About the Autism Resource Center (ARC)
At the Autism Resource Center (ARC), we believe autistic individuals and their families deserve access to affirming and compassionate support, meaningful advocacy, and inclusive communities. ARC supports autistic individuals and their families across McHenry County. Through family education, one-on-one advocacy, training, and resource coordination, we strive to enrich lives and promote equity. ARC also facilitates social and support groups, provides professional development to schools and agencies, and collaborates with community partners to make inclusion the norm—not the exception.
We are seeking a passionate, collaborative, and relationship-centered Autism Support Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate is someone who values neurodiversity, enjoys building authentic relationships, and thrives in both independent and team-based work. Whether your experience comes through professional roles, lived experience, advocacy, or caregiving, we value the unique perspective you bring.
About the Role
The ARC Autism Support Specialist provides client-centered support to autistic individuals of all ages and their families. This role focuses on empowering individuals through education, resource coordination, collaboration, skill-building, and strength-based support that honors each person’s unique goals, needs, culture, and experiences.
The Autism Support Specialist partners collaboratively with children, teens, adults, caregivers, schools, and community providers to increase access to services and support, build knowledge and resiliency, strengthen connections to community resources, and present training opportunities to promote meaningful inclusion across home, school, and community settings.
What You’ll Do
- Partner with autistic individuals and/or their families in identifying strengths, priorities, needs, and goals
- Help families navigate systems, services, and community resources with confidence
- Develop individualized service plans that promote growth, independence, and quality of life
- Facilitate support groups and community connections for autistic individuals, caregivers, and community members
- Collaborate with schools, agencies, and community partners to promote inclusion and access
- Participate in presenting community trainings, outreach events, and community education initiatives
Why Join Our Team?
At ARC, we believe meaningful support begins with authentic relationships and person-centered care. Our team values collaboration, compassion, flexibility, neurodiversity-affirming practices, and individualized support that recognizes each client and family as the expert in their own experience. We know this work is meaningful and deeply personal. Our team values collaboration, humor, flexibility, and authentic connection with one another and the families we serve. We believe in supporting our staff just as intentionally as we support our community
This position offers the opportunity to:
- Build meaningful relationships with autistic individuals and families
- Support individuals across the lifespan
- Help create more inclusive communities
- Collaborate with a passionate and supportive team
- Make a tangible impact on the lives of the people we serve
What You Bring
We recognize that strong candidates may come from a variety of professional and lived experiences. Candidates may be successful in this role if they have:
- Experience supporting autistic individuals and/or their families
- A passion and knowledge to support autism, neurodiversity, and person-centered practices
- Experience in advocacy, education, social services, or care coordination
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Ability to work independently while collaborating within a supportive team environment
- Ability to maintain accurate, timely documentation and reports in accordance with program guidelines and funding requirements.
This is a grant funded position; the duties and/or requirements of the position may be modified as required by the funding source.
Qualification Preferences:
- Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field, or equivalent lived/professional experience supporting autistic individuals and families
- Spanish bilingual skills; preferred
- Self-identifying, parent/caregiver, family member or professional to an autistic person(s)
- One year of specialized training or experience in the field of developmental disabilities preferred with knowledge and an in-depth understanding of the unique needs of autistic individuals.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
Work Location: In person
