Orientation and Mobility Intern (College)

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; Altoona (PA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is seeking an Orientation and Mobility Intern at the Altoona District Office to provide rehabilitation services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. You will guide clients toward independence, assess needs, plan instruction, and monitor progress in home and community settings.

The role includes flexible hours with potential telework, starting salary of $46,827 annually, and a chance to support clients through meaningful, community-based work.

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in the final year of an accredited college or university bachelor's or master's degree program or certificate program in orientation and mobility.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of enrollment in the final year of the applicable degree or certificate program.
• This position requires authorization by the college or university for the student to participate in the Commonwealth's Orientation and Mobility Intern program.

Responsibilities

• Assess customer needs by reviewing reports, interviewing individuals, and observing daily functioning to create an instructional plan.
• Develop personalized instruction schedules that align with rehabilitation goals.
• Choose and recommend travel aids and assistive technology based on customer readiness and capabilities.
• Provide individual or group lessons that build safe travel techniques and greater independence.
• Track customer skill growth and determine whether instructional goals are being met.
• Offer counseling and guidance to reinforce skills and assist families in supporting the customer.

Education

Orientation and Mobility degree program

Job description

Salary: $46,827.00 - $70,592.00 Annually

Location: Blair County, PA

Job Type: Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number: CS-2026-57104-44925

Position Number: 00022021

Job Code: 44925

Union: SEIU

Bargaining Unit: F4

Pay Group: ST05

Bureau / Division Code: 00126440

Bureau / Division: Bureau Of Blindness & Visual Services - Altoona District Office

Worksite Address: 1130 12th Avenue, Suite 300, Altoona, Pennsylvania, 16601

Contact Name: Kaleya Rivera Pena

Contact Email: [e-mail]

THE POSITION

Step into a meaningful career as an Orientation and Mobility Intern with the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS), Altoona District Office. This position is responsible for providing a full range of rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This role allows you to guide people as they build confidence, expand their independence, and move safely through their communities. Your skills will help shape brighter futures and open new paths for the people you serve.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position guides individuals who are blind or visually impaired as they work toward independence at home and in the community. As an Orientation and Mobility Intern, you will perform the following duties:

• Assessment Duties: Assess customer needs by reviewing reports, interviewing individuals, and observing daily functioning to create an instructional plan
• Instruction Planning: Develop personalized instruction schedules that align with rehabilitation goals
• Equipment Selection: Choose and recommend travel aids and assistive technology based on customer readiness and capabilities
• Skill Instruction: Provide individual or group lessons that build safe travel techniques and greater independence
• Progress Monitoring: Track customer skill growth and determine whether instructional goals are being met
• Support Services: Offer counseling and guidance to reinforce skills and assist families in supporting the customer

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 7.5 hours per day
• Work hours are negotiable, Monday - Friday, with a 30 or 60-minute lunch depending on work hours. AWS (alternate work schedule) may be available.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Altoona. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $46,827.00.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Current enrollment in the final year of an accredited college or university bachelor's or master's degree program or certificate program in orientation and mobility.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of enrollment in the final year of the applicable degree or certificate program.

Special Requirement:

• This position requires authorization by the college or university for the student to participate in the commonwealth's Orientation and Mobility Intern program. Upon entering the internship, the student must be enrolled in the final semester of the appropriate degree or certificate program.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

Veterans

Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.