Blindness Rehabilitation Specialist - Anticipated Vacancy

Department of Labor; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

Health insurance coverage

Dental insurance

Job summary

Department of Labor – Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) in Portland seeks a Blindness Rehabilitation Specialist Transition Consultant to coordinate services across birth to 24 with families and education teams. The role emphasizes advocacy, program navigation, and planning for education and independent living goals.

Responsibilities include meetings with clients and professionals, applying relevant laws, and coordinating with TVIs, O&M, and

Qualifications

• Knowledge of blindness and visual impairment and their impact on development.
• Knowledge of blindness rehabilitation services, programs, and resources.
• Knowledge of federal and state special education laws, regulations, and service systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Meets with clients, families, and relevant professionals to explain applicable laws, rights, services, options, timelines, and alternative resources.
• Provides services to potentially eligible students, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and transition services, consistent with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
• Provides vocational rehabilitation services to transition-age youth and consults with vocational rehabilitation counselors to support continuity between educational and vocational services.
• Coordinates with Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs), Orientation and Mobility Specialists (O&M), Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (VRTs), and other professionals to support comprehensive blindness rehabilitation services.

Skills

Communication skills

Knowledge of blindness and visual Impa

Counseling and family engagement

Independent and team work

Advocacy for individuals who are blind

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education or related field

Job description

Blindness Rehabilitation Specialist Transition Consultant Department of Labor – Bureau of Rehabilitation Services Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) Job Class Code: 5052 Grade: 23 - Professional/Technical Salary: $51,500.80-$72,259.20/Annually Location: Portland Opening Date: November 3, 3036 Closing Date: November 18, 2026 Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Children and young adults who are blind or have low vision, along with their families, have unique needs that often require coordinated support from multiple providers, agencies, and systems across home, school, community, and vocational settings.

The BLRS/TC provides consultation, service coordination, advocacy, and connections to resources and information for individuals from birth through age 24 and their families. Working collaboratively with the individual, family, and rehabilitation team, the BLRS/TC helps identify needs, navigate services, and plan for future educational, vocational, and independent living goals. Although the position serves individuals across the birth-to-24 age range, the BLRS/TC works most closely with middle school students and youth preparing for transition to adulthood.

Primary Tasks

• Meets with clients, families, and relevant professionals to explain applicable laws, rights, services, options, timelines, and alternative resources.
• Provides services to potentially eligible students, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and transition services, consistent with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
• Provides vocational rehabilitation services to transition-age youth and consults with vocational rehabilitation counselors to support continuity between educational and vocational services.
• Counsels and supports children and families regarding DBVI services, adjustment to blindness or visual impairment, and available resources.
• Coordinates with Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs), Orientation and Mobility Specialists (O&M), Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (VRTs), and other professionals to support comprehensive blindness rehabilitation services.
• Advocates for and coordinates appropriate accommodations in early childhood, K–12, specialized school, postsecondary, vocational, and employment settings.
• Coordinates Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) activities to support the development of skills needed for independence and successful transition to adulthood.
• Assesses functional abilities and limitations related to blindness or visual impairment to inform educational, vocational, and rehabilitation planning.
• Coordinates services and consultation for individuals with co-occurring disabilities in collaboration with families and other service providers.
• Coordinates team meetings and collaborates with educational personnel and service providers to support Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation.
• Prepares case notes, reports, correspondence, and professional recommendations to document services, client progress, and program activities.
• Participates in statewide and local boards, committees, and collaborative groups to promote advocacy, resource development, interagency coordination, and training.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of blindness and visual impairment and their impact on social, emotional, educational, vocational, and independent living development.
• Knowledge of blindness rehabilitation services, programs, and resources.
• Knowledge of federal and state special education laws, regulations, and service systems.
• Knowledge of co-occurring sensory, physical, mental health, and developmental disabilities and their interaction with blindness or visual impairment.
• Knowledge of counseling, family engagement, case coordination, and multidisciplinary service delivery practices.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, service needs, and work demands.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to coordinate services and collaborate with families, schools, agencies, and community partners.
• Ability to advocate effectively for individuals who are blind or visually impaired and their families.

Minimum Qualifications

• A six (6) year combination of experience, training and education providing knowledge of special education, rehabilitation, or teaching.
• Preference for Pre‑school positions will be given to candidates having a Bachelors Degree in Education with specialization in pre‑school or early childhood development OR a four (4) year degree in Education of the Blind or Visually Disabled.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work‑Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime‑exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee‑only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee‑only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee‑only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre‑tax to help pay for out‑of‑pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty‑two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre‑tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full‑time.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

About Us

Join Maine State Government and Make a Difference in Your Community If you're looking for a fulfilling career that allows you to serve the public and make a difference, consider working with Maine State Government! Our departments boast an array of professions, including attorneys, biologists, correctional officers, equipment operators, engineers, human resources professionals, information technology experts, law enforcement officers, nurses, park rangers, social workers, and transportation workers. With more than 100 agencies, boards, and offices, Maine State Government is the perfect place to explore various industries and interests. Whether you're interested in finance or forestry, there's an opportunity for you to help make Maine an even better place to live.