Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania • Blair County, PA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Step into a meaningful career as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist with the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS), Altoona District Office. This position is responsible for providing a full range of rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This role allows you to guide people as they build confidence, expand their independence, and move safely through their communities. Your skills will help shape brighter futures and open new paths for the people you serve. This position guides individuals who are blind or visually impaired as they work toward independence at home and in the community.

Requirements

• Successful completion of the commonwealth’s Orientation and Mobility Intern program
• Possession of an active Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP)
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree or certificate from an approved college or university program in orientation and mobility that includes a practicum.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.
• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.
• Conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

Responsibilities

• Assess customer needs by reviewing reports, interviewing individuals, and observing daily functioning to create an instructional plan
• Develop personalized instruction schedules that align with rehabilitation goals
• Choose and recommend travel aids and assistive technology based on customer readiness and capabilities
• Provide individual or group lessons that build safe travel techniques and greater independence
• Track customer skill growth and determine whether instructional goals are being met
• Offer counseling and guidance to reinforce skills and assist families in supporting the customer

Benefits

• AWS (alternate work schedule) may be available.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time upon successful completion of the training period.
• The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.
• The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania.
• The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law.

What This Job Offers

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