Orientation and Mobility Instructor (Austin) (827085)

Texas Workforce Commission; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 51,149 - 64,132; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Retirement plan

Health insurance

Paid leave

Tuition assistance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Texas Workforce Commission in Austin seeks an Orientation and Mobility Instructor II‑IV to join the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, providing training to blind and visually impaired students for independent living and employment goals. Responsibilities include planning and delivering non-visual travel instruction, coordinating with the rehabilitation team, and supporting customers’ habilitative needs.

Requires degrees/certifications and travel up to 5% within Texas; lifting 10 pounds may be

Qualifications

• TS II: bachelor's degree in Orientation and Mobility or COMS/NOMC certification.
• TS III: bachelor’s degree plus one year relevant experience.
• TS IV: bachelor’s degree plus three years relevant experience.
• Must be able to travel up to 5% within Texas.
• Must lift/carry 10 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Provides travel skills instruction and non-visual/alternative teaching methods.
• Delivers self-help, independent living, and vocational training to clients.
• Develops and implements rehabilitation plans with team collaboration.
• Coordinates, evaluates, and updates instructional programs for visually impaired students.
• May supervise staff and contribute to program budgeting and data collection.

Skills

Travel instruction

Non-visual teaching

Independent living coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Orientation and Mobility

COMS certification

NOMC certification

Job description

For Texas to be GREAT, we need the best and brightest talent like you! The public vocational rehabilitation (VR) program administered through the Texas Workforce Commission helps people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, retain, and advance in employment. According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 12.6% in 2020. This jobless rate continues to be much higher than the rate for those without disabilities.

PUBLIC SERVICE IN VR IS FOR YOU…

• If you want to find meaningful work and contribute to a powerful mission. For more than 100 years VR has been helping individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals!
• If you are looking for career and advancement opportunities. 38% of employees in VR have 15+ years of seniority. There are various positions with career ladders and opportunities to specialize in areas of interest: Autism, Blind & Visual Impairments, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Brain Injury, Foster Youth, Transition Students, Veterans.
• If you need a comprehensive benefits package that offers competitive pay & benefits from health plans, life insurance, retirement programs, paid leave and holidays, and longevity pay.
• If you have direct VR Counseling work experience, receive higher starting salary.
• If you are interested in a flexible work schedule with teleworking as an option.
• If you want to advance your education with our tuition assistance program.
• FREE CEUs to maintain CRC credentials and reimbursement for CRC & LPC renewals.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is seeking to fill an Orientation and Mobility Instructor to join the Orientation and Mobility Department team. This position is located at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center (CCRC), 4800 North Lamar, Austin, TX.

TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.

Benefits To Working For TWC Include

• Competitive starting salary: $4,583.33 - $5,746.66 per month
• Defined Retirement Benefit Plan
• Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts
• Medical Insurance – The state pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full‑time employees and 50% for eligible dependents. Eligible part‑time employees receive 50% state contribution for themselves and 25% for dependents. Employees pay the remainder of the premium by paycheck deduction before taxes.
• Optional benefits such as dental, vision, and life insurance
• 8 hours sick leave per month
• 8 hours vacation leave per month with potential to earn more with longevity
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services
• Additional benefits for active employees: https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits.

The Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Instructor II‑IV performs routine to highly complex instructional or training work at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center. Responsibilities include planning, organizing, and conducting educational and training programs and coordinating, developing, and evaluating instruction for blind or visually impaired students’ habilitative or rehabilitative needs. Must provide self‑help/self‑care and vocational instruction to help customers achieve independent living and employment goals. Works under moderate to limited supervision with limited to moderate latitude for initiative and judgment.

General Duties

• Provides individual or group instruction in travel skills, emotional adjustment to blindness, independent living skills, communication skills, self‑help, self‑care, and vocational training using non‑visual and alternative teaching techniques.
• Assists customers in developing, achieving, and maintaining essential independent living and employment objectives.
• Assists in developing referral sources, completing mandatory case documentation of teaching services.
• Provides consultative services and technical assistance to team members in evaluating and developing the customers’ individual rehabilitation plan.
• Delivers non‑visual and alternative technique training in group or individual sessions.
• Responds to customer complaints and documents actions.
• Installs, sets up, or troubleshoots adaptive aids and devices as needed.
• Assists staff or external agencies in conducting specialized casework.
• Reviews or oversees the evaluation of records to determine, provide, and coordinate vocational rehabilitative services.
• May supervise other staff, analyze long‑range training needs, develop recommendations based on assessments, assist with budgeting, and oversee data compilation.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS)
• Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC)

Minimum Qualifications

• TS II: Bachelor’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four‑year college or university; OR Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS) OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC).
• TS III: Bachelor’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four‑year college or university plus one year mandatory experience as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor in indoor/outdoor travel using a cane and alternative blindness techniques; OR Certification by the Academy (with COMS) plus one mandatory year experience; OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC) plus one mandatory year experience.
• TS IV: Bachelor’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four‑year college or university plus three mandatory years experience as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor in indoor/outdoor travel using a cane and alternative blindness techniques; OR Certification by the Academy (with COMS) plus three mandatory years experience; OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC) plus three mandatory years experience.

If selected for this position, must participate in an extended blindfold‑immersion training program and must be flexible as working hours may vary. Duty requires up to 5% travel within Texas and must lift/carry 10 pounds.

Veterans

Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience into civilian terms and compare this position to military occupations at the Texas State Auditor’s Office.

How To Apply

To be considered, please complete the State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at www.workintexas.com or on Taleo (Job Search). The Texas Workforce Commission is not considering applications from individuals who require employment visa sponsorship. All qualified hires must verify identity and work eligibility in compliance with federal law. Mandatory background screening will be conducted pursuant to the Texas Labor Code.