Braille Transcriber

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600 schools and employing approximately 40,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The mission of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services (ODLSS) is to provide high-quality and specially designed instructional supports and services for all diverse learners within their least restrictive environment. We work collaboratively with several units, specifically schools and Networks with the goal of improving the academic achievement of all diverse learners by ensuring diverse learners receive meaningful and relevant access to grade-level core instruction within their neighborhood school, school of choice, or the school closest to their residence.

Job Summary:

Under the general supervision of the teacher(s) of the visually impaired (TVI), the Braille Transcriber will be responsible for duties in connection with transcribing and reproducing instructional materials in braille, large print, and audio formats and perform additional duties as required.

The Braille Transcriber will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Receive and review requests from educational staff for instructional materials to be transcribed to and from braille, print, and audio formats
• Operate tools such as a braille writer, braille embosser, scanner, and computer with braille translation software
• Enter instructional content or material into the computer/appropriate software to be translated and embossed into braille
• Use formatting skills to convert scanned materials into the appropriate braille format
• Consult with educational staff members for clarification surrounding requests for transcribed materials
• Maintain detailed records of all requests received and transcribed for teachers of the visually impaired
• Adapt maps, charts, graphs, images, and all graphics into tactile representations
• Download books and other print materials into audio formats using talking books software
• Under the direction of a teacher of the visually impaired, provide direct classroom support regarding the accessibility of materials, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Braille Transcriber must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent is required
• Library of Congress Braille Transcriber Certification strongly preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience working with and translating braille materials is required
• Experience with 3D printing is preferred

Other Requirements:

• Fluent in reading braille

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of and/or familiarity with the following:
• The principles and techniques of transcribing materials to and from braille
• Equipment used to transcribe print to braille
• Resources such as Bookshare, Learning Ally, and the Library of Congress Talking Books Program as well as the Illinois Instructional Materials Center (IIMC)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups
• Strong time management and organizational skills; capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail, and meeting deadlines
• Proficient in the use of technology and computer programs (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace); Must have the ability to type at least 45 words per minute

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.