Orientation and Mobility Specialist

• Work Location: **Special Education
• Work Calendar: **185 Day (reflects full year)
• FTE: **0.50 (approx 20 hrs per week)
• FLSA Status: **Exempt
• Salary: Certified Schedule #19
  
  

Benefits: **Eligible

• Priority Screen Date: **Close of business on October 19, 2025
• Anticipated Start Date: **November 2025
  
  

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Job Summary

*The job of Orientation and Mobility Specialist provides 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 Salt Lake City School District. Participates in the multi-disciplinary team process and individual educational programming activities for students where relevant.*

• This job reports directly to the Director of Special Education.
  
  

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university in a related field.
• Be a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist by possessing one of the following certificates:
• 1. Valid Orientation and Mobility Specialist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) **OR**
• Valid National Orientation Mobility certificate (NOMC) issued by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board
• The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and clear a criminal background check.
• Professional communication skills including, but not limited to: excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; confident, articulate, and professional speaking abilities; and empathic listening and persuasive speaking skills.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited college/university in a related field.
• Valid Utah Professional or Associate SPED Teaching License or a Special Education Teacher license from another state that is transferrable to Utah.
• Knowlege of:
• 1. Federal, state and local mandates governing the implementation of special education programs including 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 including effective behavior management skills and training techniques
• 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
• How to plan and conduct orientation and mobility assessments and programs including basic principles of learning theories and their implications for orientation and mobility training
• Experience working with a population characterized by culturally and linguistically diverse students.
• Demonstrated ability to organize tasks and competing demands.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Spanish Speaker: speaks, reads, writes and understands spoken Spanish.
• ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPO
  
  

NSIBILITIES:**

• Participates in the diagnostic and Individualized Education Program (IEP) process for all students suspected of being visually impaired; evaluates students in the areas of orientation and mobility.
• Provides training and direct instruction in orientation and mobility techniques and in the use of orientation and mobility materials and devices including visual efficiency skills, utilization of residual vision, concept and sensory development, s atial orientation, familiarization to environments, and utilization of tactile, visual and auditory maps.
• Trains students on the necessary skills, which enable them to navigate familiar and unfamiliar environments, including retail stores, offices, and public transportation; trains students on self-advocacy and how to handle emergencies.
• Collaborates with teachers and assists in the development and implementation of the IEP as it relates to orientation and mobility services; works with teachers of the visually impaired to conduct functional vision assessments as it relates to independent travel.
• Develops long-term and short-term goals for each student; monitors student progress and adjusts goals as needed; maintains records of evaluations on student progress.
• Works with administrators, teachers, and other educational staff to support the implementation of students' IEPs; collaborates with teachers and other school personnel to develop and implement strategies for students receiving orientation and mobility services.
• Serves as a resource person to special education teachers and other professional/paraprofessional staff members engaged in the delivery of programs and services to visually impaired students.
• Keeps abreast of new developments and techniques in orientation and mobility.
• **Plan and Prepare Instruction**
• 1. Provide effective orientation and mobility training including 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.
• Use assistive technology with students with visual impairments
• Appropriately and correctly model orientation and mobility techniques for students, parents, teachers, and other school staff
• **Establishes a Climate Conducive to Learning**
• 1. Collaborates with students to establish a positive learning climate of openness, respectful interactions, support and inquiry
• Utilizes positive classroom management strategies, including resources of time, space and attention effectively
• **Provides Effective Instruction**
• 1. Designs, implements orientation, and mobility instruction based on assessment and observation of students; collect and maintain data to document and evaluate progress
• Assess the effectiveness of activities
• Practices a range of developmentally and culturally appropriate instructional strategies that engage and meet the nees of learners
• Uses a variety of available and appropriate technology and resources to support learning
• **Monitors Student Learning**
• 1. Document progress and relate it to students' goals and objectives
• Maintain accurate records
• **Invest in Teaching Profession**
• 1. Collaborates with families, colleagues and other professional to promote student growth and development.
• Adapts and improves practice based on reflection and new learning.
• Engages in learning experiences to enhance self and support others.
• Participates actively in decision-making processes while building a sh
  
  

ared culture that affects the school and larger educational community.

• Advocates for the learner, the school, the community and the profession.
• Is responsible for compliance with federal and state laws, State Board of Education administrative rules, state assessment polices, Salt Lake City School District board policies and supervisory directives.
• Is responsible for compliance with all requirements of State Board of Education Rule R277-530 Utah Effective Educator Standards at all levels to teacher development
• Is responsible for compliance with all requirements of State Board of Education Ru