Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Commonwealth-of-Pennsylvania; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s BBVS Harrisburg District Office is seeking an Orientation and Mobility Specialist to guide individuals toward greater independence, assess needs, and teach safe travel within homes, workplaces, and communities.

The role focuses on developing individualized plans, delivering instruction, and evaluating progress. Telework may be available; residents of PA and related compliance apply, with residency waiver noted.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of the Commonwealth’s Orientation and Mobility Intern program; or
• Active ACVREP certification; or
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility with practicum

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments of customer abilities to create instruction plans
• Provide personalized or group lessons to build independent travel skills
• Monitor progress and adjust methods to support achievement
• Choose canes and travel aids based on customer needs
• Offer training to staff and community partners who serve visually impaired individuals
• Stay current with practices by reviewing materials and attending trainings

Skills

Assessment planning

Instruction delivery

Progress evaluation

Equipment selection

Community support

Professional development

Education

ACVREP certification

Bachelor's or Master's in Orientation & Mobility

Intern program completion

Job description

As an Orientation and Mobility Specialist with the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) Harrisburg District Office, you will guide individuals toward greater independence. This position offers you the opportunity to teach skills that improve daily living and safe travel. In this role, you will provide Orientation and Mobility instruction to blind and visually impaired customers in addition to evaluating and teaching independent travel within the customers’ homes, workplaces, and communities. Become part of a mission-driven agency that believes in empowering every individual.

This position supports individuals who are blind or visually impaired by providing specialized instruction that promotes independence and personal growth. The role focuses on developing individualized plans and teaching techniques that enhance safe and confident travel. As an Orientation and Mobility Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Assessment Planning: Conduct assessments of customer abilities and gather information to create individualized instruction plans
• Instruction Delivery: Provide personalized or group lessons using experience-based learning activities that build independent travel skills
• Progress Evaluation: Monitor customer development and adjust instructional methods to support successful achievement
• Equipment Selection: Choose appropriate canes, travel aids, and other tools based on customer needs and motivation
• Community Support: Offer training and consultations to staff and community partners who serve individuals who are blind or visually impaired
• Professional Development: Stay current with Orientation and Mobility practices by reviewing new materials and attending trainings

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 7.5 hour work 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 Harrisburg. 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.

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.

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.

• 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.