QUESTION:
-----Original Message-----
A Student a high school in Virginia, USA writes:
Subject: Careers in ASL and Helping Deaf Students
Hello Dr. Bill, my name is Jennifer. I have been using your website, Lifeprint,
for about a month now. About two months ago, I signed up for an ASL club at my
school and then a week after that we had our first meeting. When I was in
elementary school I learned some ASL but forgot most of it. After the first
meeting I feel in love with doing ASL. I am in 11th grade in high school and I
have been looking into careers in ASL and helping Deaf students. I was hoping
that maybe you can give me a few tips and try and help me. I feel like I want to
do ASL for the rest of my life. Hopefully you can help me and thanks for taking
the time to read my email. Have a great day!
- Jennifer ________
[Last Name deleted and other minor edits were made to respect Jennifer's
privacy]
-----------------------------------------
Jennifer,
My recommendation is to use any of the popular search apps to do a search for
the following topics:
ASL classroom assistant jobs
Deaf education assistant jobs
Teaching Assistant School For Deaf
Deaf paraeducator jobs near me
(and similar searches)
Then read the "position qualifications" lists carefully.
Even if you are not qualified for any of the positions yet -- reading through
the job descriptions and qualification requirements will give you an
understanding of how to become qualified for such positions. Then after you have
obtained an entry-level position you can gain valuable "hands on" experience
while taking classes during the evenings and the summers to further prepare
yourself for higher-paying positions with more responsibility.
Knowing sign language is not enough. Are you strong enough to lift a
squirming kid? If not you might want to start lifting weights. Are you
patient enough to deal with a kid who hits you or spits on you without striking
or slapping the child? If not you might want to participate in an anger
management workshop. Do you understand acronyms like IEP, CPR, AED, and CPPI? If
not you might want to start a notebook wherein you write down such acronyms and
then look them up and start memorizing them and figuring out what they mean.
Are you able to keep careful records? If not you might want to start
practicing or take a bookkeeping or accounting course just for the practice. Do
you understand how voicing and signing at the same time creates an unlevel
playing field for individuals who are Deaf? If not you probably need to
take a Deaf Culture class. Are you familiar with the fact that many Deaf
Education programs incorporate some amount of signed English? If you have
a bad attitude about or limited point of view regarding the "wide variety of
signing styles in existence" you might want to attend dozens of Deaf Coffee
Socials (and other socials) to get a feel for the real world signing styles out
there beyond what your classroom ASL teacher has shown you. Are you able
to drive? If you are physically able and old enough to drive but don't
have a driver's license it would be a good idea to take a driver's education
course.
Just knowing sign language doesn't mean you are qualified to work with Deaf
children. Look over the list below of typical entry level responsibilities
and ask yourself: "How can I prepare myself to be able to carry out these
responsibilities?"
Responsibilities:
Assist in providing a language and communication model based on the individual
needs of the student.
Assist in the development and implementation of IEP (Individualized Education
Plan) goals, objectives and strategies.
Assist students in helping them to control their behaviors.
Assist with lifting and transferring.
Demonstrate an understanding of the general curriculum as well as the expanded
core curriculum.
Develop and prioritize measurable objectives for students, both short and long
term.
Develop performance measures and inform students of the criteria for success.
Evaluate student performance, keep records, and reports progress in learning.
Implement behavioral interventions and communication skills.
Perform other related duties and tasks as assigned.
Promote student independence, self-confidence, and development of social,
organizational, and other critical skills to the maximum extent possible.
Provide and monitor direct care tailored to the student's individual performance
levels and needs of students in a manner which respects student rights to
privacy and dignity.
Provide the appropriate level of physical assistance to students and assist
student participation in all activities.
Provide direct care, independent living skills training and classroom
assistance.
Take initiative to plan activities that meet the development level of the
student.
Minimum Requirements:
High School diploma
Sign Language
Willingness to complete and maintain:
First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification
Crisis Prevention and Physical Intervention (CPPI) certification
Preference may be given to candidates with:
Associates degree
Bachelors degree
Experience working with special needs children
Valid drivers license and willingness to drive school vehicles
Individual schools will have various other requirements or preferred
qualifications, so read a variety of different "help wanted" ads or "position
vacancy" postings to further refine you understanding of how to prepare to work
in a Deaf field.
Deaf Education is a book-length topic. Actually it is a multiple-book-length
topic covered in bachelors and masters degree programs so a "blog post" isn't
going to cover the topic but there is one very important "job skill" that not
enough emphasis has been placed on -- so I'll mention it here and I'm going to
be very blunt about this:
Are you able to control yourself in regard to sexual boundaries?
If not -- how do you feel about becoming a national headline and going to
prison?
When you are in a position of authority or influence over others you need the
common sense and self-control to behave yourself.
Warm regards,
-- Dr. Bill
___________________
William G. Vicars Ed.D.
Notes:
Also, for what it is worth, there are typically some benefits to working for a
school district:
Benefits:
comprehensive benefits package
Life insurance
LTD (Long Term Disability)
medical and dental insurance
retirement programs
staff development and training
summers off / winter and spring recess breaks
tuition reimbursement
An interesting possible additional benefit to working as an assistant
Educator of the Deaf is if you are working at an actual residential school
for the Deaf you may also have the option of "housing" on campus and be able
to participate in the campus meal plan.
Speaking of food -- you might want to get a food handlers permit in case an
opportunity opens up at a residential school for a cafeteria worker.
You don't have to stay in the cafeteria your whole career -- you can simply
use it as additional experience while you are preparing and becoming
qualified for some other position.
References:
Indeed (2019) Search: "Teaching Assistant School For Deaf", Indeed job
listing search engine, Retrieved 12/02/2019 from:
https: //www (dot) indeed (dot) com/viewjob?jk=ce5da1399d837cf8&tk
Research notes: Indeed (indeed.com) is an American worldwide
employment-related search engine for job listings launched in November 2004.
It is a subsidiary of Japan's Recruit Co. Ltd. and is co-headquartered in
Austin, Texas and Stamford, Connecticut .
Notes: