Paraeducator - Visually Impaired

Para educator, Visually Impaired

Assists a teacher, specialist or therapist in providing instructional and behavior support to individual or small groups of visually impaired special education students. Facilitates access to curricula via alternative formats including Braille, large type, tactile representation and aural media. Monitors and reports student progress regarding behavior and academic performance. Fosters independence of visually impaired students by assisting in developing various self-help skills, including hygiene, eating, social, community and leisure/recreational skills.

Distinguishing Career Features:
The Para educator, Visually Impaired is a specialized position in a career path for instructional support to teachers, specialist and therapists. This position provides continuous support to students who are blind or visually impaired; and assists in reading Braille and developing abilities to enable students to function effectively in an educational environment. Advancement potential exists to Braille Transcriber which requires compliance with the qualifications of the position including certification by the Library of Congress in Literary Braille.

• Provides specialized assistance to visually impaired students to ensure academic success. Assists teachers with presentation of materials and instructional exercises that are printed in Braille, large print, and raised line drawings. Reinforces learning experiences for students by describing and interpreting media such as pictures, charts and graphs; presents materials at an appropriate pace and in a well-modulated voice.
• Adapts classroom activities, assignments and/or materials for the purpose of providing an opportunity for special education students with a vision disability to participate in classroom activities. Assists individual students with reading tests, marking answers and reading classroom materials.
• Assists instructing students in Braille alphabet and numbers. Reviews student preparation for current assignments.
• Provides instructional support utilizing and assisting students in the use of specialized computers, software and other Braille devices. Proofreads and helps students correct work assignments. Assists in the monitoring and proper functioning of equipment designed to assist or accommodate students' vision.
• Works closely with teachers, specialists and the Braille Transcriber to ensure that materials are transcribed appropriately to meet the needs of the students in the classroom.
• Reinforces orientation and mobility skills, along with safe and appropriate use of mobility devices. Assists students in arrival and departure from school. Assists with or shadows students with mobility, monitoring their safety during classroom activities, snack and/or lunch periods, in the library, on field trips and/or during play or physical exercise.
• Supports social interactions by helping student practice appropriate social skills such as facing the person student is talking to, using appropriate body language, joining a group or asking for assistance when needed. Encourages student interaction with peers and promote independence.
• Receives, records, distributes and maintains inventories of specialized books, materials, and equipment needed by students who are visually impaired.
• Organizes materials and supplies to facilitate use by students, assists students requiring help, offers positive feedback and alternatives, and cleans up work areas following projects. Assists with preparation of instructional and testing materials. Suggests and may prepare materials that offer alternative approaches to facilitate student learning.
• Assists in maintaining order among students in the classroom and school grounds. Assures safety of students following health and safety rules. Assists and supervises individual and groups of students in moving from place-to-place in an orderly manner, (i.e. school bus to classroom, classroom to restroom, lunch room, on playgrounds, on field trips and co-curricular activities). Paraeducators assigned to a bus run assist and supervise students while riding the bus to and from school.
• Exercises constant supervision of students; observes, monitors, and controls behavior of students within approved procedures. Uses appropriate discipline in accordance with grade level, student's ability to understand discipline and approved procedures. Develops and uses incentives as positive reinforcement. Reports student behavior progress and performance to teachers; documents student progress, as needed.
• Confers, as needed, with teachers concerning student needs. Alerts teacher to any special problems or information concerning students. Assists teachers and resource staff to develop and evaluate individual and group educational goals and objectives. Provides instructions, information and assistance to substitute teachers; participates in meetings and in-service training programs as assigned.
• Assists and guides students by…