Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (Visual Skills)

Veterans Health Administration•Hines, IL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist provides assessment, treatment, and follow-up services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members, with duties in the Orientation and Mobility Department. The specialist provides direct care and support to adults with blindness or visual impairment, including a substantial population of older male Veterans. Services are tailored to each individual's needs, abilities, limitations, concerns, and barriers to treatment, with individualized goals and treatment plans intended to promote independence and participation in everyday activities. The position addresses the physical, emotional, psychological, social, vocational, and recreational effects of blindness and visual impairment. Specialists work independently across hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, homes, and community settings, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. The role may include coordinating a Veteran's interdisciplinary plan of care, advocating for assigned Veterans, documenting assessments and progress, prescribing and teaching the use of adaptive technologies, and mentoring staff and trainees. Administrative duties may be assumed during the supervisory specialist's absence. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not suitable, and the position is not virtual. Driving patients for training purposes is required. The position may be filled at GS-09 through GS-11, with a full-performance level of GS-11. Salary ranges are $68,999–$89,703 at GS-09 and $83,482–$108,533 at GS-11. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
A bachelor's degree in blind or vision rehabilitation, a closely related rehabilitation program, special education for visually impaired people, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education; alternatively, a bachelor's degree supplemented by specified related coursework, graduate coursework, or a qualifying certificate and practicum/internship.
Foreign graduates must provide proof of a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent, verified through an independent credential evaluation company, with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.
For GS-09: a bachelor's degree and one year of experience, or at least two full years of progressive graduate education or a directly related master's degree.
For GS-09, demonstrate knowledge of blind/vision rehabilitation service policies and procedures; administration and interpretation of assessments; development of written rehabilitation plans; instruction and therapeutic techniques; recommendation of prosthetic devices within scope of practice; and ability to coordinate assigned Veterans' rehabilitation programs.
For GS-11: in addition to basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-09, or three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree, or a directly related doctoral degree.
For GS-11, hold at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification from ACVREP or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. Depending on services provided, required credentials include CATIS or equivalent for assistive technology, COMS for orientation and mobility, CVRT for communication and daily living therapy/rehabilitation teaching, or CLVT or equivalent for low-vision therapy.
For GS-11, demonstrate knowledge of complex evaluations and diagnostic procedures; assessment of Veterans with diverse and multiple disabilities; development of measurable rehabilitation plans integrating information from multiple disciplines; instructional methods and learning principles; use of interventions and motivational techniques coordinated with other professionals; and recommendation and adaptation of prosthetic devices within scope of practice.
Pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding process, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
Register with Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA health care personnel requirement.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
Submit transcripts when relying on education to qualify; qualifying education must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and be from an accredited institution.

Responsibilities

Provide direct care and support services to adults with blindness or visual impairment, including older male Veterans.
Assess each Veteran's needs, abilities, limitations, concerns, and barriers to treatment, and develop individualized goals and treatment plans.
Instruct Veterans in adaptive skills and techniques that promote independence in everyday activities.
Address physical, emotional, psychological, social, vocational, and recreational effects of blindness and visual impairment.
Work as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team and potentially serve as Team Coordinator for one or more Veterans.
Develop and coordinate a Veteran's Interdisciplinary Plan of Care with input from the Veteran and other team members.
Advocate for assigned Veterans by communicating their needs and concerns to the rehabilitation team.
Provide and document professional assessments, individualized program plans, training progress, post-training skills, and recommendations.
Evaluate and prescribe low-vision and adaptive technologies, and instruct Veterans in their proper use, capabilities, and limitations.
Support Veterans with complex medical, psychological, substance-use, or cognitive concerns, and use interventions to enhance rehabilitation.
Mentor new visual rehabilitation staff, employees from other departments, interns, and clinical trainees requiring cross-training.
Drive patients for training purposes.
May assume administrative responsibilities during the supervisory specialist's absence, including scheduling, supply management, work orders, service recovery, and leave and attendance reporting.
Perform other related duties as assigned.