Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Vision Loss Resources

For more than one hundred years Vision Loss Resources has created a community of service, skills, and support for people living with vision loss, blindness, and deafblindness. By learning new skills and connecting with others going through similar experiences, our clients adapt, connect, and thrive, opening doors to new opportunities rather than seeing their world narrow.

Position Purpose

This position supports the Rehabilitation Services department providing Adjustment to Blindness training for clients. Vision rehabilitation support is provided in the classroom setting at VLR offices and other settings in the community. The Rehabilitation Instructor will instruct clients using innovative and practical instruction methods that will allow them to reach their highest level of independence and involvement in the community, and in a way that demonstrates VLR’s core values of effective communication, teamwork, respect, creativity and inclusivity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, evaluate and/or modify teaching approaches to accommodate different abilities and learning styles, both for individual and small group training for O&M.
• Be knowledgeable of methods for evaluating and have the ability to measure students’ progress using current industry best practices.
• Plan instruction and deliver rehabilitation that is aligned with VLR curriculum, using various motivation techniques to support clients in reaching individual goals and engage in collaborative teaching as needed.
• Review and improve VLR training and rehabilitation protocol and curriculum to stay current with best practices.
• Organize instructional area/facilities and equipment, determine needed equipment and supplies, and adapt and maintain equipment and resources to meet client requirements. Ensure equipment is properly used to maximize the client’s ability to accomplish educational/training goals.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their family members, SSB Staff, and caregivers to deliver optimal rehabilitation support.
• Evaluate client progress and learning difficulties against goals and communicate this information to members of the client’s inter-disciplinary team. Jointly plan alternative strategies and processes to assist in client goal attainment.
• Complete daily documentation and semi-monthly status reports.

Position Qualifications

• Certification, or ability to be certified by Minnesota State Services for the Blind at the Advanced Level for orientation and mobility within 6 months of hire. https://mn.gov/deed/ssb/vendors/guide/certifications/atb-instructors/orientation/
• Proof of a Master’s degree from an approved university program that meets the 13 Domain Knowledge areas and current ACVREP certification as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), or eligible to sit for the certifying examination within 6 months of hire.

OR

• Proof of a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college that meets the 13 Domain Knowledge areas with an emphasis in Orientation and Mobility plus 350 hours of discipline specific supervised practice by a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) as required for ACVREP Certification. If not currently ACVREP certified, eligible to sit for the certifying examination within 6 months of hire.
• Knowledge and training that meets the 13 Domain Knowledge areas:
• Knowledge of professional information
• Understanding of relevant medical information
• Apply learning theories to O&M
• Conduct O&M assessments
• Plan O&M programs
• Teach O&M concepts
• Teach orientation strategies and skills
• Teach mobility skills
• Teach use of senses
• Teach consumers who have additional disabilities
• Teach diverse consumers
• Analyze and modify the environment
• Know psychosocial implications of blindness and visual impairment
• Ability to work in multi-cultural setting including hard-of-hearing, deaf, visually impaired, blind, or deafblind individuals. May also work with clients who are recent immigrants from other countries.
• Ability to travel and manage travel arrangements independently in the metro area is essential.
• Competency with Microsoft ® Office Suite and using a database (database training provided).
• Ability to work both independently and within teams supporting team cohesion and goals.
• Commitment to the VLR mission to provide services, skills, and support for people with vision loss.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated organizational, communication and project management skills.
• Ability to make recommendations with supporting rationale.
• Initiative and demonstrated pursuit of continuous improvement.
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality.

Vision Loss Resources is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer for all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• ACVREP (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Little Canada, MN 55117 (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Little Canada, MN 55117: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $65,000 - $75,000