Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) 2024/2025

School Directory Link: website

Thank you for your interest in the Communicative Disorders Assistant position with the York Region District School Board. This position is responsible for supporting the delivery of speech-language pathology services for students with communication needs in regular or specialized settings as assigned and supervised by a YRDSB Speech-Language Pathologist (S-LP) in compliance with Board policies and procedures.

Salary: $33.42 - $34.78

Please Note: You may also be considered for temporary and/or permanent opportunities as they arise throughout the year.

Casual Positions: On call, as-needed basis to cover absences of permanent employees ranging from daily occurrences up to 30 consecutive working days.

Temporary Positions: This is a position that is available for a period in excess of 30 consecutive working days to replace a permanent employee who is absent on an approved leave of absence (e.g. pregnancy, parental, educational or medical leave).

Permanent Positions: These are full-time positions (35 hours per week).

Major Responsibilities :

• To support the recommendations made by S-LPs regarding speech and language programming, resources, accommodations, and modifications for students with communication difficulties involving listening, speaking, reading, and/or writing.
• To participate along with a supervising S-LP in in-school team, multidisciplinary team, and family meetings to support a preventative and integrated approach.
• To model language facilitation strategies and the use of visual materials, communication devices/systems to members of a classroom educator team upon request of a S-LP.
• To implement, troubleshoot and support augmentative alternative communication tools.
• To create, S-LP department specific and individualized communication and literacy materials that support a student’s communication and/or literacy development.
• To collect student specific data as requested by a S-LP to help inform the programming recommendations provided.
• To provide workshops and training relevant to students with communication disorders in conjunction with the S-LP.
• To participate in meetings and committees as requested or approved by a supervising S-LP.
• To attend professional development and training as approved by the Chief of Speech-Language Pathology Services.
• To work as an active member of the school and department teams to ensure the safety and success of all students.
• To track, inventory and maintain S-LP department equipment, materials and resources.
• To support referrals to the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), as well as maintain and manage a database with student specific CCAC information.
• To demonstrate accountability for CDA professional practice standards and in accordance with established Board policies and procedures.
• To perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Speech-Language Pathology Services and/or the Superintendent of Student Services.

Education, Experience, and Qualifications:

• Secondary School Graduation Diploma with two years of post secondary education and a one year Communicative Disorders Assistant graduate certificate is required.
• Minimum one year related experience is required.
• Proficient verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills are required.
• Must possess a valid Ontario Driver’s License and have access to own transportation.
  

Additional Information:

• Employees are expected to work at least 30 days within the current school year to remain on the casual list. Please note that hours of operation in our schools could start as early as 7:30 a.m. and end as late as 4:30 p.m. The Board highly recommends that employees accept as many shifts as possible throughout the year to encourage advancement within the Board.
• In the application process, you will be prompted to provide at least three (3) professional, supervisory references (including full name, position title, work location/organization, and email address) in the job posting screening section of the online application. We do not contact references prior to practicum/interview.
  
• For your information, a list of YRDSB Schools is provided.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

The York Region District School Board (YRDSB) believes in giving each and every applicant an equal opportunity to succeed on their own merit and we strive to hire staff that reflect and support the diverse perspectives, experiences and needs of students and communities. We remain committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. We know that diversity underpins excellence, and that we all share responsibility for creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive Board-community.

Therefore, in pursuit of the Board’s values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across the organizational hierarchy in actualizing the Board’s priorities, goals and principles outlined in the Director’s Action Plan. Candidates who have strong racial literacy practices and a commitment to dismantling anti-racism, anti-oppression, and creating identity-affirming spaces, in order to intentionally disrupt racist and hateful acts.

We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to sovereignty, equity, including, but not limited to:

• First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and all other Indigenous peoples;
• African, Black and Black Caribbean peoples (in alignment with Anti-Black Racism Strategy);
• South Asian, East Asian, Southeast Asian, Middle East/West Asian, Latino/Hispanic (in alignment with YRDSB Workforce Census to address disproportionalities identified).
• members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
• persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
• persons who identify as women; and
• persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

At YRDSB, we recognize that many of these identities intersect and therefore, equity, diversity and inclusion can be complex. We value and respect the contributions that each person brings to enriching the Board and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all in the communities that we serve.

Accessibility and Accommodation Statement

We also recognize the duty to accommodate and foster a culture of inclusion. Consistent with the principles of dignity, individualization and inclusion, we will make any appropriate accommodation based on any of the protected grounds in the Human Rights Code to support candidate participation in the hiring process. When contacted, candidates will be provided with an overview of the various elements of the hiring process, such as skills assessments, written practicum, presentation, interview, etc. If an accommodation is required, requests can be made in advance of any stage of the recruitment process. All information received relating to a candidate’s required accommodation will be addressed confidentially by the Recruitment and Retention Team. Please make this request to careers@yrdsb.ca or a member of the Recruitment Team. If this position is a school based LTO/Contract Teaching position, please email the Principal directly to request the accommodation to be made at the school in collaboration with Human Resource Services, Disability Management Team.

Important Note for YRDSB Employees: If you have a current accommodation in place through Disability Management, please inform your Disability Management Case Manager to ensure that your accommodation needs can be met in the new role that you are pursuing. If invited to participate in the hiring process, and you are unable to perform the essential/bona fide requirements (e.g. physical, cognitive requirements), please notify the Recruitment Team by emailing careers@yrdsb.ca to review next steps (in the email please reference the job title you are applying to).

Important Information for CUPE 1734 Members:

LA.11.7 Those twelve (12) month employees filling vacancies as a result of their applying to a job posting are to remain twelve (12) months at their position. Ten (10) month employees are to remain in their position until the end of the school year. This requirement can be waived with permission from the Superintendent responsible for Human Resource Services. This does not prevent employees from applying for a position or from applying for a promotion during the twelve (12) month period.

As a condition of employment, successful candidates will be required to submit a current original Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) from the police jurisdiction in which they reside or an Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC) through Sterling Backcheck prior to commencing employment with the Board. The PVSC and E-PIC documents are only valid if issued within the last six months. Candidates are not advised to obtain this document prior to an offer of employment. Should you go through the E-PIC process it is the candidates responsibility to download the results and provide a PDF copy to the Board upon instruction. Should you go through the PVSC process, it is the candidates responsibility to provide the results to the Board upon instruction.

On-line applications are collected centrally at the Education Centre - Aurora and are monitored by Human Resource Services. All applications will be screened based on the required education, experience and qualifications as noted in the posting and job description and as reflected in the application. Only those candidates meeting these criteria will be eligible to participate in the selection process and only qualified candidates will be contacted.

The personnel file of all internal applicants will be reviewed as part of the selection process.