Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

Blind Rehabilitation Specialist is responsible for:

• Following a model of lifetime care coordination offered to all Veterans with visual impairment who are eligible to receive services. The model requires varying degrees of intervention based on the clinical and psychosocial needs of each Veteran.
• Providing care coordination services to eligible Veterans with visual impairment by assessing (at least annually) coordinating and reviewing the Veterans rehabilitation and adjustment needs and determining and referring the type and intensity of services needed based upon clinical judgment and the Veterans goals.
• Determining if additional intervention by other providers will be needed in order to develop a Veterans individualized treatment such instances the BRS clinician is expected to refer consult educate and/or cotreat with other providers in order to support the Veteran in addressing individualized goals (e.g. assessment for supplementary adaptive interventions issuance criteria and core competencies for prosthetic recommendation).
• Ensuring the update and maintenance of the VIST roster including all legally Blind and low vision Veterans enrolled at the Carl Vinson VA medical facility.
• Providing outreach and education to VA medical facility and non-VA agencies and personnel through brochures and other educational materials about Veteran counseling and family information. Regardless of the level of care coordination VIST Coordinators counsel Veterans with visual impairment about their health needs and refer them annually for medical examinations to include but not limited to ocular health examinations physical examinations and audiological examinations.
• Conducting monthly VIST support groups for Veterans on various topics to enhance outreach education adjustment to sight loss and peer-to-peer engagement.
• Ensuring the recommended prosthetic devices and rehabilitation interventions are in alignment with the Veterans goals and individualized rehabilitation plan. NOTE: This is a VIST Coordinator responsibility if a contracted vendor is utilized for therapeutic interventions.
• Promoting awareness of the needs of Veterans with visual impairments to the VA medical facility staff through identifying eligible Veterans with visual impairment in the Electronic Health Record.
• Coordinating community care and VHA care to assist Veterans with visual impairment in receiving the best services in both the BRS continuum of care (BRS CoC) and from community providers.
• Ensuring seamless coordination of BRS-related care for traveling Veterans with visual impairment who are away from their primary residence and preferred VA medical facility. This includes leading the Veterans care coordination and contacting the Veterans primary VIST Coordinator if necessary.
• Ensuring adherence to best practices by conducting VIST Reviews via in person contact or telehealth. NOTE: Telephone encounters are acceptable after exhausting all other avenues for face-to-face encounters.
• Entering the initial application for the Veteran with visual impairment admission into BRC care in accordance with the Veterans choice of date for admission. The VIST Coordinators must refer Veterans with visual impairment to BRCs via the Blind Rehabilitation (BR) National Database guidelines detailed in Directive 1174(1).
• Monitoring and assisting in developing and updating service agreements and assisting in developing VA medical facility operating procedures pertinent to blindness and visual impairment.
• Documenting Care. This includes understanding the importance of recording and maintaining clear accurate and concise documents that pertain to Veterans profiles. Documentation includes: (a) Documenting Veterans with visual impairment assessments treatment plans progress notes and discharge summaries which must be consistent with VHA requirements as well as the requirements of rehabilitation program accreditation standards (e.g. CARF) and applicable regulatory standards (e.g. The Joint Commission).
• Refer to local VA medical facility PSAS guidance on required elements of administrative consult for procurement of devices.
• The VIST Coordinator will work with the Veteran to obtain the necessary information and documents to request the VA Veterinary Health Insurance on behalf of the Veteran through coordination with the local PSAS. Initiating and tracking referrals in all aspects of BRS CoC on behalf of Veterans with visual impairment in accordance with the BR National Database guidelines detailed in D1174(1).
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. Work schedule subject to change based on needs of the agency.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:62698F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education. The individual must have earned: A bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation closely related program in rehabilitation special education for the visually impaired family and consumer science education or technology and industrial arts education
• At least 30 semester hours of directly related upper level undergraduate courses (e.g. at least 200-course level or higher or as identified by the college or university).
• One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 - 18 semester hours).
• A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility vision rehabilitation therapy assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation either included in the degree or post-degree.
• Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent as verified through an independent credential evaluation company) with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.

Certification. Required at the GS-11 grade level and above. Applicants must possess at least one active current full and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) or another equivalent closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation.


NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy Orientation and Mobility Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold (as listed in subparagraph (2)) below: BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREP as follows:

• Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS).
• Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT).
• Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT).
• Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS).

BRS Advanced Practitioners at the GS-12 grade level must possess two certifications awarded by ACVREP.
BRS VIST Coordinators may be drawn from traditional blind/vision rehabilitation backgrounds and from counseling backgrounds such as social work vocational rehabilitation counseling etc. VIST Coordinators must be credentialed/certified through:


Any certification via the ACVREP


OR

Individuals appointed based on experience as a Social Worker must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the masters degree in social work. If appointed as a VIST Coordinator Social Workers are appointed to the GS-0601 series but must still maintain a full valid and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment



OR

• Certification via the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)

OR

• Individuals appointed based on experience in other health care occupations must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice in their field. If appointed as a VIST Coordinator such individuals are appointed to the GS-0601 series but must still maintain their full valid and unrestricted independent license or certification in their occupation to remain qualified for employment. Examples of occupations may include but are not limited to Marriage and Family Therapist or Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

GS-12 (VIST Coordinator-Full Performance Level)


addition to meeting the basic requirements completion of a minimum of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-11 grade level. Certification. VIST Coordinators must meet the certification requirements in paragraph 4c(4) above.

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to meeting the KSAs described at the GS-11 grade level the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• Skill to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with staff at all organizational levels with Veterans and their family members with community groups and individuals with varying degrees of understanding.
• Ability to assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for therapeutic interventions.
• Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines and contains observable measurable goals that identify specific outcomes.
• Knowledge of VA and non-VA blind and low vision rehabilitation treatment programs.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships dealing with patients employees other team leaders managers and other stakeholders.
• Knowledge of psychological rehabilitation and counseling theories and principles.
• Ability to coordinate with various resources to identify and refer Veterans to suitable training programs.
• Ability to apply decision-making principles to adjust programs on a day-to-day basis to develop short term and long-range goals and to plan for future utilization of resources

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service