Orientation and Mobility Specialist

POSITION TITLE	Orientation and Mobility Specialist
REPORTS TO:	Exceptional Children Director
BEGINNING DATE:	Open Until Filled

 







NATURE OF WORK:  An employee in this class works with visually impaired students to enable those students to travel and move in their environment with ease. A variety of techniques are utilized in evaluating the students’ mobility and the instruction to improve their functioning in their surroundings. The employee must develop a detailed plan based on generalized theory. The employee is expected to resolves any problems that arise in their training program. Any error will likely slow the students’ progress and could cause injury to the student. The employee works under general supervision.
 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Considerable knowledge of the restrictive effects of visual impairments
• Considerable knowledge of mobility theories, techniques and methodologies
• Skill in the use of mobility equipment
• Ability to motivate students
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally

 
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Successfully completed and graduated from an accredited Orientation and Mobility specific training program through an approved university and have completed all fieldwork requirements
• Two years of experience in a related field, preferably in school system or other support setting

 
TERM OF EMPLOYMENT:  10 month
 
SALARY:  Salary Grade 68

FSLA Status: Non-Exempt


PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide assessment and instruction of safe, efficient, purposeful travel for visually impaired students in the student’s natural school and classroom setting where the skills will be used.
2. Performs evaluations of visually impaired students upon recommendation of student’s IEP team.
3. Evaluations include, but are not limited to:  Medical Eye Report review; IEP review; observation; assessment of school, home and community; and interviews with education team members.
4. Share results of evaluations with the student’s IEP team.
5. Work with IEP team to determine and/or develop student’s orientation and mobility goals and available services.
6. Gather information after the student’s environment, and their movement through it, with their remaining senses including kinesthetic, proprioceptive, auditory, tactile, haptic, vestibular and olfactory senses.
7. Reliably negotiate obstacles, drop-offs and other hazards in the path of travel through the correct use of human guide technique, indoor and outdoor self protective techniques, cane techniques, and effective use of visual, auditory and other sensory information.
8. Establish orientation to an environment, plan movement through the environment to reach desired destinations, and maintain orientation while moving through environment.
9. Provide intervention and experiences for independent movement in student’s daily environment.

 
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.
 
Onslow County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities.

EOE