or self-employment with targeted, comprehensive, and intensive services with a large percentage of those services offered to beneficiaries via distance-based delivery.  CWICs provide information about work incentives and related employment issues and prepare accurate and detailed reports regarding a beneficiary’s status.  This includes helping beneficiaries understand and use programs that support entry into the workforce, including the Social Security Ticket to Work and PASS.  CWICs refer beneficiaries to Federal, State or local work incentives programs or services supporting return-to-work.  CWICs also develop relationships with service providers and public agencies within the service area in order to inform these providers about WIPA services.   CWICs also spend a small percentage of their time on outreach.

Read Full Job Announcement Here Community Work Incentives Coordinator (Full-time July 2021)

Starting March 16, 2020 and until further notice, DRI staff have been encouraged to work from home. During this time while we are working remotely, we will continue to be available by email during regular work hours and will be checking voicemail and mail daily. Our staff will continue to participate in as many client meetings and appointments as possible using phone calls, conference calls and Zoom technology. If meetings are unable to be hosted through technology, we will work to reschedule after social distancing protocols have been lifted.