Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

National Association of the Deaf

Advocacy opportunity to expose the dominant society that “curing” the deafness is not the ultimate answer. Acceptance is.

The skills I possess that allow me to be an advocate come from years of employment experience in mental health field where I constantly advocated for clients’ right to have full access to communication, especially within the medical field.

www.nad.org

Federal Support for Developing Language and Literacy: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

There is no job position available through this website that interests me; however, there is a potential position I would think GAO would benefit from---a specialist (policy maker or some sort) that focuses on advocating language and literacy developments for deaf and hard of hearing children by promote recognition of Deaf mentor program and early intervention

www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-357

Department of Human, Health Resource—WV

West Virginia Birth to Three

No job opportunity at this time. This program does not provide Deaf Mentor Program to provide the support to the parents and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing. I would think Deaf Mentor Program greatly benefits all the people who are involved in West Virginia Department of Human Health Resource.  There is lack of information on hearing loss in its website.

I have the knowledge and skills that allow me to work with all kinds of people and being a deaf role model for the deaf or hard of hearing children.

www.wvdhhr.org

Blog Assignment: Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Three local, or state/communities of practice organizations that appeal to me are primarily serving the deaf and hard of hearing population.

First, Beginnings for Parents of Children who are deaf or hard of hearing, Inc. offers excellent position opportunities where I could be involve in early intrevention. This is a state organization (North Carolina)  Here is the website address: http://www.ncbegin.org/early_intervention/professionals.shtml.

The positions that this organization offers that interest me: Service Coordinator and Teacher for deaf or hard of hearing.  Service coordinator is responsible for providing the resources to the parents; to assist the parents with identifying the resources that best fit their needs, and to work with the parents, organization(s), and other resources. The skills that are needed for this: college degree in education, American Sign Language, knowledge of Deaf culture, great interpersonal skill, communication skill, organizing skill, and multitasking skill.

Teacher for deaf or hard of hearing requires college degree in teaching and in Deaf Education, fluent in American Sign Language, skills in communication, interpersonal, instructional management and design, and resourcesfulness.

Second, West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, Romney, WV offers job positions from time to time. This school is a state school that serves the deaf population as well as blind population.  This is an educational setting. Currently, the school is advertising a position that may interest me and that is parent educational counselor.  This position requires masters degree in counseling (preferably), must be knowlegeable about deafness, deaf culture, and be able to demonstrate fluency in American Sign Language. This position focus on working with parents and their deaf children on different aspects of their lives that deafness has an impact on to work out the differences, to help them gain knowledge and skills, and to advocate the families. Website: http://wvsdb2.state.k12.wv.us

Third, West Virginia Birth to Three Early Intrevention that serves all children between birth to three across the state. Website: http://www.wvdhhr.org/birth23/Default.asp  This program assists families in finding resources that best fit families' needs. The program has affliation with other networks such as children's doctor, hospital, education settings, and so forth to promote positive learning experience for parents and their child. Its current job opportunity:  Service Coordinator--which is the same as what Beginnings provides (mentioned earlier). 

Those three programs focus on working with deaf or hard of hearing children between birth to 3 and that completely relates to my passion. I would like to work with parents, othe professionals, and children to ensure that children are not falling behind in language devleopment as well as the parents not being drowned in new environment.