Urbana School District #116

TITLE: Special Education Signing Aide 

LOCATION: District-wide (Upon assignment)

SUPERVISOR/S: Executive Director of Student Services, Teacher for Deaf/Hard of Hearing

JOB SUMMARY: The role and function of the signing aide is unique to the educational setting. This specialized role calls for the integration of a number of different responsibilities. As a member of an educational team, the signing aide needs to be able to work cooperatively with numerous other professionals and contribute specialized knowledge. The signing aide must possess sufficient signing skills for communication and the signed vocabulary for specific courses, and the basic content knowledge for the courses interpreted. The signing aide works under the direct supervision of the DHH teacher and under the broad supervision of the building principal.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

• Interprets with a signing system appropriate for the student in all educational settings including classrooms, field trips, assemblies, meetings, and disciplinary situations.

• Interprets messages across modalities, preserving the integrity of the original message in content, intent, affect, and linguistic sophistication.

• Applies a code of ethics, including maintaining confidentiality, judging when to use verbatim sign-to-voice, and maintaining professional behaviors and responsibilities.

• Encourages and plans for student independence, including the use of communication skills.

• Monitors student understanding in class using the communication method designated by the IEP.

• Communicates and shares information and data regularly with the case manager and classroom teachers.

• Provides resource assistance such as tutoring and implements accommodations listed on the IEP.

• Promotes an expanded communication environment for the deaf or hard of hearing student and fosters student participation in activities.

• Shares information about sign language and deafness for the layperson.

• Assist in carrying out lessons to students as arranged by the teacher, including working with students on an individual or small group basis.

• Make needed adaptations and accommodations for students’ academic programming in general education classes as developed by the special education teacher.

• Follow each student’s individual behavioral plan as well as the classroom behavior management plan.

• Promote and model appropriate social interactions with and between students.

• Provide programs for students off school property if requested. (May include, but not limited to, field trips, vocational, and aquatic center activities.)

• Record and compile data monitoring academic and behavior programming.

• Participate in staff/team/collaboration meetings as assigned.

• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:

• Must meet all requirements for the position as designated by the ISBE, A Paraprofessional Certificate or 60 hours of college credit are required. 

EXPERIENCE:

• 2 years of school-based experience including coursework to learn American Sign Language preferred

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Highly organized
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Excellent problem-solver
• Should be able to work with students with a history of behavior or learning problems
• Proven to work under pressure and can prioritize multiple tasks

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Student Contact Days

EVALUATION: To be completed by the principal with input from the DHH teacher.

START DATE: TBD

NOTE: This position is a position within the collective bargaining unit and is not an administrative position.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

CREATED: September 2023