Communication & Educational Support Partner Wanted for Teenager Who Uses AAC We are looking for a confident, experienced, and compassionate communication partner/educational support person to work with our teenage daughter, who is autistic and communicates using an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device. Our daughter attends an online general education school , and we are looking for someone who can support her in successfully participating in her classes and school activities from home. This person would be an important bridge between the online learning environment and our daughter—not by speaking for her, but by supporting her access to communication, instruction, and participation. A central principle in our family is presuming competence . Our daughter has ideas, opinions, preferences, and things to contribute. We are looking for someone who genuinely believes that communication differences do not reflect a lack of understanding or ability.

The role may include:

Supporting her participation in online general education classes Helping her navigate the online learning environment and classroom routines Supporting access to her AAC device and allowing adequate time for her to formulate and communicate responses Helping teachers and others communicate directly with her rather than speaking for her Supporting her in expressing questions, answers, opinions, and ideas Helping her participate as independently as possible in assignments, discussions, and group activities Providing organizational and practical support when needed Collaborating respectfully with her family, teachers, and other members of her support team The person we are looking for We are particularly interested in someone who has experience supporting nonspeaking or minimally speaking autistic students, AAC users, inclusive education, special education, educational support, or related fields . Experience is valuable, but just as important is the ability to approach this work with confidence and high expectations . We need someone who is comfortable advocating for her access and participation, thinking creatively when communication or learning gets challenging, and assuming competence rather than making assumptions based on her speech or disability.

The ideal person is:

Confident and comfortable working alongside a teenager Patient, observant, and genuinely curious about her communication Comfortable using or learning AAC Familiar with—or eager to learn about—AAC and supported communication Able to presume competence and maintain appropriately high expectations Comfortable interacting with general education teachers and participating in an educational team Respectful of her autonomy, choices, privacy, and communication style Able to distinguish supporting communication from speaking for her Dependable, organized, and able to take initiative Interested in helping her become increasingly independent rather than creating unnecessary dependence We are looking for someone who can see the person and the competence behind the communication method and who will approach her as a capable teenager whose voice deserves to be heard. If you have relevant experience, please tell us about your background, your experience with AAC/autism/inclusive education, and what draws you to this type of work. We would also love to hear about any experience you have supporting students in online or general education settings.

Schedule:

TBD Location:

Alamo CA Compensation:

TBD Pay:

$25.00 - $35.00 per hour

Work Location:

In person