Adaptive Skills Training (AST) Professional

Position Title: Adaptive Skills Training (AST) Professional

Location: Fremont, CA 

Pay Range: $30 - $40 / hourly (depending on qualifications and experience)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Working Schedule: Mondays - Fridays (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)

About Us

Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) is a Bay Area non-profit organization founded in 1996 and focused on helping individuals with special needs and their families find love, hope, respect, and support through integrated community involvement. 

Program Overview

The Adaptive Skills Training (AST) Program provides 1:1 individualized services to adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities. The program aims to enhance existing skills, remediate deficits, and promote independence, social participation, and self-determination.

Adaptive Skills Training (AST) Program services enhance an individual’s existing skills. They also may remedy an individual’s skill deficits in communication, social function, or other related skill areas, including, but not limited to, the following categories: (a) safety skills; (b) skills needed to access the community; (c) hygiene and dressing skills; (d) skills needed to access technology; (e) skills needed to buy and prepare food; (f) competency training; (g) housekeeping skills; (h) toileting skills; (i) feeding skills (including addressing picky eating, food refusal, and sensory-based issues with food); (j) staff and personnel training; (k) communication; (l) challenging behavior; (m) sleep and sleep hygiene; (n) choice making; and (o) specialty counseling. 

All AST staff comply with CDSS, DDS, HIPAA, and Title 17 regulations, maintain documentation, and ensure dignity, safety, and client rights.

Job Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Role Focus: Potential Program leadership, designs and implements adaptive skills training plans and provides supervision to Adaptive Skills Training Specialists and Behavior Management Technicians (BMTs). 

Behavioral Support:

• Design AST curriculum and adaptive skills programs


• Conduct Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and develop intervention plans


• Oversee implementation of BIPs, ABA, and behavior support across all staff


• Lead implementation of BIPs and ABA strategies


• Mentor BMT staff in behavior support and crisis prevention


• Participate in behavioral assessments and intervention planning


• Implement behavior intervention plans (BIPs) as designed by supervisors


• Apply ABA, CPI, and environmental modifications to reduce challenging behaviors


• Teach functional alternatives to inappropriate behavior
  

Adaptive Skills Training & Direct Care:

• Supervise Specialists and BMTs in teaching adaptive skills


• Provide direct care when needed and ensure skill generalization across settings


• Approve instructional materials and activity plans


• Adapt curriculum and materials for individualized instruction


• Monitor skill acquisition for multiple clients and mentor BMTs in delivery


• Support daily living skills (ADLs), communication, social, mobility, and community skills


• Assist with feeding, toileting, hygiene, dressing, and meal preparation


• Prepare and rotate teaching materials to maintain engagement


• Support clients in community outings, recreation, and physical activities


• Lead structured classes and community activities
  

Data Collection & Documentation:

• Review and approve all data, ISP reports, and compliance documentation


• Ensure program-wide adherence to CDSS, DDS, HIPAA, Title 17 and Title 22 requirements


• Review BMT data for accuracy and completeness


• Prepare ISP progress reports and monthly check-ins


• Collect skill acquisition, behavior, and progress data


• Complete Daily Progress Reports, incident reports, and monthly check-ins


• Maintain confidentiality per HIPAA and CDSS regulations
  

Collaboration & Communication:

• Lead ISP meetings, parent check-ins, and interdisciplinary team collaboration


• Coordinate with Regional Center staff, community partners, and families


• Mentor Specialists and BMTs in communication, documentation, and professional standards


• Participate actively in ISP meetings and parent check-ins


• Collaborate with AST Professionals, BCBAs, families, and staff to ensure program fidelity


• Communicate with supervisors, families, and team members regarding client needs, safety, and progress


• Participate in staff meetings, ISP meetings, and parent check-ins
  

Safety & Emergency Procedures:

• Ensure staff compliance with CPI, First Aid, CPR, and emergency procedures


• Oversee safety protocols across all direct care and community activities


• Supervise BMTs to ensure proper application of CPI, First Aid, CPR, and emergency protocols


• Maintain a safe environment in all settings


• Apply CPI, First Aid, CPR, and other emergency protocols


• Support client safety during community and home activities
  

Administrative Duties:

• Lead program evaluation and continuous improvement


• Oversee HR compliance, staff training, and program documentation


• Approve schedules, reports, and training compliance for Specialists and BMTs


• Assist in staff training, onboarding, and program compliance tracking


• Participate in program evaluations and quality improvement initiatives


• Complete HR paperwork (timekeeping, mileage, training)


• Maintain certifications and compliance documentation
  

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in Education, Psychology, Nursing, Social Work, Applied Behavior Analysis, or behavior medicine, speech and language, rehabilitation, marriage and family therapy, or a comparable degree in a human services related field.


• 1 year experience working with persons with developmental disabilities and implementing adaptive skills programs 
  

Professional Skills:

• English proficiency; Mandarin/Cantonese a plus


• Strong communication, collaboration, and documentation skills


• Critical thinking, problem-solving, and time management


• Ability to mentor and supervise staff (Adaptive Skills Training Specialists and BMTs)
  

Certifications & Compliance:

• CPR and First Aid certification (obtain within 1 month of employment)


• CPI training (obtain within 3 months if not current)


• CDSS/DOJ fingerprint clearance


• TB test and health screening


• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record
  

Personal Traits:

• Patience, reliability, compassion, professionalism


• Ability to maintain dignity and respect for clients


• Flexibility to work in home, community, and program settings
  

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to walk, hike, assist clients with transfers, feeding, toileting, and hygiene


• Ability to transport clients in personal or company vehicles
  

Company-Wide Hiring Requirements

• Must pass CDSS and DOJ fingerprint-based background clearance prior to employment


• Must pass a health screening and TB test prior to employment


• Must possess a valid driver's license and have a clean driving record


• Obtain valid CPR and First Aid Certificate within one month of employment (employer-covered)
  


• Use of mask when recommended/required by the local Public Health Department.
  

Employee Benefits:

• Health Insurance (Medical/Dental/Vision)


• Life/AD&D Insurance


• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) for Wellness & Fitness


• Paid Time Off (PTO)


• Paid Sick Leave (PSL)


• 401(k) & company matching


• Holiday Paid Days


• Sign-On Bonus


• Referral Bonus Program