Sign Language Interpreter

Illinois Association Of School•Evanston, IL

43d

About The Position

The Sign Language Interpreter is done for the purpose/s of interpreting classroom and school-wide content for the student(s) and families. The Sign Language Interpreter provides support to the instructional program with specific responsibilities for assisting in the instruction or supervision of students with hearing impairments; working with students who need sign language to access the curriculum, providing voice to sign and sign to voice support; and serving as a resource to other school personnel requiring assistance with sign language interpretation.

Requirements

A high school diploma or GED
Sign Language Interpreter Approval through ISBE:
ONE of the following:
Have completed 60 semester hours of college credit from one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education
Hold an associate degree issued by a regionally accredited institution of higher education
Have achieved a passing score on the ParaPro test (offered by Educational Testing Service [ETS]) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
Have achieved a passing score on the written examination administered by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
ONE of the following:
Attained a rating of Level 3.5 or above on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)
Maintained a valid certification from the RID
Maintained a valid Illinois Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (IL BEI) Basic Certification or higher issued by the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission

Nice To Haves

One to three years of interpreting experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Interprets classroom instruction for students with a hearing impairment and adapts classroom work under the direction of the teacher for the purpose of providing a method to support and/or reinforce lesson plans to assigned student/s.
Administers subject-specific tests and skill assessments under the guidance of a classroom teacher or resource teacher for the purpose of evaluating students' language ability and subject proficiency.
Administers, under supervision, first aid, and assistance to medically fragile children (e.g. tube feeding, toileting, diapering, etc.) for the purpose of providing required care for assigned students.
Assesses classroom, assembly hall, and other room setups for hearing impaired students (e.g. noise level, visibility, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring proper setup to facilitate hearing impaired students' learning.
Attends Individual Education Program meetings with assigned student(s) for the purpose of providing necessary input into the evaluation of students' progress and/or implementing/modifying students' objectives through the conversion of conversation to ASL.
Confers with teachers, parents, and/or appropriate community agency personnel for the purpose of assisting in evaluating student progress and/or implementing student objectives.
Instructs students (individual or small groups) (e.g. reading, spelling, self-esteem, behavioral skills, daily living skills, etc.) for the purpose of implementing goals for remediation of student deficiencies and ensuring students' success by the conversion of language to ASL.
Interprets in meetings and activities with hearing-impaired individuals for the purpose of providing communication between voice to sign and sign to voice.
Maintains a variety of confidential and non-confidential manual and electronic lists and records for the purpose of documenting activities and/or providing reliable information.
Participates in a variety of meetings, workshops, and in-services for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions and remaining knowledgeable with program guidelines
Performs record-keeping and clerical functions (e.g. scheduling, copying, etc.) for the purpose of supporting the teacher and/or administrator in providing records/materials.
Prepares a variety of documents, reports, and written materials for the purpose of communicating information to parents, staff; providing written support, developing recommendations, and/or conveying information.
Provides teachers with input for the purpose of assisting in evaluating student progress and/or student objectives.
Provides ASL interpretation for group meetings for the purpose of providing content understanding to hearing-impaired participants.
Provides instruction to hearing-impaired students, under the supervision of the teacher, in accordance with lesson plans (e.g. reading, spelling, self-esteem, behavioral skills, daily living skills, etc.) for the purpose of assisting the teacher in improving students' academic success through a defined course of study.
Responds to emergency situations (e.g. injured student, fights, etc.) for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
Reverse-Interprets spoken words of hearing-impaired student(s) with limited speech for the purpose of facilitating classroom instruction of the hearing impaired student(s).
Translates verbal communication for the purpose of assisting students, teachers, and parents in communicating effectively between voice to sign and sign to voice.
Uses adapted classroom work/homework/assessment instruments under the direction of the teacher for the purpose of providing voice to sign and sign to voice support and/or reinforcing classroom objectives.
Performs any other duties as assigned.