Special Education Assistant

Overview

General Responsibilities Perform responsible human support and paraprofessional work assisting classroom teachers or other professionals to achieve instructional objectives; assisting students with disabilities with achieving established goals and with personal care and mobility.

Essential Tasks
(Responsibilities carried from the job description are consolidated below):

• Assist classroom teacher in performing specific duties as assigned or undertaking specialized tasks to achieve and enhance instructional and behavioral objectives.
• Work with individuals, small groups, or large groups as assigned by the teacher.
• Assist with behavior modification as assigned by teacher.
• Lift, move, and operate adaptive equipment.
• Assist students with personal care tasks, including but not limited to lavatory, clothing, hygiene, diapering, toileting, and wash-up routines.
• Escort students as assigned by teacher or administrator.
• Assist students with mobility needs such as lifting and positioning students, lifting in and out of wheelchairs; loading and unloading on the bus; transporting students in and around the school and on field trips.
• Monitor students during assigned periods within a variety of school environments for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive learning environment.
• Provide programmed practice activities and repetitions as developed by teacher, therapist or pathologist.
• Report student concerns directly and expeditiously to teacher and assist with student resolution.
• Assist with breakfast, lunch, snack, including clean-up.
• Maintain various records and files.
• Perform related work as required.

Education And Experience

• Required: High School Diploma or GED.
• Title I Assistants Only: Must have a minimum of 48 college credits or provide documentation of passing the Paraprofessional Assessment test, or have an Associate's Degree or higher. Some experience working with students with disabilities.

Knowledge,

Skills And Abilities

• General knowledge of the practices, methods and techniques used in the teaching of special education populations.
• Ability to maintain files and information; skill in the use of classroom and instructional equipment; ability to operate audio visual, standard office, word and data processing equipment; ability to operate adaptive equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with teachers, parents, students, and administrators.

Physical Requirements

• Must have the use of sensory skills to communicate and interact with others; regular ability to see, read, talk, hear, and handle objects and controls.
• Frequent sitting, walking, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, grasping, fingering, repetitive motion, and reaching.
• Occasional standing, crawling, and physical management; ability to assist with weight-bearing support or repositioning in therapeutic equipment, including use of hydraulic lifts up to 100 pounds with assistance.
• Ability to lift over 50 pounds occasionally.
• Regular attendance and adherence to work schedules; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable performance of essential tasks.

Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position.

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