DeafBlind Services Specialist

State of North Carolina • Asheville, NC

33d

About The Position

DSDHH is hiring a DeafBlind Services Specialist for Asheville, NC and Morganton NC! We are seeking an expert who is passionate about empowering DeafBlind individuals by ensuring they have access to information, technology, community resources, advocacy support, and effective communication, so they can fully participate in and enjoy their communities. The DeafBlind Services Specialist serves DeafBlind consumers (and their families). The DeafBlind Services Specialist may be stationed at the Asheville Regional Center located in Asheville NC and/or the Morganton Regional Center in Morganton NC. This position provides advocacy, information and referral, skill development to enhance communication skills, develops and facilitates DeafBlind support groups and/or other resources, consultation services to families, employers, etc. and assistance in regard to telecommunication access, including telephone equipment and various assistive technologies both in groups and/or individuals in a variety of settings including but not limited to homes and skilled care facilities. This position also provides assessment of needs and consultation for consumers applying for the NC DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program. The DeafBlind Services Specialist (DBSS) provides education and public presentations to agencies and organizations in the areas of DSDHH programs, hearing loss sensitivity, awareness, and legislation as it relates to issues affecting those with hearing loss and vision loss. The DBSS participates in community events such as health & wellness fairs and other events promoting equal communication access which may require an adjusted schedule to work after normal working hours, including evenings and weekends. The individual in this position typically works with persons who are Deaf and Blind in rural and urban parts of NC and travels within and outside of the Asheville and Morganton regions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a field relative to the program from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of directly related work experience with the client population; or Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience in a related programmatic area providing experience in the techniques of casework, group work, or community organization; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive knowledge of ADA and related advocacy laws as they pertain to working with DeafBlind populations
• Experience working with DeafBlind populations
• Demonstrated skill in developing and delivering presentations to a variety of public audiences
• Knowledge and/or training in one or more of the following: resources, outreach, counseling, assistive devices (including hearing aids), techniques and other tools to assist in achieving equal communication access including laws, consumer organizations, etc.
• Proficient in the use of computer applications and software to include: Excel spreadsheets; Microsoft Word; and databases

Responsibilities

• Provides advocacy, information and referral
• Provides skill development to enhance communication skills
• Develops and facilitates DeafBlind support groups and/or other resources
• Provides consultation services to families, employers, etc.
• Provides assistance in regard to telecommunication access, including telephone equipment and various assistive technologies both in groups and/or individuals in a variety of settings including but not limited to homes and skilled care facilities
• Provides assessment of needs and consultation for consumers applying for the NC DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program
• Provides education and public presentations to agencies and organizations in the areas of DSDHH programs, hearing loss sensitivity, awareness, and legislation as it relates to issues affecting those with hearing loss and vision loss
• Participates in community events such as health & wellness fairs and other events promoting equal communication access which may require an adjusted schedule to work after normal working hours, including evenings and weekends

Benefits

• The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level