Special Education Teacher Assistant - VI; Visually Impaired

POSITION TITLE:
Special Education Teacher Assistant for VI (Visually Impaired) Student

POSITION LOCATION:

Forsythe Middle School

SALARY AAEA/P Salary Schedule

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:
Classroom Teacher/Building Principal
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS:
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.
The following is a list of qualifications for the position, any one of which may be waived by the Board in exercising its prerogative to determine qualifications.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
High school diploma or equivalent and at least one of the following:

• Associates or Bachelor's degree.

• 60 credit hours from approved post secondary institution, or CDA certificate with the ability to complete additional 30 hours.

• Have passing score on one of the following state approved academic assessments:
i. Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)
ii. ETS Para Pro Assessment
Experience working with special education students
Must be able to perform academic work at the level of assignment (K-8 or secondary)
CPI training or willingness to be trained
ABA training desired

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Maintenance and disciplinary activities in lunchroom and in other school settings
Assist students with bus arrival and departure
Provide assistance with behavior management, physical management and social skills
Work with teacher to modify and create instructional materials
Work together as a team with teacher(s) and other support staff
Assist students with self-care needs, which will include personal hygiene and toileting
Facilitate communication between students, staff and family members
Maintain accurate records monitoring student progress
Monitor activities to ensure safety of student, classmates and other staff
Accompany students on field trips
Willingness to be trained in the areas of: seizure protocol, administering medications, asthma/allergy care, oral feeding protocols, Gastrostomy tube feedings, orthotics and other areas as needed
Meal preparation and feeding assistance to students
Willingness to be trained on and implement the use of communication devices, apply technology to students academic, social and functional activities.
Regular and reliable attendance
Other duties as assigned
This is a fulltime position,requiring regular reliable and predictable attendance on site to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Responsibilities of a Teacher Assistant/Paraprofessional working with a Blind or Visually Impaired Student

• TA is provided with the necessary technology, equipment, and supplies to produce Braille for the student at the local school

• PC Laptop

• Scanner

• Software

• Duxbury, JAWS, OCR software, Team Viewer

• Braille note Touch, JAWS, Zoomtext, CCTVs, WISD VI workshops

• (example: while student is independently working or with other Special Ed support instruction)

Minimum Qualifications

• (District minimum qualifications…)

• Student focused:
  Understands the needs of the student(s) and works to ensure those needs are met within their control and capacity.

• Technology skills including email, word processing and editing, email, teleconferencing software, Google Drive and apps, copiers and scanners.

• Ability to respond quickly to, and anticipate, emergent student needs.

• Examples: translate unanticipated inaccessible documents, verbally describe visual documents presented in class, or last minute assignments from teachers.