Special Education Development Assistant #78 Walton Special Center

About the Role

Under general supervision, assist teachers, therapists, or other certificated staff in providing instruction, health care, housekeeping, and supervision to students aged 18 months to 22 years with a variety of physical and learning disabilities, including those with severe mental and physical handicaps. Perform a variety of supportive activities for instructional personnel.

Responsibilities

• Move students to and from buses, teaching independent mobility and assisting with walkers, pushing wheelchairs, and carrying students unable to walk.
• Assist instructional personnel in implementing individual educational plans.
• Work with groups and individual students in areas such as sensory stimulation, language development, social skills, number concepts, visual perception, basic reading, math, art projects, music, and swimming pool activities.
• Engage students in gross motor activities such as climbing, balancing, walking, and crawling.
• Communicate with students using the total communication concept.
• Frequently position students, including placing them in therapeutic equipment.
• Perform feeding, including readjusting diets as necessary for students' oral abilities, and feed students incapable of self-feeding.
• Assist in designing and constructing adaptive equipment to aid students in self-help activities.
• Perform first aid as required.
• Carry out instructions prescribed by therapists.
• Assist students with toileting, buttons, snaps, zippers, and cleaning students lacking control; change diapers and clothes.
• Train students in self-control skills such as toileting, washing hands, dressing, holding glasses, and using eating utensils.
• Participate in developing individual goals for students, work schedules, and evaluating student progress.
• Attend staff meetings, take attendance, and lunch counts.
• Operate audio-visual equipment such as projectors, tape recorders, and other learning machines.
• Participate in parent meetings as needed.
• Maintain classroom routine and discipline for short periods when the teacher is absent.
• Assist in keeping the study area attractive and orderly.

Requirements

• Knowledge of physical requirements pertaining to handicapped students.
• Understanding of the general needs and behavior of physically and mentally handicapped students.
• Awareness of problems involved in the care of physically and mentally handicapped students.
• Familiarity with methods and attitudes required in assisting physically and mentally handicapped students with personal needs and academic activities.
• Knowledge of techniques for dealing appropriately with assaultive behavior.
• Understanding of the proper use and function of therapeutic equipment.
• Proficiency in English usage, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
• Basic arithmetic concepts.
• Understanding of the principles, goals, and objectives of the educational process.
• First Aid knowledge.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate an empathetic, patient, and receptive attitude with students exhibiting specialized physical and mental behavior needs.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with teachers, therapists, and other certificated staff.
• Communicate satisfactorily in oral and written form and serve as an appropriate model.
• Gain the confidence of handicapped students; encourage and assist them in therapy, classroom, and recreational activities.
• Physically lift and move immobilized students.
• Assist in the hygiene and physical care of students, including administering first aid, clothing, and bathing when necessary.
• Deal appropriately with behavior exhibited by handicapped students.
• Remain calm under stress.
• Understand and maintain confidentiality.
• Follow a work schedule that may change from day to day.
• Perform routine clerical tasks and operate office and educational machines and equipment.
• Successfully supervise students.
• Use safe working conditions.

Education and Experience

Education, training, and experience equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade and at least one year of experience working with handicapped students; completion of college-level courses in special education or a related field is required.

Certificates

• Must obtain a Distinct First Aid Course Certificate within the first six months of employment.
• A valid American Red Cross First Aid Certificate and CPR Certificate are preferred.