Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (Visual Skills)

Veterans Health Administration•Hines, IL

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist provides assessment, treatment, and follow-up services to visually impaired Veterans and Service members. This role provides direct care and support to adults with blindness or visual impairment, with a substantial population of older male Veterans, and tailors services to each individual’s needs, abilities, limitations, concerns, and barriers to treatment. The Specialist develops individualized goals and treatment plans and teaches adaptive skills and techniques that promote independence in everyday activities. Services address the physical, emotional, psychological, social, vocational, and recreational effects of blindness and visual impairment. The Specialist works as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team and may coordinate the care of assigned Veterans by developing an Interdisciplinary Plan of Care with input from the Veteran and other team members. The role advocates for Veterans, documents assessments and plans, tracks training progress and post-training skills, and makes recommendations. It also includes evaluating and prescribing low-vision and adaptive technologies, teaching Veterans to use prescribed devices, supporting people with complex needs, and mentoring staff and trainees. The position may involve administrative coverage during the supervisory specialist’s absence. The work may take place in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, homes, and community settings. The 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 full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-09 through GS-11.

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 the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree plus qualifying related coursework, graduate coursework, or an applicable certificate and practicum/internship.
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, knowledge of blind/vision rehabilitation policies, procedures, assessments, and evaluations; ability to develop rehabilitation plans, instruct Veterans and families, recommend appropriate devices within scope of practice, and coordinate assigned Veterans’ rehabilitation programs.
For GS-11, 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 doctoral degree in Blind Rehabilitation or a directly related field.
For GS-11 and above, at least one active, current, full, and unrestricted certification from ACVREP or an equivalent, closely related professional credential. Certification must match the services provided, such as 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, knowledge of complex evaluations and diagnostic procedures; ability to assess Veterans with diverse and multiple disabilities; skill in developing measurable, multidisciplinary rehabilitation plans; knowledge of instructional methods and learning principles; ability to use interventions and motivational techniques and coordinate treatment; and ability to recommend and adapt appropriate rehabilitation devices within scope of practice.
Must pass a pre-employment physical examination.
Must complete a background/security investigation and required onboarding.
Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period if selected.
Must submit transcripts when relying on education to qualify; foreign education requires the specified equivalency documentation.

Responsibilities

Provide direct care and support services to adults with blindness or visual impairment.
Assess Veterans’ needs, abilities, limitations, concerns, and barriers to treatment, and develop individualized goals and treatment plans.
Teach adaptive skills and techniques to promote independence and help Veterans manage everyday activities.
Address the physical, emotional, psychological, social, vocational, and recreational effects of blindness and visual impairment.
Collaborate with an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team and, when assigned, 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, including electronic travel aids, computer-assisted technology, closed-circuit television, speech-output and input devices, large-print devices, and Braille equipment.
Instruct Veterans in the proper use, capabilities, and limitations of prescribed devices.
Support Veterans with complex needs, including additional medical, psychological, substance-use, or cognitive concerns.
Build rapport with Veterans and provide interventions designed to enhance the rehabilitation process.
Mentor new visual rehabilitation staff, employees from other departments, interns, and clinical trainees requiring cross-training.
May assume administrative responsibilities during the supervisory specialist’s absence, including scheduling, supply management, work orders, service recovery, and leave and attendance reporting.
Drive patients for training purposes.
Perform other related duties as assigned.