Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern (College)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 47,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern in the Philadelphia District Office. The program offers formal instruction, on-the-job training, and hands-on therapy for visually impaired individuals to support independence and employment opportunities.

Participants progress toward promotion to Vision Rehabilitation Therapist after degree or certificate completion. This structured internship includes flexible hours and potential telework after training, with

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in the final year of an accredited college or university bachelor's or master's degree or certificate program in rehabilitation teaching of the blind or visually impaired, vision rehabilitation therapy, teacher of the visually impaired, or education with a concentration in visual impairment.

Responsibilities

• Interview, observe, and evaluate customers to determine their needs and develop individualized instruction plans.
• Teach coping skills and adaptive techniques in homes, workplaces, and community settings to support independence.
• Review achievements and adjust instruction to ensure customers receive the maximum possible benefits from services.
• Offer counseling that reinforces skill development for customers and their families.
• Coordinate with agencies, healthcare providers, and community partners to help meet customer needs.
• Maintain accurate electronic case files including assessments, plans, progress notes, fiscal expenditures, and closure reports.

Education

Enrollment in final year of rehab-related degree/program

Job description

Salary

$46,827.00 - $70,592.00 Annually

Location

Philadelphia County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-60904-44215

Department

Department of Labor & Industry

Division

LI BBVS Phila Dstr Off

Opening Date

10/19/2026

Closing Date

11/15/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

44215

Position Number

00262688

Union

SEIU

Bargaining Unit

F4

Pay Group

ST05

Bureau / Division Code

00126410

Bureau / Division

Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services, Philadelphia District Office

Worksite Address

801 Market Street, Suite 6034

City

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

19107

Contact Name

Kaleya Rivera Pena

Contact Email

[e-mail]

THE POSITION

Are you enrolled in the final semester of a qualifying bachelor's or master's degree program or certificate program and searching for a professional opportunity to help people achieve optimal personal and social adjustment to blindness that leads to self-sufficiency? Become a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern with our Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services, Philadelphia District Office. This highly structured internship involves formal instruction, on-the-job training, and practical work experience in providing rehabilitation therapy for persons who are blind or visually impaired to enhance their vocational opportunities, independent living, and educational development. Step into a job where your efforts help transform futures every day.

Upon successful completion of the internship and the degree or certificate program, interns will be eligible for promotion as a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This structured training program teaches you to provide instruction, guidance, and support to customers who are blind or visually impaired so they can live and work independently. It enables interns to acquire working skills; knowledge of federal laws and regulations and state policy and procedures; and experience working directly with persons who are blind or visually impaired. As a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern, you will learn and perform the following duties:

• Assessment Planning: Interview, observe, and evaluate customers to determine their needs and develop individualized instruction plans
• Skill Instruction: Teach coping skills and adaptive techniques in homes, workplaces, and community settings to support independence
• Progress Monitoring: Review achievements and adjust instruction to ensure customers receive the maximum possible benefits from services
• Supportive Guidance: Offer counseling that reinforces skill development for customers and their families
• Community Collaboration: Coordinate with agencies, healthcare providers, and community partners to help them meet the needs customer needs
• Case Management: Maintain accurate electronic case files including assessments, plans, progress notes, fiscal expenditures, and closure reports

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full time employment, 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Work hours are negotiable within a 7.5 hour work day, with a 30- or 60-minute lunch, depending on selected work hours.
• The position is eligible for Alternate Work Schedules (AWS).
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, after 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. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Worksite Address: The address is: 801 Market Street, Suite 6034, Philadelphia, PA 19107. However, headquarters location may be flexible depending on the selected candidate.
• Salary:Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $46,827 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

• Current enrollment in the final year of an accredited college or university bachelor's or master's degree or certificate program in rehabilitation teaching of the blind or visually impaired, vision rehabilitation therapy, teacher of the visually impaired, or education with a concentration in visual impairment.

Special Requirement

• Authorization by the college or university for the student to participate in the commonwealth's Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern program. Upon entering the internship, the student must be enrolled in the final semester of the appropriate degree or certificate program.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• 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.