In 1837, the Ohio government established the Ohio Institution for the Education of the Blind. This institution was the predecessor of the Ohio State School for the Blind. It was the first public school for the blind in the United States. Today, more than 100 Ohio blind and visually impaired students receive their education each year at OSSB.

Please note: This posting serves as notice for three vacancies. Applications received for this posting will be considered for all vacancies.

The Ohio State School for the Blind is seeking dynamic applicants with a passion for supporting students who are diverse learners.

Instructional Aide Duties and Responsibilities:

Assists teacher of students (i.e. pre-school, elementary, middle school, high school, or post-secondary) who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind &/or students with multiple disabilities in academic instruction (e.g. math, science, reading, history, expanded core curriculum), vocational &/or daily living skills &/or in the classroom by assisting teacher by tutoring &/or conducting group or individual lessons for students in conjunction with teacher; ensuring safety & well-being of students; counseling students to provide for educational, emotional, physical or personal needs; monitoring students to maintain discipline & ensure students will carry out their assignments as made by teacher & monitor student's behavior for compliance with established rules (i.e. school code of conduct, individual education plan); support students in proper utilization of various adaptive technology; provides language enrichment / mediating for language deprivation support as needed (e.g., gesturing, manipulating, presenting English version); accompanies & assist students during meals; facilitate transportation needs (i.e. before and after-school coordination, field trips, escorting to/from bus and/or personal transportation); operates motor vehicle in escort and/or transporting students (e.g. medical trips, field trips, educational or occupations activities and/or residence); carries out teacher provided lesson plans in teacher absence when necessary to continue regularly scheduled instruction.

Assists in preparation of &/or creation of lesson plans (e.g., determine areas of need with teacher assembles instructional materials, sets up classroom for lessons, takes attendance, performs grading, setting up accessible equipment) and supports technology integration into classroom; prepares & creates instructional media for classroom use & operates all equipment and (e.g., smart devices, intelligent devices (e.g. braille note), TV, audio/visual equipment), software (e.g. Duxbury, Tactile view), edits audio/video materials & assists in development of visual lessons & assists in maintenance & repair of equipment.

Under the guidance of the classroom teacher, assist in preparation for IEP meeting in assisting in compilation of data & feedback (e.g. completes detailed documentation, logs and assessments related to academic, behavioral development & progress): participates in conferences & student evaluation sessions (e.g., provides information regarding student progress & observation); participates in inter-disciplinary meetings.

Performs clerical tasks associated with educational duties (e.g. translates, types & duplicates lesson plans, maintains student records; collates & distributes classroom materials; performs attendance records; maintains classroom supplies).

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems ( such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation ( Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Must possess current Educational Aide Permit as issued by State Board of Education 12 mos. exp. in teaching assistance. NOTE: Intermediate level on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) required upon hire for positions at the Ohio School for the Deaf.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED TO REMAIN IN THE CLASSIFICATION AFTER EMPLOYMENT: Renewal of Educational Aide Permit in accordance with State Board of Education rules & regulations. Certification in CPR & first aid to be obtained within one year from date of hire. If transporting students, appropriate van certification required. For positions assigned to Ohio School for the Deaf must demonstrate Advanced level on Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) within 1 year from date of hire.

UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS: May work evenings &/or weekends; may work outside exposed to weather; may be exposed to aggressive &/or unpredictable behavior, human waste, & infectious diseases.

Job Skills: Education, Educational Support, Developing Others, Establishing Relationships

• This position works according to the school year calendar.
• The State of Ohio is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin (ancestry), military status, disability, age (40 years or older), genetic information, sexual orientation, or caregiver status, in making employment-related decisions about an individual.
• The Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws. To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability please contact Kimberly Basil at 614-644-5968 or basil@osdb.oh.gov
• The final candidate selected for the position will be required to submit a urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to an appointment. The State will decline to extend a final offer of employment to any applicant with a verified positive test result. Also, an applicant with a positive test result will not be considered for a position with the State of Ohio for a period of one year.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.