Blindness Rehabilitation Specialist - Anticipated Vacancy

State of Maine•Portland, ME

3d•$51,501 - $72,259

About The Position

The Blindness Rehabilitation Specialist/Transition Consultant (BLRS/TC) works with children and young adults who are blind or have low vision, as well as their families. The role provides consultation, service coordination, advocacy, and connections to resources and information for individuals from birth through age 24. Working with individuals, families, rehabilitation teams, and other providers, the specialist helps identify needs, navigate services, and plan educational, vocational, and independent-living goals. Although the role serves the full birth-to-24 age range, its work focuses most closely on middle school students and youth preparing for transition to adulthood. The position is in the Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It is based in Portland and coordinates services across home, school, community, and vocational settings. The specialist works with educational personnel, rehabilitation professionals, families, agencies, and community partners to promote comprehensive blindness rehabilitation and successful transitions.

Requirements

A six-year combination of experience, training, and education providing knowledge of special education, rehabilitation, or teaching.
Knowledge of blindness and visual impairment and their impact on social, emotional, educational, vocational, and independent-living development.
Knowledge of blindness rehabilitation services, programs, and resources.
Knowledge of federal and state special education laws, regulations, and service systems.
Knowledge of co-occurring sensory, physical, mental health, and developmental disabilities and their interaction with blindness or visual impairment.
Knowledge of counseling, family engagement, case coordination, and multidisciplinary service delivery practices.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities, service needs, and work demands.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
Ability to coordinate services and collaborate with families, schools, agencies, and community partners.
Ability to advocate effectively for individuals who are blind or visually impaired and their families.

Nice To Haves

For preschool positions, preference is given to candidates with a bachelor’s degree in Education specializing in preschool or early childhood development, or a four-year degree in Education of the Blind or Visually Disabled.

Responsibilities

Meet with clients, families, and relevant professionals to explain applicable laws, rights, services, options, timelines, and alternative resources.
Provide services to potentially eligible students, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and transition services consistent with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
Provide vocational rehabilitation services to transition-age youth and consult with vocational rehabilitation counselors to support continuity between educational and vocational services.
Counsel and support children and families regarding DBVI services, adjustment to blindness or visual impairment, and available resources.
Coordinate with Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs), Orientation and Mobility Specialists (O&M), Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (VRTs), and other professionals to support comprehensive blindness rehabilitation services.
Advocate for and coordinate appropriate accommodations in early childhood, K–12, specialized school, postsecondary, vocational, and employment settings.
Coordinate Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) activities to support skills needed for independence and successful transition to adulthood.
Assess functional abilities and limitations related to blindness or visual impairment to inform educational, vocational, and rehabilitation planning.
Coordinate services and consultation for individuals with co-occurring disabilities in collaboration with families and other service providers.
Coordinate team meetings and collaborate with educational personnel and service providers to support Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation.
Prepare case notes, reports, correspondence, and professional recommendations documenting services, client progress, and program activities.
Participate in statewide and local boards, committees, and collaborative groups to promote advocacy, resource development, interagency coordination, and training.

Benefits

13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and at least three weeks of vacation leave annually; vacation accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
State contribution of 85%–100% of employee-only health insurance premiums, depending on salary; dependent coverage is also available.
A 5% employee-only health insurance premium credit for participation, subject to program requirements.
State-paid employee-only dental insurance premiums.
State contribution of 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
Gym membership reimbursement of up to $40 per month.
Health and dependent-care flexible spending accounts.
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness.
Living Resources employee assistance program.
Forty-two consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for employees welcoming a child; additional unpaid leave may be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary deferred compensation through a MaineSaves 457(b) account.