Job Summary:

Under general direction of the Director, Center for Childhood Deafness, and the Associate Director of Clinical Services, this role performs professional work of considerable difficulty as a member of the multidisciplinary team with particular responsibilities for providing evaluation and intervention services as a preschool teacher or parent-infant specialist for selected Boys Town National Research Hospital patients and school-based services. No matter the role you play at Boys Town, you further our commitment to making the world a better place for children, families, patients, and communities.

Schedule:     8:00am-5:00pm Monday to Friday

                   11 Month Position—Approx. August to mid-July

Responsibilities:

• Provides evaluations of auditory, communication, developmental, academic and pre-academic skills for infants and children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Designs programs of intervention and educational services in the areas of speech production, pre-academic skills, social-emotional development, language use and understanding, and auditory development for infants and children with hearing losses.
• Works independently with families to coordinate services provided at BTNRH and school from a variety of disciplines.
• Implements monitoring protocols for sensory aids such as hearing aids, cochlear implants and remote microphone systems systems; consults with other staff members and provides training on the use of these devices in intervention and education. Evaluates effectiveness of assessment protocols.
• Serves as a mentor for graduate students and clinical fellows in the area of assessment and intervention with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Assists and participates in the design and implementation of selected clinical research projects.
• Participates in conferences and school functions with families and educational staff.
• Conducts seminars, in-service training programs, sign language instruction, and BTNRH sponsored workshops for various groups.
• Provides outreach consultative services upon request from school districts.
• Prepares and maintains records/reports on patients/students.
• Assists in the quality improvement program for monitoring hospital or school records for patients with hearing loss and communication disorders.
• Other Duties: This job description incorporates the essential functions and duties required for this position. However, other duties may be required and assigned at times and as determined by a supervisor in order to meet the needs of the organization.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
• Ability to apply knowledge in the area of normal speech, language, auditory, child development, hearing disorders, amplification, communication devices, and hearing assistive technology.
• Ability to develop sign language and spoken language and listening skills in children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Ability to apply knowledge and understanding of the communication disorders of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Ability to apply knowledge and understanding of a variety of approaches to intervention with infants and children with hearing losses, including listening and spoken language, auditory and/or oral, total communication, bilingual/bicultural approaches.
• Ability to communicate using proficient spoken and written English communication, providing an excellent speech and language model.
• Ability to communicate in sign language proficiently or ability to develop sign language skills.
• Ability to serve as a professional advocate for children who are deaf or hard of hearing at BTNRH and in the schools.
• Ability to use or manage equipment such as hearing assistive devices, cochlear implants, hearing aids, video technology, alternative communication devices, and personal computers.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Deaf Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Special Education, and/or another discipline dealing with child development, family systems, and/or other concerns related to deaf/hard of hearing is required; a Master of Science (MS) or Master of Art (MA) is preferred
• Nebraska Teacher Certification required, endorsement in early childhood special education or inclusive preferred, or a Certificate of Clinical Competency from ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association)
• At least 2 years of experience preferred, in the area of evaluation and/or interventions with children who are deaf or hard of hearing (qualified new graduates will be considered)
• Early childhood education and experience in working with infants and preschool children
• Knowledge of psycholinguistics, psychology of deafness, speech, language and auditory development in young children, assessment and intervention techniques for infants and preschool children who are deaf or hard of hearing, hearing devices, hearing assistive technology, cultural considerations, family systems, and development along the life span.