Special Assistant To The Blind (37.5 Hour Entry Level)

The State of Connecticut, Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS) is recruiting for Special Assistant to the Blind positions, within the Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind.

The Special Assistant to the Blind is responsible for assisting agency employees who are legally blind in various clerical duties such as reading, writing, filing, data entry and inventory control. They will transport individuals who are legally blind to appointments or meetings while maintaining safety which also includes providing verbal observations and use of sighted guide techniques. This position requires an individual to have the ability to carry and deliver equipment which may weigh up to 50lbs, to be in close proximately to service animals, includes statewide travel, and requires a clean Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicle driver's history record at all times during employment.

Are you interested in joining our team as a Special Assistant to the Blind? We encourage you to apply today! We currently have one position that will be located in Stratford, CT and anticipate multiple future positions that would be located in Windsor, CT. This is a full-time, first shift, 37.5 hour per week position with a typical work schedule of Monday through Friday. 

*The entry level compensation rate for this position shall be ten (10%) percent below the minimum compensation listed on this bulletin for an employee in his/her initial working test period. Upon completion of the initial working test period, the employee shall advance to the minimum (Step 1) of the salary schedule and be paid accordingly.

We offer a competitive benefits package, excellent health care, generous leave policies, retirement plan, and more!  We also encourage a healthy work-life balance to all employees!

The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.  

Due to the volume of applications anticipated, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be provided through your JobAps portal account. 

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meet the preferred requirements of the position.  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position. 

Please Note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. 

Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. 

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

All State employees shall follow the guidelines as listed in Executive Orders  13F (3a) and 13G (3a) .

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Chelsea Moore at Chelsea.Moore@ct.gov  

This class is accountable for driving visually handicapped persons to appointments and places of work and for guiding them in unfamiliar surroundings.

Assists blind rehabilitation teachers, counselors, clients and other visually handicapped persons in all required work activities including reading, writing, clerical duties, etc.; transports blind individuals to appointments or places of work; maintains safety of blind individuals; ensures that vehicle is in good operating condition; assists teachers in inservice presentations; observes clients' appearance and clients' living areas and describes these observations to teachers; assists teachers in giving lessons to clients; marks household appliances with Braille tape for client use; keeps records and prepares reports; may deliver mail, make bank deposits and run other errands for blind individuals; may assist in the stockroom of the Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind; may assist rehabilitation counselors in the survey of factories for job opportunities for blind individuals; performs related duties as required.

Oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; reading ability; map-reading ability; ability to utilize computer software.

Any experience and training which would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities listed above.

• Experience in a work environment with individuals with multiple disabilities including blindness
• Experience in a work environment transporting individuals with multiple disabilities including blindness
• Experience maintaining inventory control of adaptive equipment
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word and Excel)  

Incumbents in this class may be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain appropriate current licenses, permits and/or certifications.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to road hazards while driving and to possible injury when entering high crime areas.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.