Special Needs Education Specialist at Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA)

The Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA), formerly known as Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA), is a legally mandated body to promote and protect rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities. MACODA was established by an Act of Parliament, the Persons with Disabilities Act (No. 4 of 2024), as a statutory corporation to protect and promote fundamental rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities. The Council is an enforcement agency of the Act and is particularly legally mandated to investigate and carry out inquiries into violations of rights of persons with disabilities. Among its functions for disability programming and steer disability mainstreaming in the country’s development include promoting multisectoral coordination and collaboration; development of standards and guidelines on a rights-based for disability service provision; regulating disability services and programmes; promotion of measures and interventions aimed at promoting realisation of rights of persons with disabilities and registration of persons with disabilities as well as
organisations, associations and institutions implementing disability programmes including those that provide specialised services to persons with disabilities.

MACODA is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the following vacant positions existing in the Council.

Job Title: Special Needs Education Specialist
Grade: MCD 6
Reporting to: Centre Manager (Lilongwe Vocational Training Centre)

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide support to student learning; for example, assisting students in note taking, use of
  Braille materials, assisting students with the use of assistive technology to ensure equal
  access to learning.
• Support students in counselling, tutoring and mentoring them along the training programme.
• Advocate for students’ needs, welfare and rights and promote inclusivity and accessibility in the learning environment.
• Conduct orientation to members of staff and students on disability rights awareness, disability accommodation, safeguarding and inclusive practices.
• Identification, evaluating and verifying disability among students to determine their needs and eligibility for services.
• Developing and implementing personalised plans to address students’ specific needs.
• Designing and implementing Programmes to enhance student’s engagement, participation, retention and success.
• Connecting students with local available resources, services and organization’s

Qualification and Experience

Bachelor Degree in Special Needs Education, Social Work or Sociology with not less than 3 years’ experience in teaching. Candidates should be able to transcribe Braille material and possession of practical knowledge or certification of Sign Language will be an added advantage.

Personal Attributes and Specifications

• Excellent appreciation and understanding of disability and rights of persons with disabilities.
• In-depth knowledge of existing disability legal and policy framework in Malawi.
• Familiarity with the intersection of disability and development and the implications of
  intersectionality of disability to programming in education.
• Good understanding of safeguarding issues relating to vulnerable adults and children.
• Computer literacy, excellent presentation, communication and reporting skills.
• Excellent student mentorship abilities, techniques and skills.
• Sound leadership, management and counselling skills.

Method Of Application

Malawi Council for Disability Affairs is an equal opportunity employer and persons with disabilities and women are highly encouraged to apply. The Council is committed to the promotion of merit, fairness, equity, honesty, integrity, impartiality and professionalism; as such any form of canvasing is not allowed and any candidate involved shall be disqualified.

Qualified and interested individuals who meet the above specifications should submit their written applications, detailed Curriculum Vitae with copies of certificates indicating three traceable referees not later than 4:30pm on 11th October, 2024 to:

The Director General
Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA)
P. O. Box 5971
LIMBE.

Or Email to [email protected]