Substitute Special Education Classroom Assistant (RETIRED CPS SECA ONLY)

General Responsibilities

Assists Special Education teachers in elementary and high schools in reinforcing efforts with children with various disabilities, including physical disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, emotional impairments, and mental impairments in accordance with each students' Individual Education Program (IEP); lifts and positions non-ambulatory students during the school day as instructed by the teacher and in adherence to written instruction from students' personal physicians; provides one-on-one tutoring services for students to present or reinforce learning concepts; provides one-on-one personal hygiene services for students with severe disabilities, including toileting, changing soiled diapers, and cleaning soiled children regardless of age; assists students with orthopedic impairments by arranging and adjusting tools, work aids, and equipments used by students in classrooms, including but not limited to specially equipped worktables, positioning equipment, wheelchairs, tape recorders, computers, communication devices, and mechanized page turners; assists teacher in instructing students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and economic self-sufficiency; accompanies students to swimming pools and medical clinics to assist in removing clothing and performing other personal services which students are unable to perform themselves; assists in feeding students unable to do so themselves; takes notes in classrooms for students unable to do so themselves; corrects homework assignments and examination materials; assists teachers in maintaining written records of students' behavior; accompanies students and teachers on class field trips; attends and participates in workshops and in services training to update job related skills.

Marginal Functions

May utilize aggressive management techniques to physically restrain violent students, may administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as directed by the teacher, may operate audio-visual equipment, may operate photocopying equipment.

Qualifications

Applicants must have completed an Associate's degree from a college or university accredited by the North Central Association or another regional accrediting body, or the successful completion of at least sixty (60) semester hours of college credit at a college or university accredited by the North Central Association or another regional accrediting body, including at least one course in the characteristics of mental retardation and severe/profound disabilities, or the successful completion of a state approved paraprofessional assessment, supplemented by at least one year of work experience involving the care and supervision of children with disabilities.

Candidate must possess a valid TASN (NCLB) paraprofessional license from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) at time of employment.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

• Good knowledge of the characteristics of students with various disabilities, good knowledge of English grammar and spelling, good knowledge of basic mathematics.
• Ability to work with and for students with various disabilities, ages birth to twenty one (21) years of age; ability to follow written and oral instructions and direction; ability to complete and maintain basic written reports. Ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the time of initial employment in this class title will complete CPR training as a condition of employment.
• Good oral and written communication skills, skill in the operation of photocopying and audion-visual equipment is highly desirable.

Physical Requirements

MEDIUM WORK: Exerting up to fifty (50) pounds of force occasionally, and /or up to twenty (20) pounds of force frequently and /or to ten (10) pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demands include the ability to reach, handle, and finger objects; talk and hear; occasional use of near visual acuity and frequent use of far visual acuity.