Rehabilitation Specialist

State of Missouri; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Missouri’s Family Support Division (Rehabilitation Services for the Blind) is seeking a Rehabilitation Specialist who will teach blind and visually impaired individuals in their homes and provide comprehensive services as part of a rehabilitation team.

The role includes assessing clients, counseling, teaching daily living skills such as braille and typing, and coordinating with families and community providers to maximize independence.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with specialization in orientation and mobility, rehabilitation counseling, education, social work, behavioral sciences, home economics (emphasis in home management) or closely related areas.

Responsibilities

• Assess the impact of vision loss on clients and determine needed services.
• Provide individual counseling to help clients adjust and remain independent.
• Collaborate with rehabilitation team to deliver comprehensive services.
• Deliver direct teaching to blind/visually impaired persons in clients' homes.
• Explain available services and tailor them to client needs.
• Teach daily living and homemaking skills, including braille, typing, and communication skills.
• Provide limited travel instruction using sighted guide and cane.
• Teach handicrafts for therapeutic purposes.
• Assist clients in obtaining and operating aids (talking book machines, magnifiers).
• Coordinate with family and community resources for maximum independence.
• Refer clients to eye care or other medical services as needed.
• Maintain records and prepare reports; order training equipment as required.
• Serve as case manager for Independent Living Rehabilitation and Older Blind services.

Education

Specialization in orientation and mobility / rehabilitation counseling / education / social work / behavioral sciences / home economics

Job description

The Family Support Division (FSD), Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), is seeking candidates for a full-time position as a Rehabilitation Specialist, Teacher for the Blind. This position is based in the Jackson County/Kansas City RSB Office located at 615 E 13th St, 4th Floor, Kansas City MO.

• Makes assessments of the impact the loss of vision has on blinded persons, assesses needs of the client and takes steps to assist in compensating for the loss of vision.
• Provides counseling services to individual clients as necessary to help in realistically accepting the loss of vision and to assist the client in remaining a contributing member of the family and community.
• Participates with a rehabilitation counselor and mobility specialist as a member of the rehabilitation team to provide comprehensive services to clients.
• Provides direct teaching services to blind and visually impaired persons in their own homes.
• Interprets services available to blind and visually impaired persons and determines what services are needed and desired.
• Teaches skills necessary for daily living and homemaking activities.
• Teaches braille, typing, and other communication skills as needed.
• Gives limited travel instruction, with both sighted guide and cane, about the client's home and immediate surroundings.
• Teaches handicrafts for therapeutic purposes.
• Assists blind and visually impaired persons in obtaining and operating special aids and devices such as talking book machines, magnifying aids and homemaking aids.
• Works with the family and other persons in the community as indicated by the needs of the blind or visually impaired person.
• Refers persons in need of eye care, other medical care or special services to an appropriate provider.
• Works cooperatively with personnel in other agencies to enable the blind and visually impaired persons to achieve maximum services and independence.
• Keeps records and makes reports as required.
• Orders equipment and training aids necessary for effective client training and job performance.
• Serves as case manager for all Independent Living Rehabilitation clients and Older Blind services clients.
• Evaluates the need for and teaches blind clients diagnosed with diabetes in the use of adaptive devices to measure blood sugar and insulin.
• Performs other related work as assigned.

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with specialization in orientation and mobility, rehabilitation counseling, education, social work, behavioral sciences, home economics (with emphasis in home management) or closely related areas.. The individual must also be able to demonstrate proficiency in and teach Braille, alternative skills of blindness and basic orientation and mobility, within 1 year as evidenced by successfully completing and obtaining a passing score on a recognized Braille test evaluated by Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.

Individual(s) selected for this position may receive a higher rate based on a pay differential (e.g. shift, or time-of-service pay).

Recruitment Area: Accepting applications from all qualified applicants.

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in yourpaycheck. To helpdemonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here.

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