Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • West Palm Beach, FL

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Blind Rehabilitation Specialist for the GS-09/GS-11 grade levels at the Thomas H. Corey West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. This is an open continuous job announcement, and applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis as vacancies become available. The role involves enabling Veterans to understand visual diagnoses, navigate sight loss, and assess mental health status, including screening for depression and suicide risk. It also includes evaluating visual-motor and visual-perceptual capabilities, physical health, cognitive functions, and social/cultural elements to identify rehabilitation needs and goals. The specialist will partner with Veterans and interdisciplinary team members to establish, track, and modify individualized rehabilitation treatment plans using SMART goals. Training patients in adaptive techniques, assistive technology, optical devices, and visual-perceptual enhancement to maximize independence is a key duty. Additionally, the role requires serving as a team coordinator, establishing peer support networks, collaborating with external agencies and the VIST Coordinator, and coordinating care across multidisciplinary platforms. Maintaining accurate clinical documentation, progress notes, discharge summaries, and administrative prosthetic consults in compliance with VHA and regulatory standards is essential. The specialist will also educate family members and significant others on coping mechanisms and act as a subject matter expert and mentor to healthcare professionals and clinical trainees.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement.
• Must complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section.
• Must serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education.
• OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following: At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university). One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 - 18 semester hours). A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree.
• Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.
• For GS-9 grade level: Bachelor's degree and completion of one year of experience. OR Completion of at least two full years of progressive graduate education or a master's degree in a field directly related to the position.
• For GS-11 grade level: Completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade. OR Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Doctoral Degree; or Doctoral Degree in Blind Rehabilitation or a directly related field.
• For GS-11 grade level: Must possess at least one active, current, full and unrestricted certification granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation.
• Knowledge of policies and procedures of the blind/vision rehabilitation service.
• Knowledge of administration and interpretation of assessments and evaluations in blind/vision rehabilitation.
• Ability to develop a basic written blind/vision rehabilitation plan from assessment results and develop more complex plans with consultation from supervisor.
• Skill in instructing Veterans and families in a meaningful rehabilitation program and applying blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic techniques.
• Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision prosthetic devices for Veterans within the scope of practice.
• Ability to serve as team coordinator for assigned Veterans during their rehabilitation programs.
• Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation (for GS-11).
• Ability to properly assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions (for GS-11).
• Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes (for GS-11).
• Skill in instructional methods and learning principles (for GS-11).
• Ability to employ interventions and unusual motivational techniques and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan (for GS-11).
• Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for Veterans within scope of practice, making adaptations and modifications as required (for GS-11).

Nice To Haves

• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Responsibilities

• Enable Veterans to understand visual diagnoses, navigate sight loss, and assess mental health status, including screening for depression and suicide risk.
• Evaluate visual-motor and visual-perceptual capabilities, physical health, cognitive functions, and social/cultural elements to accurately identify rehabilitation needs and goals.
• Partner with Veterans and interdisciplinary team members to establish, track, and modify individualized rehabilitation treatment plans using SMART goals.
• Train patients in adaptive techniques, assistive technology, optical devices, and visual-perceptual enhancement to maximize independence in everyday life.
• Serve as a team coordinator, establish peer support networks, collaborate with external agencies and the VIST Coordinator, and coordinate care across multidisciplinary platforms.
• Maintain accurate, concise clinical documentation, progress notes, discharge summaries, and administrative prosthetic consults in compliance with VHA and regulatory standards.
• Educate family members and significant others on coping mechanisms, and act as a subject matter expert and mentor to healthcare professionals and clinical trainees.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level