Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior Itinerant

Vision Rehabilitation Specialist - Senior Itinerant

• Conducts comprehensive, in-depth assessments of all customers who are referred for vocational rehabilitation services.
• Analyzes and measures customer’s adjustment to vision loss, readiness for training.
• Recommends and implements solutions, therapies, techniques, and tools to address low vision needs.
• Facilitates the practice of “informed choice”
• Makes formal recommendations in the electronic case management system
• Demonstrates skills in independently synthesizing assessment data and developing comprehensive specialized services and training unique to the individual and program as it relates to the vocational goal
• Coordinates assessment results with team, and develops plans for overlapping areas of responsibilities
• Assigned Statewide training responsibilities for areas of high volume, need, or as assigned to this position as the Itinerant
• Communicates to the customer the scope of training, competencies, and expected results of training
• Develops and communicates the objectives and completion measurements for all training
• Conducts training or arranges contract training to external vendors
• Develops the service expectations and outcome in collaboration with the Vision Rehabilitation Specialist assigned to the regional territory for services that need to be conducted by the Itinerant
• Monitors customer progress and assesses effectiveness of training, making any necessary adjustments to training plan 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 to an array of adaptive tools and techniques that allow for optimal activities of daily living, travel, and access to communication for potential students and employees
• Provides consultation, presentations/training, and technical assistance statewide, and nationwide, to community resource and service providers for the application and use of adaptive tools and training
• Serves as the lead 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 skillsets
• Responsible for ongoing training requests by lower-level staff and requests from Regional Area Managers (RAM) for employee retention training for lower-level staff
• Leads statewide vision rehabilitation specialists process review and improvement efforts
• Independently performs comprehensive low vision evaluations including calculating magnification needs, lighting needs in home and workplace, and glare reduction tools, recommending solutions and alternatives as needed
• Coordinates recommendations to vocational rehabilitation customers and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) and local VRS
• Manages Low Vision Itinerant Kit, overseeing the supplies, inventory, and making recommendations for budget with the oversight of the Regional Area Manager
• Prepares and maintains, which includes writing and editing, current documentation of training activities and related services in the automated case management system
• Communicates and coordinates customer Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching needs with the team
• In the team environment, provides input toward the development of quality service standards which affect policy, best practices and invoke procedural changes
• Demonstrates active listening skills with internal and external customers. Exhibits superior organizational strategies regarding time and case management, thoughtfully plans future strategies for customer and agency success, able to prioritize cases
• Evaluates new or upgraded aids, appliances, techniques and technologies
• Keeps current with developments in the Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation teaching profession
• Meets with peer Orientation & Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching staff on a quarterly basis and shares 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 the areas of adaptive skills assessment, low vision assessments, DSB procedures and documentation independently without supervision

• 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
• 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

• Benefits
• Retirement and Deferred Compensation
• Social Security
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Holidays
• Sick Leave
• Vacation (Annual Leave)
• Military Leave
• Bereavement Leave
• Additional Leave

Washington State Department of Services for the Blind