Autism communication adviser, India

Country:  India

Organization:  Voluntary Service Overseas

Theme: Other

Job years of experience:3-5 years

Job type: Volunteer Opportunity

Closing date: 31 May 2013

Apply today and you could be… Autism communications adviser, India

Employer: Deepshikha Location: Ranchi, Jharkhand, India Length: 12 months

VSO (www.vsointernational.org) is the world's leading independent international development organization that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. VSO's high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action, and change lives to make the world a fairer place for all. This is an exciting opportunity to work with Deepshikha, an Indian civil society organization working with children with disabilities to provide essential support and care, empowering some of India’s most marginalized groups.

What does the role involve?

You will work with the staff of Deepshikha to build their capacity and improve their knowledge and skills in working with children with disabilities, in particular autism. To do this you will:

    Assist and support the development of existing and new community based rehabilitation (CBR) and institution based programmes

    Train staff on Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)

    Organize workshops on alternative means of communication and enabling staff to work effectively with children with disabilities, especially Autism.

    Organize workshops for staff on alternative means of communication both the theory and practice.

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll have a qualification in a relevant field and significant practical experience working with children with autism using alternative and augmentative communication methods. Ideally you’ll have trained other people to use these methods. You’ll have sound knowledge of community based rehabilitation and be able to work in a community based context, in particular a developing country. You’ll be a positive, proactive and flexible person, able to work in a resource limited environment. You’ll be a problem solver with a commitment to working with marginalized people. In addition to all this, a sense of humour is key!

And the rest...

You’ll be based in Jharkhand in the north east of India. We’ll ask you to commit 12 months to make a sustainable contribution to development goals and in return we’ll provide you with invaluable training before your placement, a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation and insurance. When you return to your home country we’ll help you resettle and we’ll invite you to stay involved with us through campaigning, development awareness raising and fundraising.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please go online to: http://www.vsointernational.org/volunteer Please put the following reference on your application form: IND0945/0002/0001