Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Maywood (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Blind Rehabilitation Specialist to provide assessment, treatment, and follow-up for visually impaired Veterans and service members. You will apply orientation and mobility concepts and develop rehabilitation plans with supervision.

QUALIFICATIONS include a bachelor’s degree in vision rehabilitation or related field, with options for graduate coursework or related certifications. The role emphasizes team coordination and patient-focused outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in blind/vision rehabilitation or closely related field.
• Advancement through graduate coursework or related certifications may qualify.
• Experience interpreting assessments and developing patient rehabilitation plans.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment, treatment, and follow-up for visually impaired Veterans and Service members.
• Apply orientation and mobility principles in rehabilitation plans.
• Develop basic to complex rehabilitation plans in collaboration with supervisors.
• Coordinate with other professionals to achieve rehabilitation outcomes.

Skills

Knowledge of blind rehabilitation KSAs

Assessment interpretation

Rehabilitation plan development

Instruction to Veterans and families

Prosthetic device recommendations

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's in blind/vision rehabilitation or related field

30 semester hours of related upper-level coursework

One year of related graduate coursework

Certification in related area (e.g., orientation & mobility)

Job description

The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist provides assessment, treatment, and follow-up services for visually impaired Veterans and Service members. The Blind Rehabilitation Specialist possesses professional knowledge of, and skill in applying concepts, principles, and practices of in the Orientation and Mobility department and blind and vision rehabilitation to include assessment, treatment and follow-up.

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.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Education: A bachelor's 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.

OR

• 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 bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determination: GS-09

Experience: Bachelor's degree and completion of one year of experience.

OR

Education: Completion of at least two full years of progressive graduate education or a master's degree in a field directly related to the position.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

1. Knowledge of policies and procedures of the blind/vision rehabilitation service.
2. Knowledge of administration and interpretation of assessments and evaluations in blind/vision rehabilitation.
3. Ability to develop a basic written blind/vision rehabilitation plan from assessment results and develop more complex plans with consultation from supervisor.
4. Skill in instructing Veterans and families in a meaningful rehabilitation program and applying blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic techniques.
5. Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision prosthetic devices for Veterans within the scope of practice.
6. Ability to serve as team coordinator for assigned Veterans during their rehabilitation programs.

Grade Determination: GS-11

Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade.

OR

Education: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Doctoral Degree; or Doctoral Degree in Blind Rehabilitation or a directly related field.

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.

• Assistive Technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS) or a related, equivalent, professional certification

OR

• Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS)

OR

• Communication and daily living therapy/Rehabilitation Teaching - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT)

OR

• Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT) or a related, equivalent, professional certification

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge and understanding of highly specialized complex evaluations and diagnostic tests and procedures of blind/vision rehabilitation.
2. Ability to properly assess Veterans having diverse and multiple disabilities to make recommendations for blind/vision rehabilitation therapeutic interventions.
3. Skill in writing a blind/vision rehabilitation plan that includes evaluation information from multiple disciplines with observable, measurable goals and that identifies specific outcomes.
4. Skill in instructional methods and learning principles.
5. Ability to employ interventions and unusual motivational techniques and coordinate treatment with other professionals to achieve outcomes of the rehabilitation plan.
6. Ability to recommend appropriate blind/vision rehabilitation prosthetic devices for Veterans within scope of practice, making adaptations and modifications as required.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements:

A Blind Rehabilitation Specialist functions independently in a number of settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions and home environments. The work environment may be in an office, clinical setting, classroom, private home, VA grounds, nursing home, community sites, and hospitals. Physical Requirements are per VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.