VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST

Vision Rehabilitation Therapist

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Provides specialized rehabilitation teaching to children and adult consumers who are blind and visually impaired, enabling them to achieve their highest level of functioning.

General Requirements

• High level of professionalism, confidentiality, communication, teamwork, creativity, problem solving, planning, and organizational skills
• Empathy, sensitivity, flexibility, and ability to get along well with a wide variety of personalities
• Excellent teaching skills and overall knowledge of community resources

Key Job Elements

• Conducts comprehensive rehabilitation teaching, evaluations and assessments, and develops and implements personalized lesson plans
• Provides direct rehabilitation teaching instruction to adults and children, including personal care management, communication, home management, leisure activities, and technology
• Instructs consumers in use of low vision aids and adaptive equipment
• Maintains a caseload of adults and children, overseeing social casework, rehabilitation services, and referrals to other agencies
• Affords assistance in the development and implementation of Adaptive Sports and Recreational programs for children and adults
• Affords assistance in the implementation of children specific programming including camps, pre-vocational and vocational programs
• Completes all required documentation in a timely manner
• Consults, refers, and networks with primary care givers, families, school districts, NYSCB/ACCESS-VR, personnel, associated professionals, and CABVI staff
• Conducts community presentations and represents CABVI at meetings as assigned
• Maintains awareness of current academic material and research. Continues professional development in rehabilitation field
• Adapts to change and completes other duties as assigned
• Consistently achieves annual performance objectives

Communication Skills

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from consumers, professionals, and the general public
• Ability to write effective plans, reports, and correspondence
• Ability to provide visual cues according to consumer’s visual status
• Excellent listening skills and the ability to develop confidence and self-esteem

Computer/Technical Skills

• Basic computer skills
• Grade I and Grade II Braille skills
• Knowledgeable and current with low vision aids and adaptive equipment
• Knowledgeable in map development and reading, orthopedic prosthetic and cane technique
• Willingness to learn new technology

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions
• Ability to recognize the consumer’s status in relationship to their level of acceptance and respond accordingly
• Maintain a strict adherence to CABVI’s mission statement and core values

Physical Demands

• Frequent requirement to talk, hear, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop and kneel
• Occasionally must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Position requires stamina for indoor/outdoor training
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the key job elements

Work Environment

• Extensive travel required
• Instruction may occur in a variety of environments including consumer’s home or school, CABVI, or the community

Education and/or Experience

• Master’s degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy plus one year of experience in the human services field
• Bachelor’s Degree in field of Human Services
• ACVREP certification preferred
• Must meet Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Dept. of Special Education, and Dept. of Health personnel standards
• Experience with adaptive sports and recreation and children’s recreational programming a plus

PAY RATE

$54,000-$59,000/Year