Vision Rehabilitation Specialist – Senior (In-Training - Location Flexibility)

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

This recruitment will be used to fill 1 vacancy in Yakima Washington. This position offers significant location flexibility. The selected candidate may reside up to three (3) hours from the assigned duty station (Lacey, WA or Yakima, WA). The position is primarily telework-based. However, in-person work at the duty station will be required. When in-person presence is needed, the employee will travel to the assigned office during work hours using a state vehicle. Depending on scheduling needs, occasional overnight travel may be required. In those instances, lodging will be arranged in accordance with state travel policies. Standard business hours are Monday – Friday, from 8 AM to 5:00 PM, and may occasionally require flexibility to meet the agency's needs. We promote a healthy work/life balance. Telework and a flexible schedule may be available upon supervisory approval. Extensive daily travel is required, as well as occasional overnights. The hiring team may make a hiring decision at any time. It is within your best interest to apply for this position at your earliest convenience. DSB offers, upon approval, a relocation bonus and allotment for those staff relocating and needing to make the move to, or across the beautiful state of Washington to join our team. Washington State Department of Services for the Blind is “working together with individuals who are Blind, Deaf-Blind or Low Vision so they can flourish in their homes, communities, and workplaces.” DSB's Vocational Rehabilitation program assists individuals with visual disabilities achieve gainful employment and economic vitality through integration into the nation’s workforce, while assisting businesses with accessibility training, consultation, recruitment, and retention of qualified employees. Together, these services lead to the greater employment of qualified Blind, Deaf Blind and Low Vision individuals and more accessible and diverse businesses. DSB is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness - qualifying employer. The Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior analyzes and assesses the adaptive skills of participants with Blindness, Deaf-Blindness, and Low Vision for their activities of daily living and employment readiness. As the Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation & Mobility subject matter expert, the Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior applies superior emerging and evolving technologies and training methods to current and future participants and employer. They recommend and help develop the curriculum and implement training methodologies to participants and employers seeking to accommodate their staff in accordance with Section 508 and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This position also recruits, evaluates and manages vendors who provide specialized adaptive rehabilitation training and teaching to participants. It develops program standards related to Low Vision Evaluations, develops and monitors budget for Low Vision Labs and Adaptive Tools. It also provides adaptive education to businesses, participants, community partners, and employers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology; NOTE : Two (2) years of experience in social services or providing services to individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind will substitute for two (2) years of the required education
A current Orientation and Mobility (COMS) certification, and a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in an accredited orientation and mobility program is required or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, or closely related program in rehabilitation, special education, family and consumer science education, or adaptive technology
Two (2) years of paid professional experience providing services that teach adaptive skill of blindness to the blind, low vision, or deaf blind individuals
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

Nice To Haves

Effective in conducting superior work with a high degree of independence and autonomy
Demonstrates superior documentation and qualify of work
Knowledge of: concepts, principles, and practices of blind and vision rehabilitation and the use of assessment techniques to determine capabilities of and potential barriers for persons who are blind, low vision or deaf blind; principles, methods, and techniques used to assist individuals in adjusting to vision loss; public and private resources and services that address holistic needs of individual participants with disabilities or business-as-customer; principles of adult education, curriculum creation and revision, and instruction adaptability to address multiple disabilities; current trends, techniques, and tools in vision rehabilitation; techniques, information, and supports for assisting individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind to integrate into the community and competitive, integrated employment; blind community and consumer organizations, and other community supports; psychological aspects of blindness; theory and techniques of training blind and visually impaired persons to travel; nature and training of human senses; learning modalities; psychology; mental health; secondary disabilities and other conditions
Ability to: work independently; supervise and direct others; develop curricula and in-service training; teach adaptive skills of blindness; analyze complex situations for emotional and physical safety of individual participant and take appropriate effective action including handling emergent situations, coaching, and provision of counseling and advocacy; work effectively with individuals who are blind, low vision or deaf blind, including those with additional disabilities; present ideas clearly and effectively orally and in writing; train peers; engage with businesses as a dual customer to address business-specific needs around disability

Responsibilities

Conducts a comprehensive, in-depth assessment of all participants who are referred for vocational rehabilitation services. Gathers information respective of the participant's disability/disabilities, family support, educational/work history, motivation to work, adaptive skills of blindness and identification of functional limitations, attitude and acceptance of vision loss and other disabilities
Assesses and measures participant's adjustment to vision loss, readiness for training. If issue arises, works with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, or PS4, to address any issues or conflicts.
Recommends and implements solutions, therapies, techniques, and tools to address low vision needs
Analyze anticipated needs for aids and appliances and skills and techniques, and determine the most effective and cost-efficient way to provide training (internally and/or externally) through discussion with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC), internal team, and participant
Facilitate the practice of “informed choice”
Make formal recommendations in the electronic case management system
Coordinate assessment results with team, and develop plans for overlapping areas of responsibilities
Communicate to the participant the scope of training, competencies, and expected results of training
Develop and communicate the objectives and completion measurements for all training
Conduct training or arrange contract training to external vendor
Monitor participant progress and assesses effectiveness of training, making any necessary adjustments to training plan
Test and measure participant competencies
Serves as a regional and statewide resource to participants, staff and community partners
Communicate the Agency's scope and mission
Educate community partners and employers to an array of adaptive tools and techniques that allow for optimal activities of daily living, travel, and access to communications for potential students and employees
Provides consultation, presentations/trainings, and technical assistance statewide, and nationwide, to community resource and service providers for the application and use of adaptive tools and training
Provides support and is responsible for the onboarding, training, and development for lower-level vision rehabilitation specialist staff towards competency among the range of vision rehabilitation specialists skill sets
Responsible for ongoing training requests by lower-level staff and requests from Regional Area Managers (RAM) for employee retention training for lower-level staff
Support statewide vision rehabilitation specialists process review and improvement efforts
Ability to independently perform comprehensive low vision evaluations including calculating magnification needs, lighting needs in home and workplace, glare reduction tools.
Recommends solutions and alternatives as needed
Coordinates recommendations to vocational rehabilitation participants and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
Manages Low Vision Lab, overseeing the lab supplies, inventory, and makes recommendations for budget with the oversight of the Regional Area Manager
Prepare and maintain, which includes writing and editing, current documentation of training activities and related services in the automated case management system
Communicate and coordinate participant Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching needs with the team
In the team environment, provide input toward the development of quality service standards which affect policy, best practices and invoke procedural changes
Evaluate new or upgraded aids, appliances, techniques and technologies
Keep current with developments in the Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching profession
Meet with peer Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching staff on a quarterly basis and share new techniques, ideas and professional developments
Assumes responsibility for preparing and delivering one formal peer or team training annually
Mentor and train new staff in the areas of adaptive skills assessment, low vision assessments, DSB procedures and documentation independently without supervision