Citywide Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Chicago Public Schools•Chicago, IL

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Chicago Public Schools’ Office for Students with Disabilities supports schools, networks, and families with special education instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance matters. The Citywide Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) teaches students who are blind or have severe visual impairments to travel safely, efficiently, and independently to the greatest extent possible for their age and abilities. Instruction may include sighted-guide and protective techniques; indoor and outdoor cane skills; street crossings; public transportation; spatial concepts; and interpreting environmental sounds. The specialist also teaches students with low vision to use low-vision devices and creates tactile maps to help students plan routes to preferred destinations. The COMS evaluates students, helps develop IEP goals, and provides direct instruction and consultation to eligible students across a caseload. The role works with school teams and families to support students’ progress and independent movement, follows IEP service minutes, collects achievement data, and participates in professional development and required district data collection. CPS requires employees to live within Chicago city limits within six months of hire and maintain residency during employment. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary or part-time positions, though all CPS employees must reside in Illinois.

Requirements

Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).
Strong spoken and written communication skills.
Knowledge of the Chicago street grid.
Physical ability to efficiently walk and/or use public transportation throughout Chicago.
Ability to maintain focus during lessons and react quickly to potential hazards.
Ability to plan routes and anticipate possible terrain hazards.
Knowledge of the UEB braille code.
Ability to work cohesively on multiple teams across multiple schools throughout the city.

Nice To Haves

Dual certification as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) and an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI).

Responsibilities

Evaluate students with visual impairments to determine eligibility for orientation and mobility services by identifying strengths and needs in mobility skills.
Develop IEP goals as a member of school eligibility and IEP teams.
Provide direct instruction and consultative services to students with visual disabilities who are eligible for orientation and mobility services.
Collaborate with classroom teachers and staff on strategies, accommodations, and modifications that support independent student movement and access to classroom materials and frequently visited spaces.
Adhere to orientation and mobility service minutes specified in student IEPs.
Create lessons based on identified IEP goals.
Teach students to use public transportation modes as specified in their IEPs.
Collect data on progress toward mastery of orientation and mobility IEP goals.
Participate in annual IEP meetings and three-year reevaluation eligibility conferences for students on the caseload.
Consult with parents about student progress and ways to reinforce at home skills learned at school.
Provide instruction in the use of long white canes, low-vision devices, tactile and 3D maps, and high-tech mobility devices.
Participate in CPS and/or external professional development and share acquired knowledge with fellow team members.
Comply with central office requests for data collection regarding student achievement and teacher accountability.