SY 26-27 Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Job Summary

About the Role

Responsibilities

• Provides itinerant orientation and mobility services to visually impaired students in order to improve mobility and independent functioning.
• Assesses visually impaired students to determine eligibility for service.
• Provides consultative service to school staff and parents within the School District of Philadelphia.
• Participates in the multi-disciplinary team process and individual educational programming activities for students where relevant.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Two years of full-time, paid, professional experience as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist working in schools with school-age students, which has included working with students with blindness/visual impairment and multiple disabilities, and writing IEP goals.
• Demonstrated knowledge of:
• federal, state and local mandates governing the implementation of special education programs.
• laws and regulations that affect orientation and mobility services.
• principles, techniques, equipment, and literature used in providing orientation and mobility services.
• major theories and intervention strategies with educational implications for students with visual impairments.
• effective behavior management skills and training techniques.
• how to prepare and use equipment and materials, such as tactile maps, models, optical devices, pre-canes, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and long canes for the development of orientation and mobility skills.
• braille, basic orientation, mobility, and adaptive technology skills.
• professional resources pertinent to the orientation and mobility profession.
• basic principles of learning theories and their implications for orientation and mobility training.
• how to plan and conduct orientation and mobility assessments and programs.
• Demonstrated ability to:
• provide effective orientation and mobility training.
• develop effective treatment plans and service.
• provide for student safety during orientation and mobility instruction and in other environments while fostering maximum independence during orientation and mobility training.
• provide orientation of new buildings and class schedules to students with visual impairments as needed.
• document progress and relate it to students’ goals and objectives.
• use assistive technology with students with visual impairments.
• appropriately and correctly model orientation and mobility techniques for students, parents, teachers, and other school staff.
• maintain accurate records.
• assess the effectiveness of activities.
• use a personal computer.
• understand and follow oral or written directions.
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Qualifications

• Valid Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).
• Valid National Orientation Mobility certificate (NOMC) issued by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board.

Skills

• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of assistive technology.
• Ability to adapt to changing environments and situations.

Benefits

• Health insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Professional development opportunities.

Pay

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Regular hours, with occasional evening and weekend work as needed.