Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Commonwealth-of-Pennsylvania; Altoona (PA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Altoona District Office seeks an Orientation and Mobility Specialist to provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. You will assess needs, develop instructional plans, and guide clients toward greater independence in home and community settings.

Responsibilities include planning personalized instruction, selecting assistive travel tools, delivering lessons, monitoring progress, and supporting families.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of an Orientation and Mobility program or ACVREP pathway.
• Active license/certification in Orientation and Mobility is required.
• Education must include practicum within the program.

Responsibilities

• Assess customer needs by reviewing reports and interviewing individuals to plan instruction.
• Develop personalized instruction schedules aligned with rehabilitation goals.
• Select travel aids and assistive technology based on customer readiness.
• Provide individual or group lessons building safe travel techniques and independence.
• Monitor progress and determine if instructional goals are met.
• Offer counseling and guidance to support families and customers.

Skills

Assessment planning

Interpersonal skills

Instruction delivery

Travel training

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Orientation and Mobility

ACVREP certification

Practicum included degree

Job description

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.

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:In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

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.

This position issubject to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding.

You must be eligible for selection in accordance with merit system employment regulations.

Recruitment Methods:

• Applicants must meet one of the following methods to be considered for this vacancy:
  • Reassignment(Only current civil service employees in the same agency who hold the same or similar job title, with the same maximum salary, within the same occupational group or where there is a logical career movement, will qualify for reassignment.)
  • Meritorious service is defined as (a) the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and
  • (b) the last regular or probationary performance evaluation showing an overall rating of satisfactory or higher.
• Transfer (Only current civil service employees who hold the same job title will qualify for transfer to another agency.)
  • Meritorious service is defined as (a) the absence of any discipline above the level of written reprimand during the 12 months preceding the closing date of the posting, and
  • (b) the last regular or probationary performance evaluation showing an overall rating of satisfactory or higher.
• Voluntary Demotion
• Reinstatement(Former civil service employees may only be reinstated to the job title from which they resigned. Current civil service employees are not eligible through reinstatement.)

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.