CIL, Inc. - Open Positions

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