American Sign Language Role-Playing Game Master Trainee Volunteer (In-person only - Spokane Area)


American Sign Language (ASL) proficient volunteer needed for 5 hours weekly (or alternating weeks) to facilitate ASL-only tabletop social cooperative role-playing gaming (RPG) table for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) community at the non-profit RPG Community Center in East-Central Spokane, Washington, and/or at Spark Central in Kendall Yards area of West-Central Spokane.


THIS IS NOT AN INTERPRETER position, this is to run activities at a table that is 100% signing in ASL.

Deaf / HoH applicants welcomed, as long as you can be patient with our trainers/staff limited ASL.

As with everyone at RPG Research, we are all 100% unpaid volunteers dedicating a few hours a week of our time to help the community.


We provide free training to become a GM (or improve existing GM skills), but you must already be solidly proficient with ASL skills in group settings. Background check required before you may participate in our community programs.


Link to application: https://rpgresearch.com/job_application?new=1&job_title=american-sign-language-role-playing-game-master-trainee-volunteer


Become an exceptional role-playing game master through our exceptional proven training programs, and then help us deliver role-playing game community programs to help improve participant's functioning and quality of life thanks to the inherent benefits of cooperative, social, role-playing games.


You must be able to attend in-person, at the RPG Center, 101 North Stone Street, Spokane, WA 99202


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JOB SUMMARY

  1. Volunteer trainee position open for Deaf, Hard of Hearing (HoH), or hearing, ASL proficient signers.
  2. Non-profit RPG Research has openings in Spokane, Washington for 3+ ASL proficient volunteer trainee game masters (GM) for role-playing games (RPG). Primarily table (TRPG), but if you wish may also help with our live-action (LRPG and LARP), electronic (ERPG), or hybrid (HRPG) role-playing games.
  3. Training diploma can be applied toward RPG Therapeutics LLC's certified professional game master certifications.
  4. Requires strong proficiency in American Sign Language, and commitment for the training necessary to become a proficient game master working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing players.
  5. THIS IS NOT AN INTERPRETER POSITION. All participants at the table will be using ASL exclusively. You will just be communicating in ASL to others in ASL as you run the game in ASL. If you are proficient in ASL, we will gladly train you in how to be a GM, even if from scratch. 
  6. MUST PAST BACKGROUND CHECK BEFORE ELIGIBLE TO RUN A TABLE.
  7. CANDIDATES MUST ALSO TO ATTEND OUR FREE RPG TRAINEE PROGRAM TO WORK TOWARD TRAINING DIPLOMA


SCHEDULE

  1. Run ASL RPG table once per week (5 hours per week total).
  2. Flexible schedule.
  3. Before being able to run games, you will need to attend our Free RPG Training 4 hours per week until trained.



CHALLENGES

  1. Work specifically with Deaf & Hard of Hearing: children, young adults, adults, and senior adults. Many may have additional challenges. You get to choose which ages and populations you are comfortable supporting. Once signed-off by your supervisor and trainer, you get to choose which role-playing game(s), from our approved list, you will run each week.
  2. Potentially ages 4 years old through senior adults & all between
  3. 4-12 year old participants must have parent/guardian at the table with them.
  4. 13-17 may be at the table without parent/guardian if waivers signed.
  5. Trainee must already be ASL proficient in group settings, and able to work in a center that is primarily hearing (or at least be patient with the trainers and staff members who have limited ASL).
  6. Know, and be able to run in ASL, one or more tabletop role-playing game systems & settings (we will train).
  7. Help us finish the aslrpg.com website for RPG-specific signs to share with global ASL RPG community.
  8. If you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, as long as you are patient with our trainers' rusty ASL skills we can still train you as a Game Master.




Commitment: Typically 4-6 hours per week, never more than 10 hours per week. Includes 4 hours of training, and then either weekly or every-other week helping facilitating our role-playing game community programs in the Spokane area for 5 hours.


Required Free Training sessions: 24 sessions to receive Level 1 Role-Playing Game Player Professional Diploma, an additional 24 sessions to receive Level 1 Game Master Diploma. You do not need to complete the diploma to begin helping with our community programs. You may be able to begin helping with our programs typically within 3 to 8 weeks after beginning training.


Once your background check is completed, and you have finished the first few sessions of our volunteer training, you can help at least twice per month at the RPG Community Center or our Spark Central programs.


Application, Training, & Participation Process

  1. Read about the role, responsibilities, requirements, and commitments on this page.
  2. Click the Apply Now button.
  3. Complete and send the application form
  4. Respond to confirmation email verifying your understanding this is an unpaid volunteer position.
  5. Confirm interview appointment (typically 1 to 8+ weeks after application.
  6. Pass interview(s).
  7. Accept verbal offer.
  8. Accept and sign our Codes of Conduct and Attribution Agreement documents.
  9. Accept email/written offer.
  10. Pass background check (at our expense).
  11. Select and commit to the appropriate volunteer training schedule.
  12. Select and commit to community program facilitator schedule.
  13. Purchase the role-playing game professional training workbook (physical printed version recommended to help you track your training progress).
  14. Attend training session each week.
  15. Complete 24 Player Training Sessions (also take tests and other requisites if going for training diploma).
  16. Complete 24 GM Training Sessions (also take tests and other requisites if going for training diploma).
  17. During and after training period, participate in at least 2 other sessions per month (helping give back to the community) to help with training other volunteer trainees, or our community programs.



Key Tasks and Responsibilities

  1. Run role-playing game sessions as assistant facilitator or game master.
  2. Facilitate 1-5 players per 3-4 hour game session.
  3. Prepare adventures in accordance with RPG Research rules and guidelines, including our Code of Conduct.
  4. Complete session assessment forms when appropriate.
  5. Prepare character sheets for participants to choose from.
  6. Run adventures ranging from "one shots" to ongoing mid-length and long-term campaigns.
  7. Address any group interpersonal issues, and maintain players compliance with RPG Research Player Code of Conduct.
  8. Attend in-person at least one free training session per week (4 hours)
  9. Availability for at least 2 regular group sessions per month (game sessions typically 3-5 hours) (in addition to training sessions).
  10. Strongly self-motivated
  11. Strong collaborative work ethic
  12. Reliable communication and schedule compliance


REQUIRED

  1. Strong American Sign Language proficiency
  2. Excitement about helping with our programs
  3. Availability for training & running programs as per listed schedule.
  4. Strong enthusiasm to help others.
  5. Excited about learning.
  6. Assertive (not aggressive) presence with confident but warm, friendly, empathetic, and compassionate communication style.
  7. Warm, patient, compassionate, empathetic, toward others.
  8. Well organized.
  9. Strong work ethic, especially reliability with weekly scheduling.
  10. At least 5 years proficiency with American Sign Language, actively working with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
  11. MUST BE ABLE TO "GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY" AT LEAST 2 SESSIONS (3 to 4 hours per session) PER MONTH.
  12. MUST BE ABLE TO ATTEND 4 HOUR TRAINING SESSIONS EACH WEEK (in person at the Spokane RPG Center).
  13. Must pass background check before allowed to work with participants outside of RPG Research training labs, or handle sensitive data (usually completed within 90 days of active participation, RPG Research covers the cost of the background check).
  14. Assertive (not aggressive) presence with confident, warm, friendly, empathetic, and compassionate communication style.
  15. RELIABLE SCHEDULE COMMITMENT.
  16. STRONG AND RELIABLE COMMUNICATOR.
  17. MINIMUM ONE YEAR ACTIVE COMMITMENT.
  18. MUST BE A WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENT (due to our current insurance limitations, we're working to get this broadened back to our international volunteers, but for now we're limited to Washington state residents only).


Optional but helpful (will train as needed):

  1. Experienced theatrical acting skills
  2. Effective voice acting skills
  3. Background in education
  4. Background in therapeutic disciplines
  5. Prior role-playing game experience
  6. Ability to work with non-ASL volunteer staff or participants.
  7. Comprehensive knowledge of role-playing game system rules for at least one published game system (we will provide extensive free training to get you there as needed).
  8. At least some tabletop RPG GM experience preferred, though we are willing to train anyone interested and committed enough for the lengthy professional-grade (free) training program.



Core Competencies (will train):

  1. Organizational skills
  2. Group dynamics conflict resolution skills
  3. Storytelling skills
  4. Verbal (signing) and written communication skills, during training needs to be able to communicate with non-Deaf trainers (some of our trainers have some ASL skills).
  5. Enthusiastic communication style that excites others with your passion about the topics discussed.
  6. "Can do" attitude, and an eye for seeing where people need help before they have to ask.
  7. Outgoing presence.
  8. Well organized approach to preparing for game sessions and tracking participant progress
  9. Passionate supportive energy



Working Conditions

  1. In-person or online tabletop role-playing game sessions, typically ranging between 3-5 hours (including setup and tear-down).
  2. Most training sessions are recorded and/or broadcast online (must agree to these terms for all game masters).


Compensation

  1. As with all positions at RPG Research, this is an unpaid Volunteer position with no financial compensation.
  2. Extensive free training.


Job Types:

  1. Volunteer, Part-time, Temporary, Internship, unpaid.
  2. Salary: $0 USD


QUESTIONS

  1. Years experience working in community centers and similar environments?
  2. Years tabletop role-playing game master (GM) experience (any RPG system)?
  3. Years tabletop role-playing game player experience (any RPG system)?
  4. Do you understand that while most of the beginning training can be provided remotely, that you must be able to attend in-person at least twice per month to "give back to the community"?
  5. Do you understand that this is an unpaid volunteer position for a 501(c)3 non-profit charity?
  6. Do you have Therapeutic Recreation / Recreational Therapy experience/training ? (not required, but love to have students and professionals from the TR/RT industry as a great fit!):
  7. Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) (not required, but great to have)?
  8. Years experience with Live Streaming over the Internet?
  9. Years experience working with at-risk populations?
  10. Years experience working with people various disabilities?


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