Orientation and Mobility Specialist
About The Position
The Orientation and Mobility Specialist provides services, instruction, and support to help students with visual impairments travel independently and safely. The specialist travels to students’ assigned schools and/or homes to provide direct and consultative services related to visual impairment, enabling safe, efficient, and independent travel in home, school, and community environments. The role develops and implements orientation and mobility evaluations, instruction, individualized programs, classroom materials, and lesson plans based on students’ assessed needs and educational goals. Instruction may address spatial and environmental concepts, sensory information, visual efficiency, tactile symbols, braille, assistive technology, auditory and social skills, low-vision devices, and other areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum. The specialist monitors and documents student progress, adapts educational supports, communicates with families and staff, and collaborates with teachers and other providers to support student outcomes and transitions to adult life. This is an independent contractor position based at Castle Rock High School in Castle Rock, Colorado. The work shift is variable within student contact days. A master’s degree with a proper teaching licensure program and a valid Colorado special services license with the appropriate School Orientation and Mobility Specialist endorsement are required. Experience in an educational setting serving students with visual impairments is preferred. Offers are conditional on successful background and reference checks, and the selected applicant must verify legal authorization to work in the United States within 72 hours of employment.
Requirements
- Master’s degree with a proper teaching licensure program.
- Valid Colorado special services license with the appropriate School Orientation and Mobility Specialist endorsement.
- Successful background and reference checks as a condition of employment.
- Verify legal right to work in the United States within 72 hours of employment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in an educational setting with students who have visual impairment needs.
Responsibilities
- Develop, plan, prepare, and implement orientation and mobility evaluations for new referrals and at intervals designated by IDEA.
- Develop classroom materials, activities, and lesson plans that model appropriate orientation and mobility techniques.
- Create individualized programs within the general curriculum that incorporate orientation and mobility strategies.
- Provide instruction in visual efficiency, tactile symbols, braille, assistive technology, auditory skills, social skills, low-vision devices, and other areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum.
- Teach spatial and environmental concepts and the use of sensory information to establish, maintain, or regain orientation and a line of travel.
- Adapt materials and register eligible students with the Colorado Instructional Materials Center (CIMC).
- Facilitate student growth in gross and fine motor skills, sensory skills, and basic concepts.
- Create an instructional environment that maximizes learning opportunities; supervise students’ behavior and wellbeing in educational settings and administer discipline when appropriate.
- Prepare sequential, meaningful instruction based on assessed needs, IEP goals and objectives, functional level, and motivation level.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of educational approaches, specialized instruction, supports, and services, and adapt support as needed.
- Maintain documentation of students’ academic, social, and emotional progress and needs.
- Ensure vision-specific supports are in place and students attain skills needed for transition from school to adult life.
- Communicate students’ progress, needs, and eligibility to parents and staff as needed.
- Collaborate with the teacher of students with visual impairments on functional vision assessments as they relate to independent travel.
- Collaborate with parents or guardians, teachers, support personnel, administrators, and other special education providers to implement programs and improve student outcomes.
- Participate in team and building-based meetings and discussions.
- Accommodate student diversity, engage families in students’ education, support CEC policies and procedures, and demonstrate personal and professional excellence.
