GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY
DESCRIPTION OF POSITION
CoNavigator
POSITION TITLE
CoNavigator Coordinator
TITLE OF IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR
Student Success & Academic Quality 6105
DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT #
Summary:
The role of a CoNavigator is to provide access to the Gallaudet campus as a human guide for DeafBlind students. The CoNavigator will also provide support to the DeafBlind student by giving them access to information on campus. CoNavigators also empower DeafBlind students to be autonomous in their decision making.
Principal Responsibilities:
The CoNavigator will
Provide support to the DeafBlind Student to access visual and environmental information on campus,
Provide access to printed materials,facilitate communication using the DeafBlind student's preferred language and communication mode, thereby reducing communication barriers
Help the DeafBlind student become independent and integrate into the Gallaudet community.
Serve as a human guide for the DeafBlind student to navigate around the campus
Relay visual and environmental information for the student in the student’s preferred language and communication mode, which may include translating information in written English to ASL and for describing the environment as needed
Be helpful but objective, supportive yet empowering, and sparing in expressing their personal preferences while providing services
Take the route preferred by the student unless there is legitimate reason to take an alternative route. If an alternate route is taken, the CoNavigator should make a reasonable effort to orientate and prepare the student to lessen any stress or confusion.
Remain impartial, maintain confidentiality, and work in a variety of on-campus settings
Maintain high professional standards by continuous attendance at relevant and appropriate training through workshops.
If any conflict arises including non-working romantic relationships with a DeafBlind student, CoNavigators are expected to disclose that relationship and be reassigned to another DeafBlind Individual
In some cases, through special request or approval from the CoNavigator Coordinator, the CoNavigator may escort the student to their internship site off campus.
However, a CoNavigator should not be relied on for roles such as acting as an interpreter in medical, legal, business or other settings. Any CoNavigator who is also a qualified professional interpreter should be careful to differentiate which role they are assuming in any particular situation.
CoNavigator should not be expected to cross over into more social situations, such as providing transportation, providing food or attending to students' more personal needs or run errands for the DeafBlind student to name a few. For more questions about the role of a CoNavigator, please email conavigators@gallaudet.edu.
CoNavigators may decline services for any task or assignment that they are not comfortable performing or that could present a conflict of interest for the CoNavigator or presents an actual or potential violation of law, Gallaudet policy or ethical code of conduct.
CoNavigators ought to have a 15 minute break for every 2 hours of work with DeafBlind students.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Required Minimum Qualifications:
minimum GPA of 3.0.
Must be a Gallaudet University Undergraduate/Masters or PhD student
Recommendation letter from the DeafBlind community or faculty member
Flexible and willing to adapt to a variety of settings and situation
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Qualities that will help the incumbent be more successful in the position):
possess a good understanding of the unique life experience of members of the DeafBlind community and an appreciation for what must be done to remove barriers that prevent their full participation in the campus community
Ability to support DB students without disempowering
The successful candidate will undergo a background check that must be cleared prior to working at Gallaudet University.
Gallaudet University is an equal opportunity employer/educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, hearing status, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, childbirth, or any other unlawful basis. This policy is in compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, and other applicable laws and applies to all procedures affecting applicants and employees including, but not necessarily limited to: recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, reassignment, reappointment, tenure, demotion, selection for training, layoff, furlough, and termination, compensation, and all other conditions or privileges of employment.