Aide/Motor Skills Coach For Autistic Adult (Part-Time/Full-Time) (sunnyvale)

📍 Location: Sunnyvale, California
⏰ Schedule: 20-40 hours per week (4–8 hour shifts, 5 days/week). Starting around 12 pm.
💲 Annual Compensation: $70K+ (COTA, PTA, rehab, ABA, or other relevant experience);
                                                $100K+ (OT/PT/BCBA with experience)
                                                Compensation prorated based on hours of work
                                                Benefits (medical/dental/vision insurance and PTO) 

About the Role

Are you looking for meaningful work where you can make a real difference in someone’s life? 

We are seeking a compassionate and reliable Aide/Motor Skills Coach to support our 21-year-old autistic son. He is nonverbal, gentle, and bright. He thrives on caring relationships and a joyful environment around him as a foundational element of any time spent with an aide. He understands everything, but has challenges due to poor motor skills, sensory regulation, fitness, and occasional pain and anxiety management. We are lately seeing a faster ability to acquire motor skills than ever before, and believe that this area holds the key to greater independence for him. 

A typical day for him starts late (around noon) with low-key activities such as meals and gentle engagement, done predominantly while sitting in one place. As the day goes along, his energy and activity levels improve and may include short community outings, low-intensity exercises, and movement. With your help, we seek to add more engaging and skill-building motor-oriented activities into his daily routine in between his daily care responsibilities.

This role combines traditional caregiving with opportunities to apply skills from occupational therapy, physical therapy, ABA, rehabilitation, or kinesiology. If you enjoy meaningful work and want to make a lasting impact, this position offers the perfect blend of care and enrichment.

Key Responsibilities

• Find creative and adaptive ways to teach daily living skills. Assist with meals, toileting, and personal care till skills are acquired.
• Assist with the development of motor and coordination skills for leisure (such as art, music, writing, soccer, watching TV/iPad), fitness, enrichment, or self-help.
• Provide companionship and foster a low-stress, happy, and nurturing environment
• Serve as a 1:1 aide in group lessons or community activities.
• Offer emotional and sensory support during moments of anxiety.
• Light massage (head, back, or legs) to relieve pain.
• Assist with housekeeping tasks or family chores when the individual is with parents or is unwell.

Required Qualifications

• At a minimum, high-school diploma or GED plus equivalent to 1+ years of full-time experience working with adolescents or adults with autism
• Strong professional references
• Valid work authorization and driver’s license
• Commitment of at least 12 months.
• Willingness to accept at least part of the salary through a 1099 or W-2.

Preferred Background (a strong plus):

• Training/experience in occupational therapy, physical therapy, kinesiology, rehabilitation, or related fields, OR ABA experience in designing and implementing plans for fine/gross motor skills development
• Understanding of sensory dysfunction and strategies for support

Desired Personal Qualities

People who know you describe you as an individual with a lot of empathy, a calm temperament, and the ability to build long and trusting relationships. You are cheerful, positive, and someone who can attune easily to nonverbal ways of communicating. You are comfortable with taking direction when offered, but also take initiative to find ways to reach agreed-upon goals.

Nice-to-Have (Optional)

• Flexibility to travel with family (all expenses covered: flights, lodging, meals)
• Ability to provide hours during weekends or holidays

This position offers both stability and meaning, with the chance to build a lasting bond while making a positive impact. 

How to Apply
Please respond with:

• Your resume or a short overview of your experience in developing motor skills in similar individuals.
• Your thoughts on what about this role sounds interesting to you, and why you are a good fit for the role.