DeafBlind Aide Activities Assistant

DeafBlind Aide Responsibilities

• Communicate with Deafblind residents using tactile signs, braille, or the resident's preferred mode of communication.
• Assisting newly admitted Deafblind residents with facility navigation to build and develop their daily routine.
• Train and prepare residents with low vision on how to adapt to their environment and routine.
• Provide ongoing visual descriptions of the environment.
• Explain menu options.
• Explain time, nature, and place of activity sign-up events when they are announced at the beginning of the month.
• Have continual dialogue with Deafblind residents regarding their preferences for routines, navigation, learning, and reading materials, initiating and supporting changes as needed.
• Properly document each Deafblind resident's progress on their desired training or service.
• Accompany Deafblind residents to on and off campus appointments.
• Assist Deafblind residents with daily mail by reading it to them and/or transcribing into Braille.
• Communicate and coordinate appropriately with other Deafblind Aides to make sure all Deafblind residents are assisted equally and equitably.
• Remind, cue, and assist Deafblind residents as needed.
• Redirect Deafblind residents when necessary and notify clinical and/or social work staff when Deafblind residents require their support.
• Aid Deafblind residents to find the best ways to enhance their quality of life through technology and equipment.

Activities Assistant Responsibilities

• Accompany Deafblind residents to general activities and provide 1:1 facilitation.
• Create and facilitate activities for DeafBlind residents.
• Invite and encourage DeafBlind residents to attend and participate in activities.
• Explain the time, place and nature of activities as needed.
• Offer activity materials for DeafBlind residents to peruse activities/interests in/out of room as desired.
• Assist with DeafBlind residents in Sunroom activities.
• Assist DeafBlind residents with activities as needed.
• Properly document each DeafBlind resident's daily activity participation in the appropriate logs.
• Provide appropriate group and one-on-one activities for all DeafBlind residents.
• Provide appointment reminders to DeafBlind residents who have signed up for in-house activity services.
• Aid DeafBlind residents in the transport of DeafBlind residents to activity location.
• Read Daily Activities schedule to DeafBlind residents.
• Set up activity areas as needed.
• Participate in offsite Activities that have a DeafBlind resident attending as needed.
• Attend outdoor events with DeafBlind residents on and off property.
• Aid non-DeafBlind residents as assigned by Activities Director.
• Perform additional duties, as assigned by the Activities Director, in support of the Activities Department.

Requirements

• ASL fluency.
• Ability to communicate effectively using tactile communication.
• A desire to learn and retain new skills related to Deafblind communication and culture.
• An attitude of respect and compassion towards all residents and staff.
• Pleasant personality and ability to maintain a calm demeanor during excitable or emergency situations.
• Experience working with elderly people is preferred.
• Available to work one weekend per month based on approval from the Activities Director.
• Available to work two out of three (2/3) major Winter and Summer holidays per year based on approval from Activities Director (holidays are listed in the Employee Handbook).
• All staff are required to take our free, on-site ASL and Culture classes.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to exert up to 20 pounds of force to lift, carry, pull, push, or otherwise move objects and/or residents.
• Ability to push residents in wheelchairs, with an unknown limit of body weight.
• Ability to successfully set up activities on an independent level.
• Ability to transcribe.