SY26-27 Orientation and Mobility

Title: Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Nature of Position:

This position is responsible for that part of the educational process that prepares the blind student to travel independently in their home, school, and community environments. The O&M specialist provides direct and/or consultative special education services relating to the vision loss to an array of students including infants, students with low vision and/or multiple impairments.

Reports To Title: Program Manager Education

Required

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Preferred:Master’s degree from an accredited college or university     

Experience, Skill and Certification

Certification Required

• AER/Academy certification
• Related experience with school aged children
• Related experience with children with multiple impairments
• Experience working in a team approach to treatment
• Valid drivers’ license, reliable personal transportation, and ability to travel between sites 

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Assessment and Evaluation: Perform orientation and mobility evaluations that focus on long and short-term needs of the student on new referrals and on three-year re-evaluations.

a) Include in the assessment report the needs and strengths of the student and an estimate of the length and frequency of service necessary to meet identified needs.

b) Contribute to other appropriate portions of the Individualized Education Plans (IEP), such as goals and recommendations.

c) Provide consultation and support services to parents, regular and special education teachers, other school personnel, and students' sighted peers.

d) Confer regularly with parents, classroom teachers, physical education teachers, physical therapists, and other school personnel to assist in home and classroom modifications to ensure reinforcement of appropriate O&M skills that will encourage the visually impaired student to travel independently in these settings.

e) Work with the teacher of visually impaired students to conduct the functional vision assessment as it relates to independent travel.

f) Evaluate the student's progress on an ongoing basis and keep progress notes on each student.

2) Appropriate Learning Environments: Instruct students with visual impairments in skills and knowledge that enable them to travel independently based on the IEP.

a) Teach visually impaired students to travel with proficiency, safety, and confidence in familiar and unfamiliar environments

b) Prepare sequential and meaningful instruction geared to the students' assessed needs, IEP/IFSP goals and objectives, functioning level, and motivation level

c) Be responsible for the student's safety during O&M instruction and in other environments while fostering maximum independence during O&M lessons

d) Prepare and use equipment and materials such as tactile maps, models, distance low vision devices, adaptive mobility devices, and long canes for the development of O&M skills

e) Provide orientation of new school buildings and new class schedules to students with visual impairments as needed.

3) Direct Instruction in the Unique Curriculum:

 a) Concept development b) Gross motor skills

 c) Visual efficiency skills (with and without low vision devices)

 d) Pre-cane skills

 e) Cane skills

 f) Map skills

 g) Outdoor

 i) Residential

   ii) Semi-business

   iii) Business.

4) Support Services:

 a) Provide assistance to the students with visual impairments in understanding their attitudes and those of others concerning their visual impairments

 b) Emphasize social integration with peers and provide opportunities for interaction.

5) Administrative/Record Keeping Duties:

a) Submit requests for instructional materials, conferences and reference materials.

b) Be knowledgeable of community-based resources that may be available to the visually impaired student.

c) Provide in-service training to regular and special education personnel, administrative personnel, sighted peers, and parents concerning the O&M needs of the student and appropriate methods for interacting with the visually impaired student so as to foster maximum independence and safety.

d) Participate in parent conferences and meetings as well as teacher staffing regarding the visually impaired student.

e) Maintain adequate records on all assessment, IEPs, and progress reports. f) Prepare and present progress reports to parents.

g) Arrange and prepare paperwork as appropriate and attend all ARDs on students with visual impairments as they relate to O&M.

h) Communicate with specialists in low vision, ophthalmologists, and optometrists concerning exams, and attend exams when appropriate.

6) Liaison Between Community and School:

a) Provide information about the vision and O&M programs to the schools and community.

7) Professional Standards:

a) Maintain a reference library of current professional materials.

b) Acquire information about current research, development, and technology by attending conferences and workshops and by reading journals in the field of visual impairment.

8) Perform other duties as required.

Terms of Employment Incumbents will be considered “at will.” Appropriate pay will be determined based on the Grade as determined by Human Resources and allowable experience. The work calendar will be 190 days. (Market graded at A-3) EXEMPT

revised 08-14 

JOB DESCRIPTION SUPPLEMENT

Title: Orientation and Mobility Specialist Non-Essential Responsibilities A responsibility is considered to be “non-essential” (for the purposes of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act) if:

• it is shared between multiple incumbents in the job; or
• it could be performed by an employee in another job within the workgroup.

Note the responsibility number from the list in the “Duties and Responsibilities” section for those responsibilities that could be considered “non-essential” based on this definition. 

Physical and Sensory Demands

Most jobs in the District have physical and sensory demands that can be described by one of the two categories noted below. For jobs that require more physical or sensory effort, please list the requirements in this section.

Check the box that is applicable for this position and complete any necessary information.

[ ] OFFICE Employees in this category are normally exposed to a typical environment. The employee has some control over the length of time sitting, standing, or ambulating. There are occasions that require the lifting or pulling of equipment or supplies, as well as bending, stooping, or stretching. There is frequent use of computers, telephone, and other standard office equipment, which includes reading, listening, writing, or speaking. There are few exceptional physical or sensory demands.

[ X ] CLASSROOM Employees in this category spend at least most of the workday in a typical classroom or related educational environment. There will be prolonged periods of standing or walking, and there may be frequent bending, stooping, or stretching. There are occasions that require the lifting or pulling of equipment or supplies. Reading, listening, writing, and speaking are requirements. There are few exceptional physical or sensory demands, but there may be occasions that require the lifting or restraint of a student.

EXCEPTIONAL PHYSICAL OR SENSORY DEMANDS

(Check any that apply to this job and complete the required information.)

[ ] Heavy lifting of up to ______ pounds

[ ] Frequent climbing up to _______ feet, and/or working on building roofs.

[ ] Exposure to heavy dust, dirt, chemical or paint fumes, or other airborne matter.

[ ] Exposure to extreme heat, electric current, hazardous chemicals or other potential hazards.

[ ] Sitting or standing for extended periods with no control over rest periods.

[X] Other: Incumbents must have valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation due to frequent travel between school locations.

Salary : $97,115 - $168,429