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Teacher Assistants Assisting in Community-Based Instruction

State Guidelines

RIDE has established state Guidelines for Teacher Assistants Assisting with Community-Based Instruction. These are an addition to the existing RI Department of Education (RIDE) Program Standards for Teacher Assistants and Guidelines Related to Teacher Assistants: Professional Development, Instructional Teams, Supervision and Performance Evaluation, a copy of which is available on our Legal Requirements page.

State guidelines define Teacher Assistants Assisting with Community-Based Instruction as follows. “These teacher assistants may have varying job titles from one district or program to another, e.g., job coach, instructional coach, employment specialist, one-on-one workplace coach, etc. However, no matter their job title, these guidelines apply to individuals who meet the following description. Working under the supervision and direction of the classroom teacher or other appropriately certified professional staff, Teacher Assistants Assisting With Community-Based Instruction support students in learning how to be as independent as possible in a variety of community settings. This learning may take place in school-based and community-based settings. Because instruction takes place in both settings, the teacher assistant plays a key role in supporting students in transferring skills learned in-school to community-settings and, then, collecting data and reporting strengths and needs in community-settings that need to be addressed via school-based instruction. Depending on the program model in which s/he works and student needs, the teacher assistant may work with students in large or small groups or provide individualized support. The teacher assistant must be able to work effectively with students, teachers, employers and other community contacts and parents.”

Section I of state guidelines identify indicators of competencies/knowledge and skills that Teacher Assistants Assisting with Community-Based Instruction need to know or be able to do. In the Guidelines, these indicators are organized under the RIDE 4 Teacher Assistant Program Standards and are coded CBI for Community-Based Instruction. Section II of state guidelines related to Instructional Teams, Supervision and Performance Evaluation address teacher assistants in both school and community settings including the role of the classroom teacher or other appropriately certified professional staff under whose supervision and direction these teacher assistants work.

Teachers Assistant Training Through SORICO

The Southern RI Regional Collaborative (SORICO) is available to provide training for TAs Assisting with Community-Based Instruction. Topics include the roles and responsibilities of a job coach; how to match a student to the appropriate job duties; job development; job coaching strategies; workplace accommodations; liability issues; and evaluating student performance.

For more information on accessing this training or resource materials listed below, contact:

Alice Woods, SORICO,
646 Camp Avenue,
North Kingstown, RI 02852

Ph: 295-2888 x 109,
Fax: 295-3232,
or email SORICO

Resources

RIDE has located a variety of resource materials on this topic at SORICO that are available on loan.

  • Advancing Skills of Specialists in Employment Training - This is a comprehensive, competency based training program for entry level supported employment specialists, coaches and transition specialists who work with youth who have disabilities in community employment settings. It includes a manual for instructors, a workbook for specialists, and video material showing community jobs. It is designed to be consumer friendly and practical. It can be delivered in brief workshops, a series of intense instructional sessions, or college courses. It emphasizes advancement of practical skills with exercises for specialists to apply procedures in work settings. It is organized into 5 units addressing community integration, supported employment, job marketing and development, and job-based instructional procedures.
  • Effective Training at Work is a course that prepares individuals to support individuals related to community-based instruction. The course is on CD-ROM with printable workbook pages.
  • Tenpas, Steve. Job Coaching Strategies. This is a book and video distributed by Program Development Associates.
  • Wehman, P. & Targett, P.S. (eds.) Vocational Curriculum for Individuals with Special Needs: Transition from School to Adulthood.

In addition, the following materials related to community-based instruction are available on loan from 6 different locations throughout the state: Educational Collaboratives in East Bay (245-4998), Northern RI (658-5790), SORICO (295-2888), and West Bay (941-8353) plus the RI Technical Assistance Project (RITAP) at RI College (456-4600) and CHILDSPAN (729-0765).

  • Ness, J., Gustafson, & Sullivan, D. (1999). Transition: The Role of the Paraprofessional. (Facilitator Module and Student Module). This module presents information on assisting individuals with disabilities in transition from school to adult life. Both a facilitator's edition and a student's edition are provided. Five appendices provide information on the Individualized Education Plan, disability-related legislation, transition assessment, personal futures planning, and transition resources. Facilitator's edition offers learning activities and sheets to be used as transparencies.
  • Sheets, D., Gold, E., Stenhjem, & Peterson, K. (2003) My Future My Plan: A Transition Planning Resource for Life After High School – For Students with Disabilities and Their Families. Package is available in both English and Spanish and includes Student Workbook, Family/Teacher Guide; and Videotape/DVD with discussion guide. This resource was developed by the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition.

State Agencies and Organizations

In addition, there are a variety of state agencies and organizations providing resources for professional development and related community-based instruction issues. The following resources are current as of May 2006 and are subject to change. Their listing here is not intended to necessarily be an endorsement but rather to provide information to help the reader on issues related to community-based instruction. For some websites listed below, information is provided regarding resources available through that website. This information on resources is a sampling to give the reader an indication of the types resources that have previously been available. This sampling does not include all resources found on each site.

  • Secondary Transition Services on the RIDE website has information on Secondary Transition including but not limited to:
    • Rhode Island Transition Council
    • Rhode Island Regional Transition Centers
    • Rhode Island Regional Vocational Assessment Centers
    • RI Parent Information Network – Transition Outreach Project
    • Rhode Island Transition Technical Assistance Center
    • TRANSNETRI the RI Secondary Transition List Serve
    • Transition Products
    • Transition Links
  • The Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, 401-456-8071 (voice) or 401-456-8773 (TT) provides training, materials and a variety of other services and supports to promote the community membership of individuals with disabilities in school, work and society. Many of the resources relate to Community-Based Instruction. These include, but are not limited to:
    • Newsletters
      • The Works – Published 3-4 times a year, shares information about local and national news and resources in the field of employment as well as information about local events
      • RI Transitions – Published 3-4 times a year, focuses on developing and implementing effective transitions for students with disabilities, ages 14-21. It contains practical stories, illustrating good transition strategies, as well as local and regional updates and resources
    • Publications
      • RI Transition Resource Directory
      • Employment Resources and Planning
      • College Resources and Planning
      • Living and Participating in Your Community
      • Transition Folder
      • Here’s To Your Student’s Future! A Parent’s Guide to Transition Planning
      • Vocational Assessment and Its Role in Transition
      • Employing People with Disabilities
      • How Supported Employment Can Help You Find a Job and Succeed in It!
      • Getting the Most from Supported Employment Services
  • The RI Parent Information Network (RIPIN), 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860, 401-727-4144, ripin@ripin.org is a statewide, non-profit agency that provides information, training support and advocacy to parents and professionals seeking help for children including resources supporting transition to adulthood and a Transition Outreach Project.
  • The Institute for Labor Studies and Research, 401-463-9900 is the largest provider of workplace literacy programs in Rhode Island. It provides information, training and multiple resources on labor related issues including workplace liability and student workplace safety for school personnel who are placing students in the community.