Job Status: Full Time; 40 hours a week; times may vary.
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
Reports To: Programming Director or Chief Executive Officer in absence of PD
Position Summary: This position carries the major responsibilities to instruct persons with blindness and vision loss in the use of compensatory skills, assistive technology and basic orientation and mobility skills to live safe, productive, and independent lives. Such responsibilities include but are not limited to performing Comprehensive Functional Vision, Learning Assessments, and providing comprehensive services to fulfill the assessment goals for the following programs:
- Vocational Rehabilitation,
- Adults, and
- Older Adults.
- In addition, this position will work closely with the CVRT/TVI responsible for the Transition Program to coordinate activities for Career Development and/or Job Placement.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, but not limited to:
- Develop individual rehabilitation or instructional plans and goals collaboratively with clients, based on results of assessments, needs, and goals.
- Design and implement new workshops/classes based on client need/demand using a variety of curricular tools.
- Teach or oversee a weekly (or biweekly) lesson plans to address the following areas: activities of daily living, home and personal management, communication skills, basics of orientation and mobility, introduction to assistive technology, recreation and leisure, optical aids and lighting, the psycho-social adjustment to vision loss, accessing financial documents and paperwork, safety in the kitchen, accessible books and media and safely managing medications.
- Teach on-going braille lessons (as determined through evaluation).
- Teach or oversee cooking class on tools, tips, and safety in the kitchen.
- Provide or oversee individual assistive technology training, working with AT Instructors
- Provide individual lessons at the center and at home setting.
- Provide lessons on the use of optical aids.
- Organize or oversee one recreation and leisure activity a month for adult clients
- Perform Functional Vision Assessments.
- Meet or exceed requirements set forth in contracts with Division of Blind Services, Legislative Grant, and other
- Assist in maintaining and reviewing accreditation requirements and
- Write monthly case reports or complete forms to document assessments, training, progress, or follow-up outcomes in the appropriate database to maintain client records.
Other Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborate with specialists, such as: Assistive Technology Instructor, Rehabilitation Counselors, Low Vision Specialists, Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists to provide client solutions.
- Oversee non-certified staff and provide guidance, as
- Keeps current on latest trends in
- Participate in professional development training and workshops.
- Participates in staff meetings.
- Organize and perform outreach with eye doctors, senior living, assisted living, and other related organizations.
- Provide outreach presentations.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Core Competency Requirements
- Maintain professional accreditations, licensing and/or continuing education as required.
- Knowledge of medical aspects of blindness and low vision: ability to select, create or implement a Functional Vision Assessment.
- Knowledge of common medical terms and standard treatment procedures that pertain to clients.
- Ability to develop sequential instructional programs to integrate use of low vision aids and strategies.
- Ability to select, design and implement sequential instructional program to meet specific independent living needs of clients with blindness and vision loss in the areas of: personal management, home management, communication systems, Braille and other tactual, systems, assistive technology, recreation and leisure, deaf-blindness, psycho-social aspects of blindness and low vision, basic orientation and mobility, employment related skills.
Qualifications:
To perform the job of TVI/CVRT successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representation of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of a position.
- Must possess at minimum a master’s degree in at least one of the following areas
- Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (with ACVREP Certification), or
- Teacher of the Visually Impaired (degree in Visual Disabilities). If not certified in Florida, must be able to take/pass the Florida State Board of Education Certification in the Area of Visually Impaired, or
- Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist.
- Experience working with adults, children, and persons with disabilities.
- Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written English.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
- Proficient in the use of computers including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet research.
- Working knowledge of screen readers, iOS devices, braille displays and note takers preferable.
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, their families, and the public.
- High degree of discretion when dealing with confidential information.
- Must be able to successfully pass a drug test.
- Flexible Schedule
- TVI’s/COMS – Willingness to complete requirements to become a CVRT within 2 years preferred.
