$1000 annual stipend pro-rated based upon hrs and date of hire

RATE OF PAY: $18.16 per hour

REPORTS TO: Building Principal/SPED Director

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Social Communication Support Professional is responsible for providing educational instruction to students in a highly structured classroom environment designed to promote intellectual, emotional, and social growth, as directed by the classroom teacher and Autism Specialist. They will deliver instruction in areas such as reading, ELA, Math, Science, and Daily Living Skills. They will be trained and required to understand the basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), STAR curriculum, and implementation of picture exchange and visual support systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Responsibilities and duties may vary but the essential job duties will include the following: 

• Provide academic support and individualized therapy in areas such as communication, behavior, social, and daily living skills to a diverse range of students or small groups of students in the area of their individualized IEP goals. 
• Assist in the development of positive behavior and Implements student behavior protocols. 
• Collect detailed behavior and skill acquisition data during sessions, logging all hours and data accurately. 
• Assist in the analysis of trends in data and curriculum modification. 
• Participate in all required training to be able to implement components of Applied Behavior Analysis under the guidance of the district Behavior Analyst, and address problem behaviors. 
• Use and maintain student adaptive equipment and/ or augmentative devices needed for students. 
• Participate in toilet training and other daily living activities that students are learning in the classroom/school setting. 
• Remain constantly alert, attentive, and ready to respond to students' needs and any behavioral crisis. 
• Recognize signs of frustration, anxiety, and anger in order to implement antecedent strategies and teach alternative behaviors which may prevent problem behavior. 
• Promote the safety of self and students through adherence to safety policies through the use of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention), which may include body positioning, physical management techniques, universal precautions, and proper lifting of students. Participate in and attend in-services and specialized training related to strategies for working with the behavioral and educational needs of students experiencing autism, behavior management, and instructional curriculum. 
• Other related duties as assigned by the teacher, Autism Specialist, Behavior Analyst, and/or program administration.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

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 qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use their hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

JOB CONDITIONS: It is the attendance standards of the employer that all employees are present and on time each shift they are scheduled to work. Unauthorized full or partial absence during any scheduled shift, arriving late, or leaving early, for whatever reason, may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Time off may be approved if allowed by applicable policies. Job requires the use of office equipment including, but not limited to, computers with Microsoft Office, internet, tablets, telephones, cell phones, two-way radios, pagers, copy machines, and fax machines. The work in performed in a temperature-controlled, well-lit classroom. All types of weather conditions may be encountered during outside activities, including temperature extremes, wet, dry, hot and below freezing weather. Potential exposure to bodily fluids; airborne, blood borne and other communicable diseases. The noise level for this position is usually quiet.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, best practices in autism education.
• Effective communication with students and adults.
• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality at all times.
• Critical thinking and problem solving.
• Flexible to learn new equipment and systems Knowledge of special education preferred.

TRAINING PERIOD: The required probationary period for a new employee is six months. Upon successful completion of the probationary period of employment, the employee will achieve “regular” employee status.

Education:

• Within 6 months of employment, will complete STAR training.
• Within 6 months of employment, will complete PECS I training.
• Within 6 months of employment, will complete Visual Schedules training.
• Within 6 months of employment, will complete basic ABA training with district Behavior Analyst.
• Within 1 year of employment, will become CPI certified.

Other: Computer experience with an emphasis in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint; databases; and work in a networked environment. 

REQUIREMENTS: 

• High school diploma/equivalent. 
• Associate's Degree or pass paraprofessional skills testing prior to employment. Experience working with children. 
• Successful completion of Oregon School-based fingerprinting and criminal history verification as deemed by State of Oregon legislation.

The district prohibits discrimination and harassment on any basis protected by law, including but not limited to, an individual’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, familial status, economic status, or veterans’ status, or because of the perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, familial status, economic status, or veterans’ status of any other persons with whom the individual associates.