Orientation and Mobility Specialist

College Success Program; Wichita (KS); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Careers with purpose

Teamwork environment

Paid Life Insurance

10 Paid Holidays

PTO & Vacation

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Envision is committed to helping blind and visually impaired individuals achieve independence through orientation and mobility training and daily living skills.

The O&M Specialist conducts assessments, delivers instruction, and analyzes progress while ensuring compliance with HIPAA, QuadA, CMS, and grant requirements. This role partners with families, educators, and providers to maximize client outcomes.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree with graduate training in Orientation and Mobility required.
• Experience: 1–3 years in orientation and mobility training required.
• Knowledge/Skills: Proficient knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook; experience with disabled populations; knowledge of low vision aids; strong interpersonal and organizational skills; ability to communicate clearly; ability to travel within state as required; EMR usage preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct orientation and mobility assessment focusing on short and long-term needs and goals.
• Prepare instruction tailored to assessed needs and goals including pre-cane, orientation, and functional skills.
• Provide orientation and mobility instruction to enable independent travel.
• Transport clients to community locations for real-life instruction.
• Maintain progress notes and documentation in the EMR.
• Stay current with field practices and participate in continuing education.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Clear communication

Travel flexibility

Electronic Medical Record

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in related field

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Working at Envision means having a job that’s more than just a way to make money. It's a job that makes a difference.

We offer team members:

• Careers with purpose
• Teamwork environment
• Envision Paid Life Insurance
• 10 Paid Holidays
• PTO & Vacation
• Tuition Reimbursement

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible for assisting blind and visually impaired clients to achieve personal adjustment and maximum independence through orientation and mobility training and techniques that aid in daily living skills. Interviews clients, conducts assessments, provides instruction and/or training, and evaluates progress to determine present, and required or desired orientation and mobility goals. The O&M Specialist is also responsible for ensuring and maintaining compliance with QuadA, HIPAA, CMS, grant funding requirements, vendors, states agencies, and other regulatory guidelines and regulations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE

• Conduct orientation and mobility assessment process with client that focuses on both short term and long term needs of the client. Includes the needs and strengths of the client and an estimate of the length and frequency of service necessary to meet identified needs and goals.
• Prepare sequential and meaningful instruction geared to the client’s assessed needs, IEP goals and objectives, functioning level, and motivational level to include all of part of the following:
  • Perform intake assessment
  • Patient evaluation report
  • Physical conditioning
  • Humanguide technique
  • Pre-cane skills
  • Orientation skills
  • Functional vision skills
  • Bioptic training
• Prepare and use equipment and materials for the development of orientation and mobility skills, e.g., tactual maps, models, distance low vision aids, and long canes.
• Confer regularly with family members, parents, teachers, and/or other special education personnel to assist in work, home and classroom environmental modifications, adaptations, and considerations and to ensure reinforcement of appropriate orientation and mobility skills that will encourage the client with a visual impairment to travel independently in these settings.
• Provide orientation and mobility instruction, to include but not limited to, body imagery, sensory awareness, spatial concepts, compass direction concepts, basic protective and information gathering techniques, map skills, and cane skills.
• Instruct clients/students with visual impairments in the development of skills and knowledge that enable them to travel independently, to the highest degree possible, in accordance with the clients’ assessed needs and goals and the client’s IFSP/IEP/ITP.
• Teach clients/students to travel with proficiency, safety, and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments.
• Transport clients/students to various community locations as necessary or requested to provide meaningful instruction in realistic learning environments, which could include:
  • To and from residence to work and back home
  • To community resources/locations
  • Home adaptation needs
• Evaluate client/student’s progress and ensure O&M service documentation /progress reports are completed as required.
• Utilize the Electronic Medical Record for timely, accurate, and thorough documentation of assessments and progress notes.
• Maintain awareness of current practices in the field through review of literature, attendance at conferences, continuing education requirements for certification, etc.
• Personify and promote Envision’s core valutes of integrity, curiosity, passion, initiative, teamwork, and excellence.
• Flexibility to perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE

• Conduct orientation and mobility assessment process with client that focuses on both short term and long term needs of the client. Includes the needs and strengths of the client and an estimate of the length and frequency of service necessary to meet identified needs and goals.
• Prepare sequential and meaningful instruction geared to the client’s assessed needs, IEP goals and objectives, functioning level, and motivational level to include all of part of the following:
  • Perform intake assessment
  • Patient evaluation report
  • Physical conditioning
  • Humanguide technique
  • Pre-cane skills
  • Orientation skills
  • Functional vision skills
  • Bioptic training
• Prepare and use equipment and materials for the development of orientation and mobility skills, e.g., tactual maps, models, distance low vision aids, and long canes.
• Confer regularly with family members, parents, teachers, and/or other special education personnel to assist in work, home and classroom environmental modifications, adaptations, and considerations and to ensure reinforcement of appropriate orientation and mobility skills that will encourage the client with a visual impairment to travel independently in these settings.
• Provide orientation and mobility instruction, to include but not limited to, body imagery, sensory awareness, spatial concepts, compass direction concepts, basic protective and information gathering techniques, map skills, and cane skills.
• Instruct clients/students with visual impairments in the development of skills and knowledge that enable them to travel independently, to the highest degree possible, in accordance with the clients’ assessed needs and goals and the client’s IFSP/IEP/ITP.
• Teach clients/students to travel with proficiency, safety, and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments.
• Transport clients/students to various community locations as necessary or requested to provide meaningful instruction in realistic learning environments, which could include:
  • To and from residence to work and back home
  • To community resources/locations
  • Home adaptation needs
• Evaluate client/student’s progress and ensure O&M service documentation /progress reports are completed as required.
• Utilize the Electronic Medical Record for timely, accurate, and thorough documentation of assessments and progress notes.
• Maintain awareness of current practices in the field through review of literature, attendance at conferences, continuing education requirements for certification, etc.
• Personify and promote Envision’s core valutes of integrity, curiosity, passion, initiative, teamwork, and excellence.
• Flexibility to perform other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE

Education:Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with graduate training in Orientation and Mobility required.

Experience:Minimum of 1 to 3 years of previous experience in orientation and mobility training required.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience working with all disabled populations.
• Knowledge of or experience in working with low vision aids and appliances.
• Must possess excellent interpersonal skills necessary to provide close support and consultation.
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail; job requires prioritizing tasks and working independently.
• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work flexible schedule as necessary, and travel in state as required for job.
• Utilization of an electronic medical record for documentation purposes is preferred.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Current Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) certified by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) required.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Total Number of Employees Directly Supervising: _0__

Number of Subordinate Supervisors Reporting to Position: _0__

VISION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE

Can be performed with or without assistive technology:

___ Required to perform activities such as: preparing/analyzing data/figures; viewing a computer screen; reading; inspecting small objects for defects; using measuring devices; and/or assembling parts with close eye contact.

___Required to perform activities such as: operating machinery and/or power tools at or within arm’s reach; performing non-repetitive tasks such as carpentry work or repairing machinery.

_X Required to review/inspect own assigned work, the work of others, or facilities or structures.

Requires normal (or corrected to normal) vision/acuity:

___ Required to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment such as forklifts.

“To improve the quality of life and provide inspiration and opportunity for people who are blind or visually impaired through employment, outreach, rehabilitation, education and research.