Other

Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Various Locations

Full Benefits; Fully paid year-round health insurance; PERS Retirement; Vacation, Sick Leave

BenefitsQUALIFICATIONS:

1.   Orientation & Mobility Certification is required. Bachelor's Degree or Master’s Degree with an emphasis in special education preferred. 

2.   Three (3) years successful teaching experience working with a wide range of age groups and handicapping conditions preferred.

3.   Interest in providing services, technical assistance and support services to children 0-21 school age.

4.   Ability to communicate with students in Braille, preferred.

JOB GOAL:  Provides a program of specialized instruction and services for students who are visually impaired through instructional methodology based on functional skills theory.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES (may include but not limited to the following):

1.   Teach visually impaired students preschool through grade 12.

2.   Plan and implement appropriate program and orientation and mobility strategies and devices for visually and/or multiply impaired students.

3.   Share and assist other teachers, classroom aids, and/or volunteers in adapting programs and environments to meet individual and/or group student needs.

4.   Establish and gain students’ and adults’ trust in enhancing their self-esteem.

5.   Able to work with curriculum as it applies to visually impaired students and their need for concept development.

6.   Work with all adaptive equipment which assists visually impaired students within the classroom setting.  These might include, but not be limited to the following – CCTV’s, Braille-writers, slate and stylus, recorders, glasses, etc.

7.   Work with students in mobility issues (cane, sighted guide assistance, orientation issues) in a variety of environments.

8.   Contribute to appropriate portions of the IEP/504, such as goals and recommendations. 

9.   Provide consultation and support services to parents, educators, and other team members.

10.    Work with the teacher of visually impaired students to conduct the functional vision assessment as it relates to independent travel.  

11.    Evaluate the student’s progress on an ongoing basis and keep progress notes on each student. 

12.    Instruct students with visual impairments in skills and knowledge that enable them to travel independently based on the IEP. 

13.    Teach students to travel with proficiency, safety, and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments. 

14.    Be responsible for the student’s safety during O&M instruction and in other environments while fostering maximum independence during O&M lessons. 

15.    Prepare and use equipment and materials, such as tactile maps, models, distance low-vision aids, pre-canes, and long canes for the development of O&M skills.  

16.    Provide orientation of new buildings and new class schedules to students with visual impairments as needed, including those community settings where students receive instruction.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

 Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required to do this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.