The Stepping Stones Group
Make a Difference Every Day
Empowering Students, Enriching Futures!
School-Based Personal Care Assistant (PCA) | Full-Time | Students with Visual Impairments and Additional Disabilities
About the Opportunity
Are you passionate about supporting students and helping them take part fully in the school day? The Stepping Stones Group is seeking a dedicated Personal Care Assistant (PCA) to join a specialized school serving students with visual impairments, many of whom also have other disabilities. This is more than a job. It's a chance to provide the individualized support students need to stay safe, build independence, and join in learning and school activities.
You'll work alongside teachers and other paraprofessionals, often supporting one student within a classroom, as well as supporting the classroom team as needed. Extended school year (ESY) work in July may be available.
- Pay: $18-$21 per hour
- Schedule: Monday-Friday, full-time, 40 hours per week, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM with a paid working lunch, no evenings or overnights
- Setting: Onsite, students with visual impairments, 1:1, 2:1, and classroom support in a specialized special education setting
- Start date: Immediate, through the end of the 2026-27 school year (early June)
- Calendar: School year,
What You'll Do
- Provide 1:1, 2:1, or classroom support to students with visual impairments and additional disabilities
- Assist with personal care and activities of daily living (ADLs), including feeding, toileting, diapering, and mobility assistance, if needed
- Provide behavioral support and intervention, including implementing interventions and redirecting behavior
- Provide general academic support, including help with assignments
- Collect and document data as directed by the teacher and school team
- Assist the classroom teacher and other paraprofessionals as needed
- Support student participation in classroom instruction and school activities
- Assist students during arrival, dismissal, transitions, lunch, and recess as assigned
- Follow IEP accommodations, care plans, and behavior plans as directed
- Monitor student safety and well-being throughout the school day
- Maintain accurate documentation, and protect student confidentiality and dignity
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Experience working in schools
- Experience working with students with visual impairments
- Experience working with students with other disabilities
- Comfort with and ability to provide personal care, including toileting and diapering, if needed
- Flexibility with caseload and student needs
- Ability to meet state requirements for school employment [confirm, see notes]
- Reliable transportation [confirm]
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Authorization to work in the United States; English proficiency
You'll Thrive in This Role If You Are Open To:
- Working with students of all ages who are blind or have low vision
- Working with students with multiple disabilities, including developmental, medical, and behavioral needs
- Providing personal care with patience, respect, and professionalism
- Working with all caseloads and behaviors
- Working in a specialized, small-class special education setting
- Working fully onsite and in person
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with braille, assistive technology, or orientation and mobility support [confirm, see notes]
- Experience as a paraprofessional, instructional aide, behavior technician, CNA, home health aide, or direct support professional (DSP)
- Experience with personal care, ADL support, lifting, and transfers
- Experience supporting students with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or complex medical needs
- CPR and First Aid certification
- CPI, Safety-Care, or other crisis prevention and de-escalation training
- Associate's degree or coursework in education, healthcare, psychology, human services, child development, or a related field
Related Experience We Value
Experience as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA), Personal Care Aide, Paraprofessional, Instructional Aide, Educational Assistant, School Aide, Student Support Assistant, Special Education Assistant, Behavior Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Home Health Aide, Caregiver, or Direct Support Professional (DSP) is highly valued.
Why Candidates Choose This Role
- Make a direct, daily difference for students who need specialized support
- Build rare, in-demand experience working with students with visual impairments
- Enjoy a full 40-hour week with a paid working lunch
- Build experience for careers in education, special education, psychology, healthcare, nursing, social work, and occupational therapy
- Follow a predictable school schedule, with weekends, evenings, and holidays typically off
- Work alongside teachers, therapists, and school professionals
Why You'll Love Working With Us
- Competitive pay of $18-$21 per hour
- Health and wellness benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees
- 401(k) retirement plan for eligible employees
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Continuing education resources
- Employee referral bonus program
- Responsive and supportive leadership
- Opportunities for career growth and advancement
- Meaningful work that directly impacts students and communities
Physical Requirements
- Ability to remain active throughout the school day, including frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, and repositioning
- Ability to lift, transfer, reposition, or physically assist students safely
- Ability to guide and assist students with mobility
- Ability to assist with feeding, toileting, and diapering, if needed
- Ability to respond quickly to health, safety, and behavioral situations
- Additional requirements may vary by assignment
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?
Successful Personal Care Assistants are compassionate, dependable, patient, and flexible. They build trusting relationships with students and school teams, provide respectful and consistent personal care, communicate clearly and describe the environment for students who can't see it, promote independence and inclusion, and help students take part in school activities throughout the day.
About The Stepping Stones Group
We believe every child deserves exceptional support for their academic, behavioral, physical, and social-emotional growth. We partner with schools across the country to provide high-quality services that help students access educational opportunities and achieve meaningful success, and we give our team members the support, training, and resources to thrive.
Ready to make an impact? Apply today. Please share your school-based experience, your experience with students with visual impairments, and your experience with other disabilities when you apply.