Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania; Altoona (PA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Blair County, Altoona District Office, is seeking an Orientation and Mobility Specialist to provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. You will assess needs, plan instruction, and guide clients toward independence and safe community mobility.

Responsibilities include developing personalized plans, selecting travel aids, delivering lessons, monitoring progress, and offering family support.

Qualifications

• Minimum Experience and Training Requirements include completing the commonwealth's Orientation and Mobility Intern program, or
• Holding an active ACVREP-certified orientation and mobility specialist credential, or
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in orientation and mobility with practicum, or
• Applicants may meet educational requirements within 3 months of graduation.

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 met.
• Offer counseling and guidance to reinforce skills and support families.

Skills

ACVREP Certification

Intern program experience

Degree in orientation and mobility

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in orientation and mobility

ACVREP Certified orientation and mobility specialist

Job description

$60,538.00 - $92,010.00 Annually

Blair County, PA

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

CS-2026-57106-44920

Department of Labor & Industry

LI BBVS Altoona Dstr Off

09/08/2026

9/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

44920

00022021

SEIU

F4

ST07

00126440

Bureau Of Blindness & Visual Services - Altoona District Office

1130 12th Avenue

Suite 300

Altoona, Pennsylvania

16601

Kaleya Rivera Pena

[e-mail]

THE POSITION

Step into a meaningful career as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist 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 Specialist, 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

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

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 $60,538.00 (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:

• Successful completion of the commonwealth's Orientation and Mobility Intern program; or
• Possession of an active Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP); or
• A bachelor's or master's degree or certificate from an approved college or university program in orientation and mobility that includes a practicum.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

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.

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.

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.