Special Needs Aide

Primary Purpose Help meet physical and instructional needs of individual students with disabilities inside and outside classroom. Assist with the implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEP), including self-help behavior management and instruction programs. Work under general supervision of principal and immediate direction of certified teacher.

Qualifications Education

• High school diploma or hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
• Have met formal academic assessment, associates degree, or two years of study at an institution of higher learning
• Valid Texas educational aide certificate

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

• Ability to work with children with disabilities
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Ability to communicate effectively

Experience Two years of experience working with children

Major Responsibilities and Duties Student Management

• Help meet the individual needs of students, including transferring to and from wheelchairs, lifting, and positioning
• Interpret instructions and assist with physical needs and personal care, such as feeding, bathroom needs, and personal hygiene
• Help manage the behavior of assigned students, including intervening in crisis situations and restraining disruptive or dangerous students as needed
• Recognize differences in students special medical, physical, communicative, and emotional needs and adapt methods and interaction
• Work with assigned students or small groups to develop motor skills and conduct instructional exercises assigned by teacher
• Assist assigned students throughout the school day, inside and outside the classroom, including lunchroom, bus, and playground duty

Other

• Maintain confidentiality
• Participate in professional development programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned
• Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures

Supervisory Responsibilities None

Mental Demands

• Frequent standing, kneeling, squatting, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, and twisting
• Frequent walking and reaching
• Frequent light lifting and carrying less than 15 pounds
• Occasional heavy lifting (45 pounds or over) and positioning or students with physical disabilities
• Controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting nonambulatory students, and lifting and moving adaptive and other classroom equipment

Environmental Factors

• Work inside and outside
• Exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather
• Exposure to noise
• Exposure to biological hazards, bacteria, communicable diseases

Mental Demands

• Work with frequent interruptions
• Maintain emotional control under stress
• Required by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for aides providing instructional support in Title I Part A program.