Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Description

Job Summary: Under the direction of the Vision Rehabilitation Services (VRS) Director, the Lighthouse Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) provides quality assessments and training to clients of all ages in the New Orleans region. The job requires both facility-based and itinerant training to foster safe and independent travel for clients in home, work, and community. settings. Additionally, the COMS advocates for the needs of people with vision loss as a representative of Lighthouse by participating in community education events, advocacy opportunities, and meetings with local coalitions.

Job Responsibilities

• Perform quality Orientation & Mobility Specialist assessments and subsequent training to support the mobility needs of clients across all service areas to include facility, home, work, and community venues. Develop goals and objectives following each evaluation to ensure that all clients reach their highest abilities based on individual needs and desires. Collect pre and post data to measure service outcomes.
• Submit assessments, progress summaries, discharge summaries, daily notes, and invoices by procedure to support reimbursement from all funding sources. Accurately document all services as determined by department policy to ensure timely invoicing and to maintain good communication with Lighthouse staff, referring Physicians, and contracting agencies.
• Provide individual and group instruction to participants in the New Vision and Next Step Programs for clients who qualify for Older Blind services as outlined in the program curricula for O&M.
• Collaborate with VRS staff to develop and implement youth services for the Light Steps and Forward Steps programs.
• Collaborate with the vision rehabilitation team to optimize communication regarding client needs and plans for services across all Lighthouse programs.
• Conduct sensitivity training for new Lighthouse employees in the New Orleans facility. Conduct initial O&M assessments for employees who have vision loss to identify needs for training to ensure their safety when navigating throughout the facility.
• Conduct periodic assessments and training as needed to support Lighthouse employees who are blind to enhance their efficiency, productivity, and safety on the job. Consult with management staff to resolve identified challenges as requested.
• Collaborate as a member of the Mo-Mobility team to enhance blind pedestrian safety and public transit services for people who are visually impaired or Deaf-Blind across the New Orleans and Baton Rouge regions by providing system assessments, educational presentations, and interactive training opportunities to transit operators, city planners, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Participate in education and advocacy events to promote inclusion for people with vision loss. Provide sensitivity training to teams of local businesses. Conduct environmental assessments for public venues. And engage with the community at outreach events.
• Supervise O&M students as determined by university guidelines to ensure successful internships and to grow the field of Vision Rehabilitation.
  
  

Requirements

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited program with emphasis in
  
  

Orientation & Mobility required; Certification as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist required.

• Special Knowledge/Skills: Proficient skills for assessing and teaching Orientation and Mobility in various settings; Knowledge of visual disabilities and effects on functional skills. Comfort working with people who may have additional disabilities, Effective teaching skills with ability to assess and adjust training to optimize progress; Strong troubleshooting skills; Superior oral and written communications; Ability to develop and perform professional presentations; Proficient in the use of Office software products and the internet required.
• Experience: Minimum of 350 hours experience instructing people with varying degrees of vision loss on the use of adaptive strategies and mobility aids for safe and independent navigation. Experience and proficiency to complete assessments and draft professional reports.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: O&M interns as required; Volunteers as required.
• Physical: Good physical health to support outdoor training during all seasons. Able to walk long distances and manage public transportation systems independently. Able to manage transportation and training for off-site instruction around client homes and businesses. Must be able to tolerate driving in all conditions for extended periods to support travel between Lighthouse locations and throughout the New Orleans and Baton Rouge regions. Able to manage all self-care needs and activities of daily living with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Personality Traits: Friendly, client-focused, and flexible; Professional in appearance and attitude; Creative problem-solver who is detail-oriented and works well with others; Collaborative spirit but able to work independently when needed; Mission-minded teacher who motivates clients and teams to achieve successful outcomes; Openly offers and accepts constructive feedback.
• Working Conditions: Outdoors, classroom, client home/work, commercial, and industrial environments. Frequent travel required. Mileage reimbursement provided to service providers who travel to/from client appointments. Valid driver’s license and clear driving record required with valid insurance.
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week. Occasional weekend community outreach activities and training sessions.
  
  

At Lighthouse Louisiana, we are committed to the principles of equal employment. We comply with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. We are dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment including, but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay (and other compensation), termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. In addition, we take affirmative actions to recruit, hire, promote and retain veterans.