Vision Rehabilitation Specialist

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Blind Services

Job Classification Title

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (NS)

Position Number

Grade

NC09

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest most complex agencies in the state and has approximately 17000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health safety and well-being of all North Carolinians providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf blind developmentally disabled and mentally ill and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The position provides instruction in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) for adults and teens who are blind visually impaired or deafblind. Many consumers have lost vision and attend the DSB Career and Training Center to learn skills that will enable them to become independent at home in their community and at work thereby improving their quality of life. The O&M teacher provides direct instruction on independent travel skills at home and in the community to help individuals obtain gainful employment and enhance their quality of life. Specific teaching assignments will be individualized and will change based on the needs of each consumer. Teachers work in teams to provide a comprehensive interdisciplinary training experience for all students at the DSB Career and Training Center both virtually and in person.

Job Description: The O&M instructor should be able to teach:

Guide techniques indoor techniques and cane techniques
Orientation concepts: route travel block travel street crossing and transportation
Transportation planning: taxi city bus paratransit train buses Lyft and Uber
Travel techniques for individuals with low vision
Technology for travel
An overview of current navigation apps
Provide focused instruction aligned with the consumers Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)
Teach students how to travel independently at home and in the community
Differentiate instructional strategies and content to effectively teach individuals who have lost vision from a wide variety of backgrounds and with varying learning styles and readiness levels
Complete assessments and develop lesson plans using lectures tactile auditory and visual demonstrations field trips and virtual learning experiences for students enrolled in orientation and mobility classes
Compose verbal and timely written reports; create and/or administer effective assessments; and document student progress and goal setting in the case management system
Stay abreast of current trends new products and mobility apps for individuals who are visually impaired
Work collaboratively with Center teachers and staff to assist consumers in achieving their academic or professional goals
Participate as a member of the staff team including assisting during mealtimes attending planning and progress meetings and participating in in-service trainings
Develop competencies across subject areas to assist with coverage during staff absences and co-teach with other faculty to provide a comprehensive interdisciplinary learning experience for students remotely and in person
Work with students and consumers who use service animals

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Range: $41206.00 - $72113.00

Recruitment Range: $41206.00 - $67187.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they have the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The following Management Preferences are not required but applicants that possess these skills are preferred:

Experience in teaching orientation and mobility (O&M) for visually impaired students to reach their goals of independence education or employment.

Experience in effective instructional strategies teaching specialized skills for teens and adults who are visually impaired blind and may have other secondary disabilities.

At least one year of experience working with individuals with visual impairments.

Position is funded in part through federal funds.

Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date.

About the NC Division of Services for the Blind (DSB):

The Division of Services for the Blind provides services to people who are visually impaired blind and deaf- blind to help them reach their goals of independence and employment.

Compensation and Benefits:

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options standard and supplemental retirement plans and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation sick and community service addition paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit website for benefits.

Supplemental Contact Information:

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employerthat embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federallaws state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

In accordance with the Governors Executive Order 303 our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Application Process
Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the following: Education including high school and all degrees obtained Work Experience and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.

• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions you must provide supporting information within the Work Experience section of the application to support your answers.

• Applicantsmaybe subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered Positions of Trustwill besubject to a criminal background check.

• Due to the volume of applications received we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application please log in to your account. Upon the closing date applications are Under Review and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.

• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent.

• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service please visit the NACES membership website at Credit Verification

  Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

  Veterans and National Guard Preference

  • Applicants seeking Veterans Preference must attach aDD-214 Member-4 Form(Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.

  • Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS) along with the state application if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.

  • Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service must attach a copy of their DD 256 or NGB 22 along with the state application.

  ADA Accommodations

  Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities or known limitations covered by the PWFA are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please contact the person indicated below.

  CONTACT INFORMATION:

  If there are any questions about this posting please contact Talent Acquisition at. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

  Minimum Education and Experience

  Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

  Bachelors degree in visual impairment field from an appropriately accredited institution and certification by the Academy for Certification of Education and Rehabilitation Professionals (ACVREP) as:

  (1) Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT) or

  (2) Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist or

  (3) Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) or

  (4) Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist as needed for the area of assignment;

  OR

  Bachelors degree in a related field such as rehabilitation counseling or social work and three years of direct service experience with individuals who are blind or visually impaired and certification as indicated above as needed for the area of assignment.

  Applicants who do not possess certification are required to obtain certification within two years from the date of employment. Management has the option of choosing certification requirements based on the area of assignment in order to meet the needs of the clients and the program. Recruitment announcements should reflect only one of the certification requirements.

  EEO Statement

  The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination harassment or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs observances and practices.

  Recruiter:

  Charlene Michele Moore

  Email: