Job
Description
Job Title: Special Education Vision Paraprofessional
Department:
Special Education
Reports To:
Special Education
Director/Associate Director
FLSA Status:
Nonexempt
Salary Schedule: SA01-1
Prepared By:
Special Education Associate
Director
Prepared Date:
11/07/10
Approved By:
Director of Human Resources
Approved Date:
11/15/10
SUMMARY
Work under the direction of the Special Education teacher to
provide education and vision services to students with disabilities. The position requires the incumbent to
support students with partial or low vision or blindness; to operate adaptive
equipment (assistive technology, etc.) and communicate effectively with
students and staff.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may
be assigned.
Assists in helping students with visual impairments access
and accurately process visual information and develop visual skills for
educational performance.
Assists with language and communication
needs; including providing assistance to the student whose impairments
interfere with the comprehension of visual stimuli.
Provides instruction in Braille, large
print or both. Coordinates with District
Cone Coordinators and National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAS)
and
Provides instructional support assistance
to students and student groups to reinforce and follow-up learning activities.
Provides accommodations and modifications
necessary for the student to be able to access the general curriculum and other
activities.
Makes recommendations to the Utah Augmentative, Alternative,
Assistive, Communication and Technology (UAAACT) team and assists in evaluating
the need for assistive technology.
Assists certified educator with the presentation of learning
materials and instructional exercise and communicates regularly with instructor
about student progress and concerns.
Assists and participates cooperatively as a member of the
educational team in responsibility for procedures related to visual needs;
including assisting with eligibility for special education services;
assessment, including the functioning level of the student in adjusting to
visual problems and gaining educational and social success.
Facilitates environment awareness and Orientation and
Mobility (O & M) assessment and needs.
Assists students as needed in learning self
help skills as needed.
Guides students in working and
interacting harmoniously with other students.
Assists students with visual impairments in
accessing all areas of the school.
Operates various types of office
equipment such as computers, copy machines, etc.
Follows a schedule in order to provide
services to students at several schools.
Attends in-services and additional
classes to improve skills.
Employee attendance must be adequate to perform the
above-listed essential job functions.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an
individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The
requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or
ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals
with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Ability to work effectively with
individuals with disabilities. Ability to learn tasks
quickly and work with a minimum of supervision. Previous experience working with individuals
with visual disabilities preferred.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Associate's degree (A. A.) or 48 college credit hours from a
college or technical school; or passing results (460) on the Para Professional
Assessment.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Certification in Braille and Intervener Training required.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and comprehend simple
instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to maintain
discipline among students. Ability to conduct learning activities with small groups of
students. Ability
to meet and interact with teachers and students with tact, courtesy, and
discretion.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply,
and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and
decimals. Ability to
compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to learn special needs of particular
individuals. Ability
to learn and follow rules and regulations as they apply to job assignment. Ability to learn emergency
procedures. Ability
to follow directions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative
of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential
functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee is required to be able to lift 40 lbs, spend
long periods of time on floor (kneeling or sitting), and move about to various
parts of school buildings. Ability to
assist in the personal management needs of individuals with disabilities (e.g.,
lifting, positioning, etc.). Ability to escort and assist children as necessary.
WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics
described here are representative of those an employee encounters while
performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may
be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.