Early Intervention Vision Specialist

Cleveland Sight Center; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleveland Sight Center seeks an Early Intervention Specialist to support infants and toddlers with developmental delays, including visual impairment, in home and community settings.

Under the Manager of Early Intervention, the role uses coaching and family-centered strategies aligned with the Ohio EI model to promote participation in daily routines and activities. This is a year-round, community-based position emphasizing collaboration and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting infants and toddlers with developmental delays in home-based or community settings.
• Licensure as TVI or COMS or related certification preferred.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required.

Responsibilities

• Provide developmental assessments and ongoing support using routines-based, strengths-focused approach.
• Partner with families through collaborative coaching to embed individualized strategies within daily routines.
• Support families in understanding impact of visual impairment on development and guide adaptive strategies.
• Develop and implement center-based services when appropriate.
• Attend appointments with families to support coordination of care.
• Collaborate within PSP model with vision, OT, PT, speech, and O&M as needed.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation per agency and state requirements.
• Determine eligibility and service needs; support referrals to county EI programs and partners.

Skills

Family-centered coaching

Developmental assessment

Infant/toddler development

Collaborative partnerships

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

Licensure as TVI or COMS

Developmental Specialist certification preferred

Job description

Under the supervision of the Manager of Early Intervention, the Early Intervention Specialist supports infants and toddlers (birth to age three) with suspected or diagnosed developmental delays, including visual impairments or low vision, and their families.

This role uses a coaching and family-centered approach grounded in the principles of Ohio Early Intervention to promote the child’s participation in everyday routines and activities. Services are delivered in the home and community using a strengths-based, routines-focused approach in alignment with the Ohio Early Intervention model.

This role supports families in understanding and building upon their child’s visual abilities while fostering independence, confidence, and meaningful engagement in everyday activities.

This is a year-round position and does not follow a traditional school year schedule.

Essential Functions

• Provide developmental assessments and ongoing support using a routines- based, strengths-focused approach.
• Partner with families through collaborative coaching to create and embed individualized strategies within daily routines, promoting the child’s growth, access, participation, and learning
• Support families in understanding the impact of visual impairment on development, providing guidance and modeling strategies such as environmental adaptations, optimal positioning, play-based engagement, and pre-braille/visual skill development
• Develop and implement center-based services (if appropriate)
• Attend ophthalmology appointments with families when beneficial to service coordination.
• Collaborate within the Primary Service Provider (PSP) model, consulting with specialists in vision, OT, PT, speech, and O&M as needed.
• Build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with families and community partners.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation according to agency and state requirements.
• Determine eligibility and service needs; support referrals to county HMG/EI programs and community partners.
• Participate in ISP and/or IFSP development and team meetings, utilizing the coaching model to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Participate in transition planning and Transition Planning Conferences (TPC); attend ETR/IEP meetings when possible
• Coordinate with Cleveland Sight Center Clinic and families for eyeglass assistance or other vision-related supports.
• Engage in ongoing professional development related to early childhood development, visual impairments, and the Ohio EI model.
• Provide onboarding support to include coaching, initiating shadowing opportunities, and instruction and review of assessment methods as needed for new EI staff.
• Support department and agency events as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Developmental Specialist certification preferred.
• Experience supporting infants and toddlers or young children with developmental delays, ideally in home-based or community settings.
• Licensure as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired (TVI) or Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS).

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Intervention Specialist, Child Development, Social Work, or a related field.