Description

The primary function of the Vision Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist is to develop and execute individual rehabilitation plans for patients with visual impairment and for patients with visual dysfunction after brain injury. The Vision Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist works collaboratively with the Low Vision Optometrist / Brain Injury Rehabilitation Optometrist and community partners including rehabilitation teachers, orientation and mobility specialists, education coordinators, mental health providers, physical therapists, and social services agencies.

 Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Not Applicable

 Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides vision rehabilitation occupational therapy services, including evaluation of unique patient needs and goals and creation of occupational profiles, planning and development of individual rehabilitation plans, and execution of rehabilitation plans both internally and through collaboration with community partners 
• Provides rehabilitation services including visual skills training, assessment and training in the use of adaptive equipment for activities of daily living and patient-specified goals, instruction in compensatory strategies for visual impairment, and binocular vision training/orthoptics
• Dispenses adaptive devices and optical equipment in consultation with the Low Vision Optometrist 
• Provides positive feedback and encouragement to patients throughout all phases of the rehabilitation process 
• Plans, organizes, and leads monthly low vision support group meetings 
• Manages clinic inventory and ordering 
• Trains technical and support staff in vision rehabilitation principles 
• Provides community outreach and education

Requirements

• Strong clinical skills in rehabilitation
• Experience in low vision rehabilitation preferred 
• Experience in brain injury vision rehabilitation preferred 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Professional demeanor
• Ability to work as a member of a team 

 Education and Experience:

•  Graduate of an accredited college 
• Current certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
• Active license to practice Occupational Therapy in Virginia 
• Two years of relevant clinical experience preferred 

ADA Job Requirements: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Physical Demands: Intermittent lifting and supporting of patients required; must intermittently lift and support up to 100 pounds or more while assisting patients. Walking, standing, lifting, reaching with hands and arms, carrying, stooping, kneeling, crawling, bending, squatting, handling, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, prolonged sitting, vision, eye-hand coordination, tasting or smelling. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance, vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. 
• Communication Skills: Writing, speaking, hearing, reading, interpersonal relationships, receiving instructions, giving instructions. 
• Intellectual Skills: Short and long term memory, abstract reasoning, decision making, directing others, mathematical calculations. 
• Work Situations: Work Situations: Working as part of a group, working with the public, performing a variety of duties. 

Disclaimer: 

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, but not all-inclusive, listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required. See ADA checklist for specific related criteria.