Vision Rehabilitation Specialist Senior / Traveling

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) is seeking a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior Itinerant to join their Vocational Rehabilitation program. This role involves analyzing and assessing the adaptive skills of customers with blindness, deaf-blindness, and low vision for daily living and employment readiness. As a subject matter expert in Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation & Mobility, the specialist will utilize emerging technologies and training methods. They will recommend and develop curriculum, and implement training for customers and employers to ensure compliance with Section 508 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This itinerant position provides intermittent training and support across the state as caseloads and needs increase. The role also includes recruiting, evaluating, and managing vendors for specialized adaptive rehabilitation training, developing program standards for Low Vision Evaluations, monitoring budgets for Low Vision kits and Adaptive Tools, and providing adaptive education to businesses, customers, community partners, and employers. Applicants can work from various DSB offices in Washington State, including Seattle, Tacoma, Lacey/Olympia, Vancouver, Spokane, and Yakima.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; AND a current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or a closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; AND Three (3) years of paid professional experience providing services that teach adaptive skills of blindness to the blind, low vision, or deaf blind individuals, including one year of supervisory or lead experience; AND a current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program.

Nice To Haves

Effective in conducting superior work with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
Demonstrates superior documentation and quality of work.

Responsibilities

Conducts comprehensive, in-depth assessments of customers referred for vocational rehabilitation services, gathering information on disabilities, family support, work history, motivation, adaptive skills, functional limitations, and attitude towards vision loss.
Assesses and measures customer adjustment to vision loss and readiness for training, working with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and local VRS to address any issues or conflicts.
Recommends and implements solutions, therapies, techniques, and tools for low vision needs.
Analyzes anticipated needs for aids, appliances, skills, and techniques, determining the most cost-effective training methods (internal/external) in collaboration with relevant parties.
Facilitates the practice of "informed choice".
Makes formal recommendations in the electronic case management system.
Synthesizes assessment data to develop comprehensive specialized services and training unique to the individual and program related to vocational goals.
Coordinates assessment results with the team and develops plans for overlapping responsibilities.
Assigned Statewide training responsibilities for high-volume areas, needs, or as assigned to the itinerant position.
Communicates the scope of training, competencies, and expected results to customers.
Develops and communicates objectives and completion measurements for all training.
Conducts training or arranges contract training with external vendors.
Develops service expectations and outcomes in collaboration with the regional Vision Rehabilitation Specialist.
Monitors customer progress and assesses training effectiveness, making adjustments as needed in collaboration with local VRS.
Tests and measures customer competencies.
Serves as a statewide resource to customers, staff, and community partners.
Communicates the agency’s scope and mission.
Educates community partners and employers on adaptive tools and techniques for daily living, travel, and communication access.
Provides consultation, presentations/training, and technical assistance statewide and nationwide to community resource and service providers.
Provides support, onboarding, training, and development for lower-level vision rehabilitation specialist staff.
Responsible for ongoing training requests from lower-level staff and Regional Area Managers (RAM) for employee retention training.
Supports statewide vision rehabilitation specialist process review and improvement efforts.
Independently performs comprehensive low vision evaluations, including calculating magnification and lighting needs, and recommending solutions.
Coordinates recommendations to vocational rehabilitation participants and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC).
Manages the Low Vision Lab, overseeing supplies, inventory, and making budget recommendations.
Prepares and maintains current documentation of training activities and related services in the automated case management system.
Communicates and coordinates participant Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching needs with the team.
Provides input on the development of quality service standards, policy, best practices, and procedural changes.
Evaluates new or upgraded aids, appliances, techniques, and technologies.
Stays current with developments in the Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching profession.
Meets with peer staff quarterly to share new techniques, ideas, and professional developments.
Assumes responsibility for preparing and delivering one formal peer or team training annually.
Mentors and trains new staff in adaptive skills assessment, low vision assessments, DSB procedures, and documentation independently.