Teacher of the Visually Impaired- Early Intervention

Description

Foundation for Blind Children is currently accepting applications for a full time Early Intervention Provider to join our Early Intervention Team! This position is primarily community-based, with occasional time spent in the office. We offer a full benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, employee events, and more. Apply today to join our team and make a difference in the community! 

Foundation for Blind Children (FBC) is a high profile, nationally recognized nonprofit organization headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.  FBC serves blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages through family and infant support, college and career readiness, adult transition services, a braille and large print library, a prison braille program and one of the largest preschools of its kind in the country.  As a well-established leader in the visually impaired community, FBC emphasizes innovation and solutions, empowering all people we serve to achieve greater confidence and independence.  FBC’s workplace culture consistently ranks in the top 10% of nonprofits in the country with 95% of employees recommending the organization as a great place to work.  Join FBC and help ensure that every person with a visual impairment in Arizona has access to quality services and resources.

Early Intervention Providers at FBC support the learning and development of infants and toddlers with a visual impairment. Our Early Intervention service model is family-centered and involves a holistic, multidisciplinary team approach to build the family’s capacity to care for the child and promote the child’s growth and development in natural environments where families live, work, and play. The EI team brings critical resources to children, their families, and caregivers during the early years of development.

Job duties include: 

• Conducts assessments including developmental, functional vision, CVI range, and learning media assessments as appropriate.
• Collaborates with parents and other professionals to develop and monitor child and family goals and the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).
• Consults and collaborates with team professionals to assure high quality and coordinated service delivery to achieve IFSP goals.
• Supports parents and other professionals in understanding the child’s visual impairment and its effect on the child’s development, and provides resources on how to work with children who are blind or have low vision and other topics as needed.
• Serves as a liaison between the medical and school communities and the family.
• Plans and provides individualized vision and developmental services supporting IFSP goals at home and in the community when appropriate.
• Uses coaching strategies to increase family confidence and competence in promoting the child’s learning and development.
• Supports the family in adapting everyday activities to promote the child’s optimal development and learning.
• Recommends adaptations of the environment to optimize the child’s use of sensory information and to encourage self-initiated movement, exploration, and engagement.
• Engages in group child and parent workshops and activities as needed.
• Prepares the family and the child for transition to preschool and other community-based Programs.
• Respects the unique interests, culture, needs, and priorities of each child and family and builds on their strengths and abilities.
• Provides oral and written reports of assessments, interventions, and progress updates to parents, team members and management.
• Maintains accurate and timely records and client files.
• Attends FBC and EI team meetings and consults with other agencies/professionals as needed, including reflective consultation groups.
• Stays current on best practices, evidence-based interventions, emerging trends and technologies by reviewing professional journals and research, participating in professional associations, and/or attending workshops and conferences.

Qualifications

• Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety or ability to obtain clearance required.
• A current and valid Arizona Driver’s License required.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree from accredited college or university in Education of the Visually Impaired and certifiable as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired in the state of Arizona required.
• TVI experience is preferred.
• Experience working with young children with visual impairments or related experience in a home-based setting is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with children and families from diverse backgrounds and professionals from other fields.
• Flexibility in scheduling to meet needs of families and program.
• Excels at collaborating and communicating with team members from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Capable of functioning independently to effectively meet deadlines and other service requirements seeking supervisory consultation when necessary.
• Ability and willingness to travel independently to provide home and community-based services as assigned.

Salary : $56,640 - $80,000