[NOBE-L] FW: Iowa Department for the Blind Summer Youth Counselor Job Announcement

[dandrews920 at comcast.net]

Iowa Department for the Blind 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Summer Youth Counselor

LOCATION:
Des Moines, Iowa

Post Close Date: January 9, 2022.

 

PART TIME/FULL TIME STATUS: Temporary Full-Time Positions

SALARY: $17.24/hr. Expected total salary to be approximately $7,500. 

 

JOB DESCRIPTION:

 

Temporary Summer Youth Counselors will support the mission, vision and
values of the Iowa Department for the Blind. Counselors will mentor youth
ages 14-21 during IDB's two month residential summer program. Roles will be
assigned based on staff skills and student needs, but will include teaching
alternative techniques of blindness through daily classes such as braille,
cane travel, access technology, home and personal management, as well as
teaching alternative techniques of blindness through assisting students in
their apartments and during evening and weekend activities. 

            Strong candidates will possess solid communication skills,
maturity, the ability to follow directions and ask questions as needed, work
hard and have fun, as well as a strong belief in the abilities of blind
persons and a commitment to helping students grow toward their potential.
Housing is available for employees who live outside the Des Moines area. 

 

Examples of duties:

Support student learning through braille, technology, personal management,
cane travel, and money management instruction. Provide instruction in social
skills, appropriate etiquette and self-advocacy. Reinforce blindness skills
learning through assisting students with daily living tasks, meal planning
and preparation, grocery shopping, laundry, and cleaning and organizing
apartments. 

Assist students in traveling to and participating in activities in the
community such as eating at restaurants, bowling and rock climbing.
Reinforce proper cane technique and other nonvisual skills during these
activities.

Serve as a role model for students in the use of nonvisual techniques and
problem-solving skills.

Ensure safety of students by monitoring student behavior and the student
living areas.

Communicate with other program staff regarding student needs and progress.
Document student progress including written student reports at the end of
the summer. 

 

Essential functions of this position:

Demonstrate and promote a positive philosophy of blindness

Actively monitor student behavior and living areas

Communicate regularly with program leaders regarding student needs and
concerns

Document student progress through detailed written reports

Demonstrate proper use of the long white cane

Read and write braille to support students in developing their braille
skills

Actively participate in all summer program activities

 

Work Schedule: 

Initial staff training will be held in Des Moines the weekend of March
25-27. 

The primary time of employment will be May 31- August 18, 2022. 

Summer youth counselors may consistently work significantly more than forty
hours per week, based on the number of students enrolled and those students'
needs. Exact schedules will be determined by the needs of the students in
the program, and the skillset of each staff member. Tentative staff role
assignments will be announced after the March training weekend.

 

It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background
checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment. 

 

 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:                                            

High school diploma or equivalent

 

TO APPLY:

Note: This is a courtesy posting for a non merit position. 

 

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral
requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human
Resources Enterprise. Applications to DAS-HRE only, will not be considered.

 

Interested applicants must send a cover letter and resume to:

Helen Stevens

Education and Training Director

Iowa Department for the Blind

 <mailto:helen.stevens at blind.state.ia.us> helen.stevens at blind.state.ia.us

 

 

Chelsea

 

Chelsea Van Gorp MAT, NCUEB 

Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher 

Iowa Department for the Blind

515.250.8177

https://blind.iowa.gov

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