Rehabilitation Specialist

State-of-Missour; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Family Support Division (FSD), Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) seeks a full‑time Rehabilitation Specialist, Teacher for the Blind to serve clients from the Jackson County/Kansas City RSB Office, 615 E 13th St, 4th Floor, Kansas City MO.

You will assess the impact of vision loss, provide counseling, and teach daily living and Braille while collaborating with mobility and rehab teams to support independence, including home visits and referrals to eye care or other services.

Qualifications

• Assessment of impact of vision loss and client needs.
• Provide counseling to help acceptance and independence.
• Collaborate with rehabilitation team for comprehensive services.

Responsibilities

• Assess the impact of vision loss on clients and determine needed services.
• Provide direct teaching in daily living, Braille, typing and homemaking skills.
• Offer counseling to help clients remain contributing members of family and community.
• Work with mobility specialists and rehab counselors as part of the team.
• Maintain records, report findings, and refer clients to appropriate services.

Skills

Counseling

Home visits

Braille instruction

Adaptive devices training

Education

Bachelor's degree in orientation and mobility

Rehabilitation counseling

Education

Social work

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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