Deaf Peer Counselor

Position:  Deaf Peer Counselor 
Hours:     Part-time (.53 FTE)
Salary:    $15.38/hr
Supervisor:  Program Manager
Location: Berkeley

Summary: Center for Independent Living (CIL), the nation's oldest Independent Living Center based in Berkeley, CA, is seeking a Deaf Peer Counselor with superior skills and knowledge.  The incumbent will provide independent living services to a diverse group of consumers within the Deaf community: Deaf, hard-of-hearing, Deaf-Blind. 

Responsibilities:

• Provide peer counseling, independent living skills resource support, information and referral, and communication assistance to facilitate goals of independence to Deaf, Deaf-Blind and hard-of-hearing consumers. 
• Assist consumers with development of self-advocacy skills.
• Provide consumers with information about and access to relay interpreting services as needed.
• In collaboration with CIL’s Assistive Technology department, stay current on the various types of assistive technology useful to Deaf, Deaf-Blind and hard-of-hearing consumers.
• Work with CIL’s Systems Change Advocacy department on activities that can improve access to the community by Deaf, Deaf-Blind and hard-of-hearing consumers.
• Plan and coordinate workshops in conjunction with other CIL staff members as well as other agencies that serve the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and hard-of-hearing community members.
• Coordinate services to Deaf-Blind CIL consumers.
• Maintain necessary consumer documentation in an accurate manner.
• Submit required monthly reports and statistical information in a timely manner.
• When appropriate assist with securing sign language interpreters for CIL meetings and workshops.

Education and/or Experience:

BA and/or two (2) years of experience working with the Deaf community.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of American Sign Language, Deaf culture, Deaf rights.
• Knowledge of assistive technology commonly used by Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and/or Deaf-Blind individuals (e.g. TTY’s, video relay, assistive listening systems, Braille and Speak)
• Life experience with Deafness and familiarity with other disability groups.
• Experience in working with people with disabilities.
• Experience in advocacy, peer counseling, and information and referral.
• Familiarity with minority Deaf cultures and other forms of sign language preferred.
• Bi-lingual/bi-cultural preferred.

Physical Demands:

• Sitting for long periods of time
• Engaging in sign language conversations for long periods of time
• Using computer monitor, keyboard and TTY for long periods of time