What are the responsibilities and job description for the Braille/Sign Support Specialist/Itinerant Classroom Aide/ Transportation Aide (S25-501-35) position at West Virginia Department of Education?
- High School diploma or equivalent, pursuant to WV Code §18A-2-5
- Criminal background check conducted pursuant to WV Code §18-5-15c
- Meet the definition of “Qualifications” in WV Code §18A-4-8e (state-approved competency test) as required.
- In addition to those duties as listed for a general special education aide the following qualifications apply:
- Applicant must have or be willing to participate and complete ongoing, WVDE approved training in the area of deaf-blindness. Support for the training may be provided by the WV SenseAbilities Project. The intervener must be knowledgeable in a variety of techniques to be used to support a student with combined vision and hearing loss to make progress in the general curriculum.
- Have a minimum competency level of I, II, III, or IV with the WV State Interpreters Certification.
- Assist in the educational and social development of the student under the direction and guidance of the classroom teacher
- Be assigned as a one-to-one for a student who is deafblind.
- Assist in the implementation of the Individualized Education Plan for the student under the guidance and direction of the classroom teacher.
- Facilitates communication between the student, peers, and staff to promote ease of interaction with all persons.
- Provide support for the student inside and outside the classroom to enable him/her to fully participate in activities.
- Confer with other team members including general classroom teacher and other appropriate staff to better plan for needed modifications and services.
- Demonstrate professionalism in all interactions.
- Attend student’s IEP Team meeting in order to provide information about the student’s communication abilities and access needs.
- Serve as a member of the educational team to provide direct support the student with deaf-blindness as indicated in the student’s Individualized Educational Plan
- Work effectively in close physical proximity to the student who is primarily a visual and tactile learner.
- Become proficient in the assigned student’s communication methods and strategies.
- Assist staff in teaching academics, daily living and social skills.
- Under guidance of the classroom teacher, create activities and experiences to complement instructional program and IEP goals.
- Render communication faithfully, always convey the content and spirit of the speaker, use language most readily understood by the students served.
- Function as an extension of classroom teacher in student’s educational program.
- May be required to interpret directly from taught materials or be asked to do re-teaching as an instructional aide in one on one setting that is teacher-directed.
- Shall maintain information about the students in a confidential manner.
- Shall dress in a manner not distracting to the students and conduct oneself in all phases of assignment in a manner befitting a professional.
- May be required to accompany children to therapy sessions, playground, bus duty and other activities.
- May be required to do daily hearing aid checks and additional special record keeping.
- May be required to work one on one with students and implement teacher plans with regards to instruction, toileting skills and feeding activities.
- Required to give attention to the safety of the children and perform any other duties assigned by supervision.
JobID: 40020
Position Type:
Aide/Aide
Aide/Aide
Date Posted:
4/10/2025
4/10/2025
Location:
Hampshire High School
Hampshire High School
Closing Date:
04/16/2025
04/16/2025
County:
Hampshire County Schools
POSITION: Aide/Braille/Sign Language SpecialistHampshire County Schools
IMMEDIATE
SUPERVISOR: Principal/ Special Education Director/ Superintendent
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
EMPLOYMENT
TERM: Minimum 200 days annually, pursuant to WV Code §18A-4-8; extended employment days may be established by HCBOE
SALARY: Pursuant to WV Code §18A-4-8a, in accordance with Hampshire County Salary Schedule, Pay Grade B, C, D, E or F; commensurate with experience and education level plus
competitive benefits package equal to approximately 35% of direct compensation
EVALUATION: Performance in this position will be evaluated by the building principal/immediate supervisor and in accordance with WV State Code §18A-2-12, WV State Board Policy 5314, and HCBOE Evaluation Policy for Service Personnel
JOB SUMMARY: Assumes responsibility for assisting the students and providing individual student instruction using basic methods and procedures prescribed for the instructional setting in which he/she works. Since deaf-blindness is primarily a disability of access, the student will require extensive and novel modifications to the existing educational model. The student must have continual access to information that is otherwise not available, in order to provide equal access. The intervener serves as a bridge to the world for student who is deafblind, which allows the student to develop a sense of trust and security that will enable them to learn.
"Sign Support Specialist" means a person who provides sign supported speech assistance to students who are able to access environments through audition. A Sign Support Specialist must be able to translate the spoken word at a normal conversational rate using signed English, 'pigeon' English, and other sign systems; be able to reverse interpret (voice interpret) from sign language to the spoken word; have some knowledge of deafness ad hearing impairments and their effect on language development; and have successfully
If not qualified Educational Interpreter is available, a sign support specialist, will be consider for the position.
QUALIFICATIONS:
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
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.
In addition to responsibilities listed for a general special education aide the following responsibilities apply:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described 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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stoop, reach, stand, walk, lift, grasp, write, talk, hear, see, use technology such as computers and multimedia equipment, and use repetitive motions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may frequently lift and/or move at least 50 pounds (100 pounds vertically for Special Education and Transportation positions) of materials. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff members.
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. Most commonly, the educational setting is indoors with outdoor settings for recess and field trip activities. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate (20-60dB). Exceptions include gymnasiums as well as vocational/technical laboratories where the noise levels may be moderate to loud (60-90 dB).
The information contained in the job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed by this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed drugs while in the workplace. Alcohol and controlled substances which effect employee productivity, safety, or judgment in the workplace will not be tolerated.
