Communication Specialists

New Communication Specialists (CS) are assigned a CS mentor within their district or one closest to their area, if no one is available in their district. The mentor will work with the new CS on specific skills necessary for success in working with consumers who are hard of hearing and late deafened. The mentor will provide opportunities for learning skills by providing hands on experience regarding working with hard of hearing and late deafened consumers through the Vocational Rehabilitation process. New Communication Specialists will participate in Regional Focus Group Meetings that will generate discussions about local vendor protocols and caseload practices. Communication Specialists use one another to troubleshoot problems and improve their skills. Communication Specialists also attend all mandatory programs for the agency to further develop job related skills. New Communication Specialists will also participate in mandated online training and other required training to learn more about hearing loss, hearing aids, and other technology.

The goal is to have one Communication Specialist in every major VR office who will serve individuals who have hard of hearing/late deafened as either their major, secondary or other disability. Cases with the disability codes of “04-08” (major, secondary or other disability) should be served by counselors that are receiving or have received training as a “Communication Specialist” (CS). A CS needs to have a “critical mass” (25+) of hard of hearing/late deafened (HH/LD) cases to provide effective services and maintain skills. The optimum number of HH/LD case is 50-75 per Communication Specialist. An overall HH/LD caseload size is smaller than average in order to provide the specialized guidance and counseling and expedite job retention services. A Communication Specialist assigned for each county is to work with the general counselor to become familiar with the referral sources in that county. VR Offices that serve hard of hearing and late deafened consumers need to be made “communication accessible”. This includes phone amplifiers, assistive listening devices; visual display technology and TTY’s (if appropriate). This is the responsibility of the district office where the Communication Specialist is located.

As Communication Specialist positions become available, the state coordinator should be contacted to determine if a CS is still needed in that area based on the number of cases being served or see if there are any previously trained CSs that might be interested in transferring to this position. Potential candidates for a Communication Specialist position must be informed of the extensive and ongoing training they will be required to obtain in order to keep up their skills and knowledge of hearing aids and advancing assistive technology. It is strongly recommended that managers include CS duties and expectations in the PD’s, CDP’s, and Performance Plans. In areas of the state where feasible, managers should consider some full time CS caseloads as numbers increase.

• ALD Technical Training 6 weeks Online Program, Becky Morris – This online course has 6 Modules and includes topics regarding Hearing Loss, Assistive Systems, Alerting Systems, Phone Communications, Other Communication Options, and Performing a Communication Assessment.  Participants will have access to power point presentations, videos, and resource materials and well as a discussion forum moderated by Becky Morris.  (Materials provided by Becky Morris)

• Sam & Janet Trychin Training: Psychological Aspects, Audiology, Assessments &  Eligibility of Hearing Loss – DVD/Printed materials (Materials provided by HH/LD program Administrator)

• Solutions For People With Hearing Loss in Career Education Environments 6-Part DVD Series : Psychosocial Issues and Coping Strategies, “Success Stories” from People with Hearing Loss, Technology Solutions for People with Hearing Loss, Do’s & Don’ts in the Workplace and Classroom, Americans with Disabilities Act Rights in the Workplace and Higher Education, Hearing Aids What Do I Need to Know – DVD presented by Esther Kelly and Texas Deaf Action Center – Materials provided by HH/LD Program Administrator

• Audiology/Hearing Technology “What’s New with Hearing Aids?” - Jeffrey Fischer, Audiologist/Presenter.  Materials provided by Jeff and HH/LD Program Administrator

• Hard of Hearing/Blindness - Types and Causes of Hard of Hearing/Blindness and Vocational Impact of the Disability.  Interpreting Visual Reports – Dorothy Brame (OFB).  Material provided by Dorothy Brame and HH/LD Program Administrator

• Dual Case Training – Policy and Protocol for Serving Dual Cases for Hard of Hearing/Late Deafened/Blind cases – Jeff Fischer. Materials provided by HH/LD Program Administrator and Jeff Fischer. 

• Assistive Technology – “The Provision of Hearing Assistive Technology” presented by Carol Weber, Manager of RT Branch – Materials provided by Carol Weber

Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) online American Academy of Hearing Loss Support Specialist.  The Academy consists of 4 classes of 10-15 lessons each.  Additionally it includes un-graded tests, forums for participant discussions, occasional online discussions, and a graded timed online final examination.  Materials provided by HLAA.