Disability Rights Washington’s (DRW) public policy team is looking for two public policy fellows for the 2021 legislative session.

Deadline to submit: October 9^th at 5pm

Send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: Darya Farivar, daryaf@dr-wa.org.

About DRW:

Disability Rights Washington values diversity of culture, disability and other life experiences, and is an equal opportunity employer by choice. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, race or disability. We endorse and support the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Washington Law Against Discrimination and we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are applicants or employees who need accommodations. People with disabilities, people of color, people in all other protected classes, and formerly incarcerated people are encouraged to apply.

Why should you be a DRW fellow?

Work with and learn from a dynamic team of seasoned disability rights advocates, learn about diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion issues, participate in legislative activities, learn about and assist in community mobilization, build your resume, learn about careers in advocacy, and learn about what it takes to create systemic change.

Applicants should have:

• Passion for disability rights, justice, and advocacy
• Interest in the state legislative process
• Demonstrated understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience with and/or understanding of systems advocacy
• Lived experience with disability or other relevant experience

Applicants do not need:

• A car or driver’s license
• Seattle or Olympia area residence
• Enrollment in an educational institution

Fellowship Structure:

Start date: 11/2/2020 full day training.   End date: 4/30/2021   Pay rate: $20.00/hour      

Supervision structure: One hour meeting every other week, or as needed. Midway and final review of fellow and supervisor.

Time commitment: Six months/26 weeks, 15 hours per week in November and December consisting of training and on-boarding in preparation for session. 20 hours per week January to April for legislative session support. At times meetings and events may happen outside of regular business hours.

Time off: Veterans Day 11/11, full week of Thanksgiving (11/23-27), winter holiday 12/25-1/2, MLK day 1/18, Presidents day 2/15. Holidays, vacations, and sick time off are not paid. Fellows in school may choose to have finals week off.

Important days to note: Full day trainings 11/2 &3, House Committee Days 11/30 & 12/1, Senate Committee Days 12/1, first day of session 1/11, last day of session 4/30. CDAN briefings Wednesday* night 6-7:30pm during session. *Correction: CDAN briefings are held on Thursdays, not Wednesdays.

Supplies and accommodations: DRW laptop will be provided to fellows, hot spot internet can be available. Office supplies will be provided. Accommodations are provided as needed.

Interview process: applications due by 5pm 10/9, interview week of 10/14-21, offers made 10/22, decision due by 10/23. Interpreters and other accommodations available upon request.

Responsibilities

• Research project: Based on the legislative agenda or otherwise agreed upon, fellows will pick one topic area to do self-directed research and master during their time at DRW. They will work with the public policy team to identify two milestones to demonstrate their learning.

• Advocacy workshop assistance: send reminders to attendees, coordinate accommodations, print handouts, prepare folders and supplies, order receive and set up food, set up workshop location, issue stipends, coordinate accommodations, email participants before and after workshops, assist communications coordinator in communications strategy. Attend all workshops to provide day of support. Opportunities to facilitate workshops may be available.

• Cross Disability Advocacy Network (CDAN) Support: during session attend weekly briefings, take notes and provide briefing summary, send reminders to CDAN members, coordinate speakers and assemble agenda, help prepare the legislative newsletter, and support CDAN members as needed

• Legislative session support: assist communications coordinator in creating regular legislative updates for constituents, create and maintain a bill tracking spreadsheet, update constituents weekly on bills, support one state legislative advocacy day, participate in DRW rapid response as needed.

• Administrative tasks: create and maintain spreadsheets, track hours, communicate regularly with supervisor about questions concerns and project updates, keep individual DRW calendar updated with tasks and hours for each week, miscellaneous administrative tasks.

These are general tasks we anticipate needing help with, things may change as cases and grants change. Thus, we may need help with all of these, some of these, or different things. As a non-profit organization we stay flexible and appreciate your flexibility too.