Attendance
Your student is absent when you arrive at school. Who should you contact?
Your TDB
Who do you send your intervener log to?
Your TDB and the dboffice@usdb.org
Before an emergency ever happens, what important school document should you read and understand?
Your school's emergency response plan.
Can an intervener transport their student in their own personal vehicle?
No—under no circumstances.
Your student is struggling to complete a task and you could finish it MUCH faster yourself. What's the intervener motto you should remember?
“Do with, not for.”
Your student is absent. What is your first priority for how to use your scheduled work time?
Substitute, if your TDB has a substitute assignment for you.
How often should you fill out/ enter data into your Intervener Work Log?
Daily
During an emergency, what should you do before contacting your TDB?
Follow the school's and classroom's emergency procedures.
When is it appropriate to use your personal cell phone while at work?
During your lunch break away from the student, or when pre-approved by the classroom teacher/TDB.
Your student uses touch to explore. Should you automatically take their hands and guide them using hand-over-hand?
No. Try hand-under-hand first and allow the student greater control.
Your student is absent and there is no substitute assignment. Can you decide on your own to stay and work on student materials?
No. Any time worked must be pre-approved by your TDB.
How often do you send your Intervener Work Log, and who gets it?
Every two weeks—to the Deafblind Services office AND your supervising TDB.
You're texting your TDB during an emergency. Name all five pieces of information they need from you.
What is the emergency? Who are you with? Where are you? Are you OK? Do you need us to do anything?
A student needs medication, tube feeding, suctioning, or oxygen monitoring. Can the intervener provide that care?
No. Interveners are not health-care providers and aren't permitted to provide those health-related services.
You know an IEP meeting is coming up. What's your responsibility?
Notify your TDB immediately. If you are invited, attendance must be alongside your TDB, never without
Name three appropriate activities you could work on, with TDB approval, while your student is absent.
training assignments, professional development plan, student's calendar/schedule, communication system, adaptations, student information book, studying best practices/critical considerations, or learning about the student's disability.
It’s 5:00 PM on the last Friday of the pay period, and you still haven’t entered all of your hours. Why is this a problem?
Your hours are due by 5:00 PM so your TDB has enough time to review your Intervener Work Log and hours, then approve both your log and your time in Vantage before the payroll deadline.
You leave the classroom with your student. What information must you give the teacher?
Where you are going and how long you will be gone.
A parent contacts you directly and asks for an update about their child. Are you allowed to communicate with the parent about the student?
No. Interveners should not have direct communication with parents about the student. All parent/family communication must go through the TDB.
The teacher asks you to permanently change your intervener schedule because another time would be more convenient. Can you make that change yourself?
No. The intervener does not independently change an approved work schedule, location, intensity, frequency, or scope of services. Discuss it with the TDB.
You frequently arrive late but always stay late to “make up” the time. Is that okay? Why or why not?
No. Consistency in attendance is vital. Unplanned/excessive tardiness or absenteeism can result in disciplinary action, including termination.
You notice an error and change your electronic timesheet after your TDB already approved it. What happens, and what are you responsible for doing?
The system kicks the timesheet back for re-approval. You must call and speak directly with your supervising TDB. If they cannot be reached/access it, contact the Executive Secretary or Director of Deafblind Services.
The emergency is over, everyone is safe, and you've already told the school. What easy-to-forget final step does the Red Folder require?
Send a resolution text to your TDB letting them know the emergency is over.
Your student is taking a long time to respond, and you're pretty sure you know what they want. You answer/do it for them so the class can move on. Name two best-practice problems with what you just did.
You didn't provide adequate wait time, and you took control away from the student instead of promoting independence/self-determination (“do with, not for”).
Your student is absent. You decide to stay at school and work on materials without contacting your TDB. At the end of the week, you realize you haven't completed your daily work logs, and you decide you'll just add this week's hours to the next pay period. Name THREE things you did incorrectly.