DEFINITION: 

Under general supervision of an administrator, transcribes a variety of educational materials into alternative formats; provides support to the District’s program for students with visual impairments; and performs other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

An incumbent in this classification transcribes a variety of instructional materials into an appropriate braille media for students with visual impairments. This class is distinguished from the Instructional Aide-DHH/VI in that the latter does provides direct instructional assistance to students with visual impairments in the classroom, but does not transcribe materials into Braille. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The classification specification does not describe all duties performed by all incumbents within the class.  This summary provides examples of typical tasks performed in this classification.

Transcription

Prepares and transcribes print materials, including textbooks and other educational materials into braille or large print; proofreads and verifies accuracy of transcribed materials; embosses, edits and binds materials; creates tactile graphics of maps, charts, pictures, routes or other tactile displays using various tools, materials and machines; and overwrites Braille material into print.

VI Program Support

Consults with classroom teachers to prepare adaptive instructional materials for students with visual impairments; tutors and reinforces instruction of braille to individuals or small groups of students, as directed by the teacher; may assist teacher in the classroom to support braille literacy or to perform live transcription in order to give blind or severely visually impaired students access to the general curriculum; maintains all braille, large print and other related instructional materials; assists staff and administration with school/home communications regarding parent and VI program activities; maintains inventory of equipment and materials utilized by the visual impaired program; distributes equipment and materials utilized by the visual impaired program;  maintains and organizes a variety of files, and records; locates, requests and receives Braille and other instructional materials for visually impaired students; may communicate with vendors, press representatives and others to arrange for purchase, delivery and loan of learning materials as assigned; may travel to various sites to perform required duties; and performs other related duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of experience, education and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical combination would be the following:

Education and Training:

Graduation from high school and completion of a one-year course in Braille transcription from an accredited program.

Experience:

One year of experience in performing Braille transcription – OR – Literary Braille Certificate from Library of Congress may be substituted for brailling experience. Experience in performing Braille transcription in public or private schools is highly desirable. 

Licenses and Other Requirements:

Some positions in this classification may require the use of a personal automobile and possession of a valid California driver’s license. Literary Braille Certificate from the Library of Congress is required within one year of employment.

Self-Certification of Typing/Keyboarding Skills:

*This classification requires that incumbents be skilled in typing/keyboarding at a minimum of 50 words per minute. A typing test will not be given.  Applicants must submit an online typing certificate obtained from www.typingmaster.com at time of application to certify that they have such skills. Demonstrated proficiency will be expected during the probationary period for the class.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Knowledge of:

Working with students with visual impairments;

Specialized braille terms and concepts;

Literary braille code (contracted and uncontracted);

Textbook codes such as; chemistry, music, foreign languages, etc.;

Braille textbook formatting code;

Tactile graphics;

Braille embosser;

Braille translation software (i.e., Duxbury, PerkyDuck, Braille 200 etc.);

Braille Note Taker;

Braille Related Websites (i.e. Bookshare, APH, etc.);

Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary;

Human guide technique.

Skill in:

Operating a variety of equipment common to a visually impaired program such as a brailler, thermoform, talking calculator, closed circuit television, tactile image enhancer, laminator, etc.;

Operating a variety of standard office equipment such as a personal computer, tape recorder, copier, calculator, telephone, paper cutter, etc.;

*Keyboarding at a rate of 50 words per minute.

Ability to:

Read and transcribe braille (contracted and uncontracted);

Have good command of the written language;

Proofread and edit;

Learn Nemeth and Science code;

Operate a braillewriter and other specialized equipment;

Operate a variety of standard office equipment;

Ability to take direction;

Exercise good judgment;

Meet deadlines;

Work independently;

Handle stress;

Safely operate a motor vehicle;

Maintain sensitivity to ethnic, religious, cultural and sexual differences;

   Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.

COMPETENCIES:

•Initiative

•Desire to work independently

•Flexibility

•Detail oriented

•Accuracy

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Employees in this classification sit for long periods of time, walk and stand, lift 5 to 25 lbs. unassisted, over 25 lbs. with assistance; carry, push, pull stoop, bend and use fingers, wrists or hands repetitively, have rapid mental/muscular coordination, speak clearly, hear normal voice conversation, have depth perception, and use a computer and telephone.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Employees in this classification work inside exclusively; employees may work in direct contact with the students, the public, and other District staff, with high volume of work and tight deadlines, with continuously changing priorities and interruptions, and may work alone without guidance from supervisor.