Orientation and Mobility Instructor (Austin) (827085)

About the role

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is seeking an Orientation and Mobility Instructor to join the Orientation and Mobility Department team at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) in Austin, TX.

Responsibilities

• Provides individual or group training and instruction in travel skills, areas of emotional adjustment to blindness, independent living skills, communication skills, support systems and vocational training using non-visual and alternative teaching techniques.
• Affords assistance in developing, achieving, and maintaining essential independent living and employment objectives for customers.
• Affords assistance in developing (or may develop and maintain) referral sources, completes and maintains case documentation of teacher services.
• Affords assistance in providing or delivering training or deliver training for non-visual and alternative techniques in group or individual training sessions.
• Responds to customer complaints and documents actions.
• May deliver, install, and set up or troubleshoot functionality of adaptive aids and devices.
• May assist or direct staff or external organizations in conducting specialized casework.
• May review or oversee the evaluation of files to determine, provide, and coordinate vocational rehabilitative services.
• May supervise the work of others; may evaluate and analyze long-range training needs and develop training recommendations based on assessment results; may assist in the preparation of budgets for training or educational programs; and may oversee the compilation of data.

Requirements

• Preferred Qualifications: Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS) or Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC).
• Minimum Qualifications: TS II: Bachelor’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four-year college or university; OR Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS) OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC).
• TS III: Bachelor’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four-year college or university plus one year of full-time experience as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor who provides direct service teaching people who are blind or visually impaired in indoor and outdoor travel using a mobility cane and alternative blindness techniques; OR Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS) plus one year of full time experience as described above; OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC) plus one year of full-time experience as described above.
• TS IV: Bachelor’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from an accredited four-year college or university plus three years of full-time experience as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor who provides direct service teaching people who are blind or visually impaired in indoor and outdoor travel using a mobility cane and alternative blindness techniques; OR Certification by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education (with COMS) plus three years of full time experience as described above; OR Certification by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (with NOMC) plus three years of full-time experience as described above.

Qualifications

• Willingness and ability to participate in an extended blindfold-immersion training program.
• Flexibility to work hours that may vary.
• Up to 5% travel (within the state of Texas).
• Ability to lift/carry 10 pounds.

Benefits

To Working For TWC Include: - Competitive starting salary: $4,583.33 - $5,746.66/month - Defined Retirement Benefit Plan - Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts - Medical Insurance - Currently, the state pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full-time employees and 50% of the premium for their eligible dependents. Eligible part-time employees get a 50% state contribution for themselves and 25% for their dependents. Employees pay the remainder of the premium by paycheck deduction before taxes are withheld. - Optional Benefits such as dental, vision, and life insurance - 8 hours' sick leave per month - 8 hours' vacation leave per month with potential to earn more with longevity - Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services - Additional benefits for active employees: https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits.