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Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth

Fort Worth (TX)

On-site

USD 55,000 - 75,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

A leading non-profit organization seeks an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist to empower individuals with visual impairments. The role involves developing and implementing O&M training plans, advocating for client rights, and building relationships with community partners. This full-time position, located in Fort Worth, offers a comprehensive salary range of $55,000 to $75,000 annually, with a focus on client independence and empowerment through tailored support and services.

Benefits

Mileage compensation

Flexible scheduling

Qualifications

Must be certified or have relevant experience in O&M.
Experience working with visually impaired individuals.
Strong communication and advocacy skills required.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement O&M training plans for clients.
Coordinate referrals and documentation for services.
Advocate for accessibility and client rights.

Skills

Empathy

Problem-Solving

Communication

Flexibility

Organization

Education

Certification by ACVREP or NBPCB

Degree in Orientation and Mobility

Two years experience teaching O&M skills

Tools

Assistive Technology

Microsoft Tools and/or 365 CoPilot

1 week ago Be among the first 25 applicants

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Position Title: Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist

Reports To: Head of Client Services

Location: 912 West Broadway Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76104

Position Type: Full Time, Salaried and Exempt

Salary Range: $55,000 - $75,000

The mission of the Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth is to encourage and empower blind and significantly visually impaired children, youth, adults and seniors to achieve their highest level of independence through competitive employment, specialized training and client services (at no charge).

The Client Services department provides orientation and mobility (O&M) services for people with vision loss to assist with increasing independence, safety and achieving personal goals.The Orientation and Mobility Specialist will empower individuals that are blind or visually impaired by helping them to develop skills and knowledge to enable them to travel safely, independently and confidently.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Orientation and Mobility Teacher and Trainer

Ability to establish trust and rapport with a diverse case load of clients from Tarrant, Denton and surrounding counties that Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth serves.
Identify goals using approaches like the Person-Centered Planning process which is directed by the person receiving the support and services.
Flexibility to teach and train in a variety of locations including public spaces, client home, Lighthouse Fort Worth office, transportation systems, and dense city or rural environments.
Skillset to teach and train in a one-to-one or group model, depending on client needs and approval by referral partner organization.
Encourage clients to overcome obstacles for increased independence and confidence.
Solutions oriented, with ability to empathize using various problem-solving techniques.
Ability to independently manage weekly schedule, travel requirements, client needs and agency meeting expectations, all while maintaining prioritization, organization and efficiency.
Familiarity and demonstrated practice using the 9 Areas of the Expanded Core.
Design, Implement and Adapt an O&M Training Plan for each client receiving services, with a projected completion date and recommended training hours to align with Lighthouse Fort Worth client services performance measures and outcomes.
Ability and willingness to manage and coordinate with volunteers to assist O&M client needs, home visits, community outreach, supplies inventory and donations program.
Coordinates, manages, prioritizes and develops a weekly schedule to meet with numerous clients and internal employees for O&M training.
Manage and prioritize referrals from partner agencies, community organizations, Lighthouse Fort Worth employees and their direct supervisors, and those interested in services that may reach out by phone, email or walk into the office.
Adapts teaching strategies and materials to address specific client learning styles.
Displays flexibility and adaptability to modify instructional objectives and lesson plans based on unexpected circumstances and client needs.
Ability to evaluate client progress and recommend strategies for continued self-learning.
Assist and empower clients to develop a self-advocating strategy and support network.
Additional information listed on our website.

Referral Coordination and Documentation

Completes in person assessment of customer skills according to the partner organization referral to determine training needs and or to develop training plans.
The O&M Specialist will manage and coordinate all partner referrals, including TWC O&M training referral documentation and follow-up.
Build and cultivate long term relationships with community referral partners as an ongoing performance measure to sustain long term relationships with community partners agencies.
Completes all documentation in the Client Services Database, Casebook, to track weekly, monthly and annual performance measure goals.
Complete case notes and all required documentation within the required time, according to agency documentation compliance.
Identify, recommend and implement O&M performance measures to report weekly, monthly and annual goals in line with Client Services and Lighthouse Fort Worth outcomes.
Experience and knowledge of Microsoft Tools and/or 365 CoPilot, assistive technology, and Case Management Databases.

Resource and Donation Management

Have a broad and clear knowledge of O&M aids including rigid, folding and adapted canes, electronic travel aids, human and dog guides, and optical and non-optical devices.
Awareness of local, state and national organizations providing services, which include guide dog schools, modes of public transportation, agencies and other organizations that serve people with vision loss.
Assist with internal and external agency communication including, forms, policies and procedures using preferred formats such as large print and braille.
Lead, inventory and coordinate O&M supplies disbursement program which includes canes, and additional O&M devices, as applicable and available.

Education and Advocacy

Advocate for the rights of all individuals with visual impairments to receive appropriate services.
Advocate for increased accessibility of all local transportation systems and connect with other professionals and the broader community by joining advisory councils or attending committee meetings or general community meetings, as applicable.
Conduct presentations to staff, public, community organizations, colleges, universities, and other entities, as aligned with core responsibilities and staff availability.
Represent the Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth and the interests of the blind community at local community events, boards, committees, coalitions and peer support groups in a positive and supportive manner, as applicable and availability allows.
Develop and maintain positive, working relationships with other O&M specialists, Blind/Visually Impaired (BVI) professional groups, Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI), persons with vision loss, and advocacy groups locally and statewide to continue to lead the Lighthouse Fort Worth O&M program with best practices and lived experience insight.
Collaborate with internal employees and external partner organizations to ensure all clients receive appropriate accommodation and resources related to transition, job retention, self-employment, or vision related services.
Assist internal organizational department heads in assessing job tasks, machinery and equipment for job modifications, job training, and job accommodations.
Design, teach and schedule ongoing Blindness Awareness Trainings (BAT) for staff, employees, the public, employers and businesses, the community, family, friends, and relatives of Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth.
Promote the Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth and increase the advancement and growth of the client services department while evaluating and improving the scope of services provided.
Additional information listed on our website.

Qualifications and Knowledge(Additional Information listed on the website job role)

Education and Training

The O&M Specialist must meet one of the following criteria as required by the TWC:
Be certified by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) or the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) or;
Have a degree in O&M from an accredited college or university with an established O&M training curriculum and become certified by ACVREP or NBPCB within one year of being hired by the Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth or;
Have at least two years of full-time experience teaching O&M skills for an entity that VR recognizes, such as a rehabilitation center, a Veterans Administration hospital, or an educational system, and:provide three professional references indicating the candidate's ability to teach O&M skills to blind or visually impaired individuals; andbe certified by ACVREP (COMS) or NBPCB (NOMC) within one year of being hired by the service provider.
Additional information listed on our website.

Working Conditions

Outdoor environmental conditions: Ability to work in extreme outdoor temperatures for sustained periods of time including freezing temperatures below 32 degrees or hot and humid temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other North Texas environmental conditions such as wind, humidity, heavy rain, hail and other unexpected precipitation.
Indoor atmospheric conditions: Fumes, odors, or dust.
Additional information listed on our website.

Transportation

Must have reliable transportation to and from work, and within required business hours. We do compensate for mileage, according to the Federal IRS rates.

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday, 7:00 am – 5:30 pm, in person. Occasionally hours outside of normal office hours may be needed to meet company objectives

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed.They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position.Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.

Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth, a non-profit organization, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Seniority level

Seniority level
Entry level

Employment type

Employment type
Full-time

Job function

Job function
Human Resources
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