Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)

Lighthouse Works; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Lighthouse Central Florida seeks an Orientation and Mobility Specialist to provide comprehensive orientation and mobility services to a diverse client base across youth and adult programs. You will be part of the Orientation and Mobility Team, ensuring individual needs are met and progress is tracked.

The role emphasizes independence and confidence for clients with visual impairments, requiring strong communication, documentation, and collaboration with professionals and community partners.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in Visual Disabilities or Special Education.
• ACVREP COMS certification or eligibility required.
• Progressive responsibility in work history.
• Knowledge of orientation and mobility principles and documentation processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide Orientation and Mobility services to a diverse client base (youth and adults).
• Collaborate with the Orientation and Mobility Team to meet client needs across programs.
• Demonstrate professional maturity, judgment, and objectivity; maintain confidentiality as appropriate.

Skills

Orientation & Mobility

Teach Orientation & Mobility

Oral & Written Communication

MS Office

Client Database & Reports

Interpret Eye Pathology

Interpersonal Skills

Organizational & Time Management

Relationship Building

Adaptability

Confidentiality

Education

Master's in Visual Disabilities / Special Education

Job description

Description

We're seeking an Orientation and Mobility Specialist to provide Orientation and Mobility Services to a wide array of clients. This position will be a member of the Orientation and Mobility Team, working within our youth and adults across the programs ensuring a client's needs are being met. At Lighthouse Central Florida, we empower individuals with visual impairments to live independently and confidently.

Make a meaningful impact. Be a part of a team that changes lives.

Qualifications

Education

Master's Degree in Visual Disabilities or Special Education

License And Certification

Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) (COMS) certification, or eligibility for ACVREP certification required.

Experience

• Work history demonstrating progressive levels of responsibility

Demonstrated Knowledge And Skills

• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of orientation and mobility principles and techniques


• Skilled in teaching Orientation and Mobility


• Possess oral/written communication skills


• Possess a working knowledge of Microsoft Office


• Possess an ability to utilize a client database for documentation, data retrieval, and running reports


• Must be able to interpret eye pathology reports concerning the impact on functional ability, and Orientation & Mobility


• Professional maturity, judgment, and objectivity


• Possess excellent interpersonal skills and effectively work with a variety of personalities and leadership styles


• Possess effective organizational and time management skills with attention to detail, as the position requires prioritizing tasks and working independently


• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, management, business professionals, civic organizations, and the general public


• Ability to project a positive, compassionate image to the public


• Ability to adapt effectively to, and support, change


• Ability to maintain confidentiality when appropriate

Physical Demands

• Moderate ability to move and lift items, usually up to 50 lbs.


• Stamina and ability to move about independently to provide Orientation and Mobility Instruction in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments; actively participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor field trips


• Prolonged standing and walking during instruction

Requirements

• Maintain current COMS certification by the ACVREP


• Must have access to reliable transportation and regularly be able to independently travel distances consistent with training requirements for clients in varying weather conditions


• Must possess a valid driver's license with no restrictions and the ability to travel as needed


• Pass Level II background check

For employees living with visual impairments, you must provide documentation from a physician of legal blindness. Legal blindness is defined as: \"Central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses OR whose visual acuity, if better than 20/200, is accompanied by a limit to the field of vision in the better eye to such a degree that its widest diameter subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.\" These conditions are based on the federal Javits-Wagner-O'Day work program for legally blind individuals.

The employment policy of Lighthouse Central Florida and Lighthouse Works is to provide equal opportunity to all persons. Our company, therefore, has committed to equal employment opportunity through a positive and continuing affirmative action program. Lighthouse Central Florida and Lighthouse Works will recruit, hire, train, and promote qualified individuals in all job titles and ensure that all other personnel actions are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, and veteran status, or disability.

All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and primary duties have been included. Requirements, skills, and abilities have been determined to be the minimal standards required to perform the positions successfully. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and conditions may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act may modify requirements to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made that may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or impose undue hardships on the organization.