Overview
Northern Illinois University Disability Resource Center (DRC) offers guidance, services, and resources to help you access the NIU experience. We will work with our students to determine their needs and develop a plan to meet their comprehensive needs. Promoting self-advocacy and communication skills, we focus on helping students create collaborative relationships with faculty and staff. Our office works to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students and the campus community. |
Position Summary
Provide sign language interpreting communication for deaf or hard of hearing students to allow them to effectively participate in university courses, programs, services and activities. Coordinate and assign requests for interpreting services other interpreters (including but not limited to staff, vendors, and agencies).
Provides and schedules Interpreting Services in various subject areas and settings including but not limited to: lectures, discussions, recitations and laboratory sections; students meetings with professors, instructional staff or academic advisors; campus events/activities; public ceremonial events. Work closely with Interpreter/CART Coordinator to report schedules, hours, and any other necessary information. |
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Interpret Classes and Other University Events
- Prep for and interpret academic courses for deaf and hard of hearing students registered with the DRC, up to 20 hours a week.
Monitor Student Interpreting Needs in the Classroom
- Monitor DRC staff blackboard courses each semester to check for interpreter access, check for announcements, access any materials for interpreters that require NIU credentials, and secure interpreting for student needs related to their classes.
Collaborate with Faculty and Staff
- Maintain a good working relationship with students, faculty, staff, and clients who use interpreting services.
- Maintain the privacy of students and the confidentiality of information exchanged.
- Provide education and awareness of the accommodations used by students and the role of the interpreting services in the setting.
- Ensure interpreters and DRC have access to necessary content and students/clients have information necessary to connect with interpreters at events.
Monitor Student Interpreting Needs for Co-curricular Activities
- Monitor DRC inbox for additional interpreting requests and Recruit/Assign Interpreters to cover those events.
General Administrative Duties
- During assigned office time prep for current interpreting work, assist as needed with scheduling for upcoming semesters, or work on CEU's and professional development.
- Fill out a timesheet biweekly and submit it to the coordinator.
Communicate Regularly with Coordinator about Interpreting Requests
- Communicate with coordinators weekly, or more often, if necessary, about any student absences, schedule changes, etc.
|
Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)
- High School diploma or equivalent.
- Proof of current licensure at the Intermediate Proficiency level or higher as specified in Section 1515.90 of the Interpreter for the Deaf Act of 2007 Rules.
|
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)
Position Specific KSAs:
- Experience and knowledge of the post-secondary academic setting.
- Awareness of basic academic accommodations and disability rights.
- Ability to match client's language preference and interpret clearly.
- Must have the ability to communicate promptly, use computer and software effectively, and share information electronically.
Class Specific KSAs:
- Fluency in American Sign Language, signed English or other modes of signed communication.
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services
- Skill in simultaneous translation from English to the sign language or modes of communication preferred by the deaf and hard of hearing person.
- Skill in simultaneous translation from the sign language or modes of communication preferred by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing person to English.
- Skill in judging and adjusting to the deaf or hard of hearing person's language preference.
- Skill in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Ability to learn to use special or technical signs employed in an educational setting.
- Ability to deal effectively with hearing impaired deaf or hard of hearing persons, faculty, and staff.
- Ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
- Ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
- Ability to maintain records.
|
Specialty Factors (Civil Service)
N/A |
Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)
Current licensure at the Advanced Proficiency level or higher as specified in Section 1515.90 of the Interpreter for the Deaf Act of 2007 Rules. |
Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)
N/A |
Additional Requirements (SPS)
N/A |
Preferred Qualifications (SPS)
N/A |
Physical demands/requirements
- Will sit or stand for extended periods of time while interpreting, as appropriate.
- Using computer/electronic equipment for extended periods of time
- Occasional lifting and moving items weighing up to 25 lbs.
|