New Mexico School for the Deaf is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer.

Posting Date:  April 29, 2024

Position Title: Developmental Specialist II

Reports to: Regional Supervisor

Service Area: Northwest Region New Mexico

Employment Term: Full-time; Exempt position

Salary/Wage Range: Dependent upon qualifications and experience

Deadline for Application: Open until filled

Summary

The New Mexico School for the Deaf provides a home intervention program for parents of deaf and hard of hearing children ages 0-6 through the Early Intervention and Developmental Service (EIDS) Department. The Developmental Specialist providing this service is responsible for maintaining contacts/home visits and working toward outcomes in accordance with the Individualized Family Service Plan/ Individualized Service Plan (IFSP/ISP) under Part C of IDEA. Additionally, the Developmental Specialist provides documentation of intervention activities that include, but are not limited to: contact logs, ongoing assessment information, and Individualized Family Service Plan/ Individualized Service Plan Updates. Resources, mentoring, monitoring, and support are provided by Regional Supervisors and other EIDS staff. It is anticipated and expected that all functions of this position will be performed in a positive and receptive manner, while helping to advance the mission and vision of New Mexico School for the Deaf.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned)

• Plans for and implements content-rich home visits and other interactions designed to address IFSP/ISP outcomes for children and families within their natural routines.
• Ensures early intervention services and documentation is in compliance with state and federal laws mandates, and standards.
• Maintains direct service delivery caseload with fidelity regarding timelines, paperwork, and content.
• Engages family and child in ongoing assessment and evaluation in order to appropriately address next steps.

Competencies

• Adheres to professional work standards including dependability, punctuality, time management, independence, teamwork, confidentiality, and responsibility.
• Possesses a high level of skill and professional knowledge related to child developmental domains and all early intervention legal requirements related to families and their child who is deaf or hard of hearing.
• Communicates honestly, sensitively, and empathetically with families, using non-technical language that matches their style and family/community culture.
• Recognizes and establishes professional boundaries and practices in service delivery.
• Provides accurate, timely documentation, such as contact logs and evaluation reports, written in a clear and concise manner that is easily understood by the family and other team members.
• Understands team approach to IFSP/ISP and IFSP/ISP review process and has the ability to effectively explain this process to a family to promote a family’s active participation.
• Has knowledge of family systems theory, interactions, and how a disability or specific environmental factors affects family functioning and the growth & development of infants & toddlers.
• Recognizes areas for professional and/or personal development.
• Accepts feedback in a positive manner, and uses it to strengthen future performance.
• Recognizes, respects, and follows administrative line of authority.
• Is knowledgeable of various evaluation and assessment procedures and instruments, identifies emerging competencies of infants & the young children within the context of their relationship to caregivers.
• Able to provide intervention and developmental support to children and families with multiple, complex risk factors (physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional, and adaptive).
• Able to support the development of a visual learning environment and American Sign Language.
• Able to support the development of an auditory learning environment and spoken language.
• Able to support the development of literacy within daily routines. 
• Dresses appropriately for position; keeps self well-groomed.
• Consistently follows a schedule of weekly Home Visits (unless otherwise stated in the IFSP).
• Facility in the use of curricula in providing content-based home visits.
• Familiarity with local resources, personnel, and programs. This includes providing family with opportunities to meet Deaf adults and other families.

Qualifications

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.

Education and/or Experience

Master’s degree in Parent Infant-Deaf Education desired. Master’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field may be considered. Possession of or ability to acquire a Developmental Specialist III certificate. (Developmental Specialist II certificate may be considered based on regional needs.) Experience in providing home-based intervention to children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Deaf Mentor trained preferred but not required.

Language Skills

Superior reading and writing skills are required for extensive documentation related to home visits and supervisory activities. State and federal reports are integral to this position. Fluency in Spanish or Indigenous Language preferred but not required.

Sign Language

The applicant must have conversational fluency in American Sign Language.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to think independently, problem solve and work with the whole team.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have working knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Excel, as well as various software packages including Microsoft Office.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here 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 may be required to drive for long periods of time; stand; walk and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and peripheral vision. 

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Travel
Driving is an essential function of this position. Driving records will be checked.