We are looking for a responsible, college-educated, positive, and high-energy person to help mentor, care for, support, and educate our 16-year-old homeschooled daughter. The position will begin as soon as possible with a multiple-week training and shadowing period.
Our daughter is an easy-going, non-speaking person who communicates using alternative methods. She loves music, taking long walks, and reading, and she's definitely a teenager (lots of eye rolls at her parents!). The training period will involve trust-building and extensive training (including from our daughter and the person in the current role) in how to support her fine-motor and sensory disabilities as well as her educational and communication needs. Once the current person leaves in January, the job will involve adapting and implementing second-semester 10th grade curricula in math, reading, writing, science, history, etc., and administering lessons and schoolwork for at least 2-3 hours per day. Outside of "school," you would be expected to get out of the house and into the community, take long walks or hike, explore new activities, visit museums, read, and support her growth in other ways, including helping her develop personal care skills and keeping her mind busy.
Experience with disability is not required. The successful candidate will be patient, kind, dependable, responsible, reliable, creative, and conscientious. They will have a strong educational background with at least a bachelor's degree. Being a self-starter and being able to take initiative with little direct supervision after the training period are essential.
Must be an experienced and safe driver (car not necessary), and be able to walk at least one mile without resting. People with dyslexia and vision disabilities have found some aspects of the job difficult (including the essential tasks of reading to her and supporting her text-based communication).
We live about a 12-minute walk from the Ballston Metro in Arlington. Starting pay during the training period is $25/hour, and will increase depending on skills, education, and experience. We strongly prefer people who are looking for and can commit to a long-term, multi-year position. We are an LGBTQ+ friendly household. Must be legal to work in the US, supply at least three references, and be willing to go through a background check if hired.
If you are interested, please reply with a bit about a) why you are interested in the position, b) your background, and c) your availability to begin if hired. If you have a resume, include that too. Thanks!
