10-12. Braille Transcriber (“BT”) Classification

10-12.1. Job Duties/Responsibilities. 

Braille Transcribers shall perform duties in accordance with applicable statutes, established guidelines and their job description.

10-12.2. Braille Transcriber Regular Work Day. 

Braille Transcribers are on duty seven hours and fifteen minutes each school day, exclusive of a thirty-minute lunch period. The BT shall be scheduled for a ten-minute relief period during the morning, and a ten-minute relief period during the afternoon. A BT shall not be required to start the work day any earlier than the time the school the BT is assigned to for that day is open. Otherwise, the start of the work day, the end of the work day, the timing of lunch, and the timing of the relief periods are designated by the Chief of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) or their designee in collaboration with the BT; however, the start and end times may vary according to the school start and end times as well as any meetings prior to or after the regular work day (e.g., if a BT is assigned to a school that starts at 8:30 a.m. and has mandatory administrative meetings at 7:30 a.m., the BT’s day would start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m.). All travel time is part of this regular workday, except travel to and from the first/last work location. The practice of two attendance swipes per day shall be maintained.

10-12.3.

Where administratively possible, Braille Transcribers shall be assigned to work at only one school per day.

10-12.4. Certification. 

All employees who provide transcribing services for blind or visually impaired students, parents, or employees must hold or be actively working to obtain a Library of Congress Braille Transcriber Certification, and must abide by Illinois state licensure laws.

10-12.5. Regular Work Year. 

Braille Transcriber is a non-exempt, 208-day position.

10-12.6. Applicability of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

All provisions of the CBA applicable to PSRPs also apply to Braille Transcribers unless they specifically conflict with the provisions of this Article.

10-12.7. Professional Development. 

Each Braille Transcriber shall be allowed up to two days of paid time per work year for professional development. The Braille Transcriber shall schedule the days in coordination with the Braille Transcriber’s supervisor. Disputes over scheduling shall be resolved by the Braille Transcriber’s supervisor. For professional development opportunities that are available by remote platform, the Braille Transcriber may be permitted to telework subject to approval from the Chief of OSD or their designee.

10-12.8. Workspace. 

The BOARD shall provide adequate preparation space for Braille Transcribers appropriate to their job duties. The space shall include, at minimum, a desk, a chair, a computer, and access to working copiers, printers, and telephones.

10-12.9. Paid Time Off. 

Braille Transcribers will receive the same paid-time off benefits as other PSRPs who work a 208-Day schedule.

10-12.10. Staffing. 

Starting January 1, 2026, and for the duration of the Agreement, contingent on the availability of qualified candidates, CPS will maintain two braille transcribers positions.

10-12.11. Salary. 

10-12.12. Reimbursement. 

BTs will be reimbursed for mileage in accordance with the Board’s Employee Travel and Work Related Expense Reimbursement Policy.

10-12.13. Discipline. 

Discipline for BTs shall be issued in accordance with Articles 9 and 29 of the CBA. BTs discharge procedures will be governed under the same terms as delineated for PSRPs.