Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Health & Human Services; Fayetteville (NC); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid leave

Job summary

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Services for the Blind seeks a Vision Rehabilitation Specialist to assess and train individuals who are blind or visually impaired in orientation and mobility, support independent travel, and help achieve employment goals. Travel across diverse environments is required.

This role delivers one-on-one instruction, develops tailored plans, and coordinates referrals, working in homes, schools, and community settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in visual impairment or related field with ACVREP certification as required.
• Experience applying orientation and mobility theories to visually impaired individuals.
• Ability to assess consumer needs and develop individualized training plans.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive orientation and mobility assessments and plan training.
• Provide one-on-one instruction in orientation and mobility techniques.
• Teach route planning, street crossings, public transit use, and travel strategies.
• Coordinate referrals to services and document progress per standards.

Skills

Orientation & mobility theory

Travel training

Assessment & planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in visual impairment

ACVREP certification options

Tools

Mobility devices

Long canes

Electronic travel aids

Job description

Agency Dept of Health and Human Services Division Blind Services Job Classification Title Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (NS)

Position Number 60043096 Grade NC09

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well‑being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Orientation and Mobility Specialist provides individualized assessment and instruction to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf‑blind to support independent living, community participation, and employment goals. The position evaluates consumer needs, functional abilities, and readiness for travel training and develops individualized instruction plans based on assessment findings. Work includes teaching orientation and mobility techniques, recommending appropriate resources, and coordinating referrals when additional services are needed. Services are delivered in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments and are designed to increase safe, independent travel and navigation skills. The position requires extensive direct client interaction and frequent travel within diverse community settings.

Key Duties Include

• Conducting comprehensive orientation and mobility assessments to evaluate consumer needs, goals, readiness, motivation, and functional travel skills.
• Assessing consumers’ understanding of spatial awareness, directional concepts, environmental navigation, and independent travel techniques.
• Developing individualized training plans based on assessment results, visual functioning, physical condition, and identified barriers to independent mobility.
• Providing one‑on‑one instruction in orientation and mobility techniques, including sensory development, concept development, pre‑cane skills, sighted‑guide techniques, and cane travel methods.
• Teaching route planning, street crossings, soliciting assistance, public transportation use, and travel strategies for a variety of home, community, and workplace environments.
• Instructing consumers in the use of residual vision, low‑vision devices, electronic travel aids, and other techniques that support safe and independent travel.
• Evaluating previous orientation and mobility training, current travel skills, and individual goals to determine appropriate instructional approaches and service recommendations.
• Identifying locomotor, auditory, visual, cognitive, or other physical factors affecting mobility and coordinating referrals to appropriate specialists and service providers.
• Documenting assessment findings, training activities, consumer progress, and recommendations in accordance with program requirements and professional standards.
• Delivering services in diverse settings, including homes, schools, businesses, community locations, retail environments, and outdoor travel routes under varying environmental conditions.

Salary and Recruitment

Salary Grade Range: $41,206.00 - $72,113.00 Recruitment Range: $41,206.00 - $71,119.00 Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Documented experience applying orientation and mobility theories, techniques, and instructional methodologies to address the functional impact of visual impairments and support independent travel outcomes for consumers.
• Proficiency providing orientation and mobility instruction to consumers across multiple age groups, including adapting training approaches, learning activities, and service strategies to meet age‑specific needs and goals.
• Background evaluating consumer needs and recommending appropriate orientation and mobility devices, tools, and travel aids based on functional vision, travel environments, and individual mobility objectives.
• Skilled in using mobility equipment, including long canes, low‑vision devices, and electronic travel aids, to support safe and effective travel instruction in home, community, educational, and employment settings.
• Experience conducting orientation and mobility assessments and developing individualized training plans that incorporate consumer goals, readiness to learn, functional abilities, and environmental considerations.

Physical Requirements

• Physical requirements include some stooping, crouching, reaching, standing and walking to get from place to place. Lifting no more than 20 lbs at a time; frequent lifting/carrying of up to 10 lbs.
• This position requires frequent walking in a wide range of environments, including indoor settings such as buildings, homes, schools, and retail stores, as well as outdoor environments in various weather and terrain.

Division of Services for the Blind (DSB)

The Division of Services for the Blind provides services to people who are visually impaired, blind and deaf‑blind to help them reach their goals of independence and employment.

Compensation and Benefits

• The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits.
• Employees can participate in health insurance options.
• Standard and supplemental retirement plans.
• NCFlex program (numerous high‑quality, low‑cost benefits on a pre‑tax basis).
• Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.
• Paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.
• Visit the website for State Benefits.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employerthat embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federallaws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/.

Recruiter Information

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order303, our agency supports second‑chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice‑involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in visual impairment field from an appropriately accredited institution and certification by the Academy for Certification of Education and Rehabilitation Professionals (ACVREP) as: (1) Certified Low Vision Therapist(CLVT) (2) Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist(3) Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist(COMS) (4) Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist as needed for the area of assignment OR Bachelor's degree in a related field such as rehabilitation counseling or social work and three years of direct service experience with individuals who are blind or visually impaired and certification as indicated above as needed for the area of assignment. Applicants who do not possess certification are required to obtain certification within two years from the date of employment.

Posting Information

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date.

This Position Is Funded In Part Through Federal Funds.

This Position Is Eligible For A Hybrid Work Option.

This Position Covers The Following Counties: Cumberland, Hoke, Montgomery, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Stanly, Harnett.

Other Information

Permanent, temporary, and time‑limited state government jobs can be found from the mountains to the coast.