Sign Language Interpreter

EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETER (HEARING IMPAIRED)

NATURE OF WORK

An employee in this class is responsible for transliterating/interpreting for students who are deaf or hard of hearing in the classroom or at school-related activities. Daily directions are provided by the general education teacher and/or the teacher of the deaf. The employee consults with the teachers when problems arise. Errors can seriously inhibit the progress of student learning. Limited supervision is provided.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Facilitates communication between the student and his peers, and the student and adults in the school environment
• Studies the content of lessons prior to class to ensure accurate representation of the lesson
• Tutors students who are deaf or hard of hearing under the direction of the teacher
• Provides feedback to the teachers upon request
• Serves as a liaison to promote positive and cooperative relationships within the school environment
• May teach beginning sign language to students or staff
• Competence in the communications modality used by the student who is deaf or hard of hearing
• Competence in English grammar, including syntax, spelling and punctuation
• Working knowledge of typical language development
• Strong interpersonal skills in relating to students and adults
• Working knowledge of subjects being interpreted
• Understanding of deafness and its impact on language development
• Skill in expressive transliterating/interpreting at a rate commensurate with conversational speech and class lectures
• Adequate reverse interpreting/transliterating skill while maintaining the integrity of the message
• Ability to work as part of an Individualized Education Program team

PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS

Work in this classification is considered light physical work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of

force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Must be able to:

• walk, lift, reach, stoop, stand, grasp, kneel, crouch, key requiring repetitive motions
• use visual acuity in preparing and analyzing written or computer data
• operate a variety of machines, motor vehicles, and job specific equipment and tools
• determine the accuracy and thoroughness of work
• observe general surroundings and activities
• hear sufficiently to accurately perceive information at normally spoken word levels, receive detailed information through oral communications and make fine distinctions in sound
• communicate by spoken word to express or exchange ideas and convey detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly
• safely work in situations of exposure to blood borne pathogens which may require specialized personal protective equipment
• communicate effectively orally and in writing
• establish positive relationships with students
• demonstrate a thorough knowledge of deaf culture, history, audio-logical issues and all aspects of deafness as it relates to the individual students needs and its effect on people
• utilize methods such as; transliteration, American Sign Language, Cued Speech, Signing Exact English, or other valid techniques needed in facilitating the communication process in an educational setting
• demonstrate knowledge of correct English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation
• demonstrate working knowledge of language levels of different age groups
• demonstrate working knowledge of effective ways of dealing with children
• demonstrate working knowledge of subjects taught
• demonstrate working knowledge of the nature of deafness and its effect on language development
• demonstrate skill in expressive transliterating and interpreting at a rate commensurate with conversational and lecture speech
• demonstrate skill in reverse transliterating and interpreting
• maintain a working knowledge of the Registry of the Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Ethics as it applies to the educational setting
• demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Code of Ethics that is set up for interpreter to follow according to Registry of Interpreters for the dear (RID)

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of Level 3.3 on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment or a TECUnit score of Level 2 for cued language transliterators a minimum of a high school diploma
• AA Degree in interpreting or a related field
• Must annually complete 20 hours of training related to interpreting that has been approved by the public school unit