[nfbmi-talk] Job Opportunity

[Terry D. Eagle]

Rehabilitation of the Blind Specialist I

 Recruitment #140923-K23A-01

 Department  Department of Rehabilitation Services

 County Location  Oklahoma OK

 Date Opened  9/23/2014 8:00:00 AM

 Filing Deadline  10/13/2014 11:59:00 PM

 Salary  $2,428.03 - $4,451.39/month

 Full or Part Time  Full-Time

Introduction

Position is located at VS #73 - OKC.

 Position may be filled at a higher level.

Essential Functions:  Rehabilitation of the Blind Specialist - Orientation &
Mobility

(O&M) specific. Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities
specifically

related to providing counseling and individualized instruction to persons
who are

blind or visually impaired in facilitating solutions to the challenges of
being able

to safely travel about in their everyday environment and in dealing with
problems

created by their blindness, promoting confidence and the self-esteem of the
individual

customer. A key duty will be raising the awareness of clients to the
opportunities

and options which mastery of O&M skills can develop. The Orientation and
Mobility

instructor provides assessment and instruction with their customers in
navigating

their home, community, school, and work type environments, and shall cover
topics

such as proper cane travel techniques, and instruction to facilitate
self-problem

solving, sighted guide, and guide dog use, and strategies to address
potentially

dangerous situations. The person in this position will also consult with
other rehabilitation

professionals throughout the vocational rehabilitation process to insure
high quality

career and independent living outcomes for their customers. Communications
between

the O&M instructor and the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor must be
ongoing. The

O&M instructor must have a good working knowledge of specialized residential
training

centers in order to provide accurate information so their customers are able
to make

informed choices and decisions should concentrated, in-depth training in
mastering

blindness skills be called for. The O&M instructor must also be willing to
do community

outreach, educating outside entities about blindness, and the wide variety
of possibilities

for the success of people who are blind. Applicant must be willing to
perform all

job related travel.  Probationary period (or trial period if applicable) is
required.

Background Check: The Department of Rehabilitation Services will conduct a
criminal

background check on new hires as part of an offer of employment that is made
contingent

upon a successful criminal background check.

 Education and Experience Requirements: Level I - requirements at this level
consist

of a Bachelor's degree in orientation and mobility, rehabilitation teaching
or a

bachelor's degree and one year of experience in a disability related field.
Level

II - requirements at this level consist of those indicated in Level I plus
two years

of experience in rehabilitation teaching or orientation and mobility.  All
applicants

at this level must be eligible to sit for certification for either Vision
Rehabilitation

Therapist or Orientation and Mobility Specialist through the Academy for
Certification

of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).

STATE EMPLOYEE INFORMATION

Current State of Oklahoma employees with permanent status in the classified
service,

or those having reinstatement rights; Submit one (1) complete set of all of
the following

application materials:  A cover letter that contains the Job Announcement
Number,

Job Title and Job Code of the position for which you are applying, a
telephone number

where you can be reached during office hours, your home mailing address,
your e-mail

address, your current classification and job code and a completed Office of
Personnel

Management Personal Data Summary Sheet (HCM-4B).  DRS' requires applicants
to provide

copies of performance evaluations at the interview process.

Send HCM 4B and Cover letter to:

 Department of Rehabilitation Services

 Attn:  Human Resources Unit

 3535 NW 58th Street, Suite 500

 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112

 Fax: (405) 951-3543

If you have any questions regarding this position or the application
process, contact

Calvin Small at (405) 951-3527.

BASIC PURPOSE

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities for performing
complex

professional work which involves working in partnership with individuals who
are

blind or severely visually impaired who may have multiple secondary
disabilities

in their homes, communities and work environments, by providing instruction
in alternative

techniques for independent living and by providing in-depth counseling to
consumers

and their families in addressing challenges created by their blindness.
Assistance

is provided to consumers in obtaining information needed to make informed
choices,

which provides access to services that increase opportunities to live
independently,

increasing opportunities for employment. Assigned responsibilities include a
comprehensive

assessment of the consumers' current level of independence in daily living,
communication,

orientation and mobility (ability to travel safely in their environment),
and job

readiness skills, and developing a comprehensive rehabilitation/independent
living

plan.

LEVEL DESCRIPTORS

This job family consists of four levels which are distinguished by the level
of complexity

and diversity of the specific job assignments, the level of expertise
required for

the completion of duties assigned and the responsibility assigned for
assisting in

the training and supervision of others.

Level I:

 This is the basic level where employees are assigned responsibilities for
performing

entry-level work, in a training status, under direct supervision.  Direct
supervision

includes, but is not limited to, supervisor's signature authority on
approval on

eligibility decisions, individual plans (IPE/IRP) and amendments,
authorizations

for services, evaluations and case closure.  In this role employees will be
responsible

for maintaining a caseload and providing services, instruction and
counseling in

such areas as Braille reading and writing at the level of Grade One, daily
living

skills, orientation and mobility skills, or independent living skills to
persons

who are blind or severely visually impaired who may have multiple secondary
disabilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Level I:

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a Bachelor's
degree

in orientation and mobility, rehabilitation teaching or a bachelor's degree
and one

year of experience in a disability related field.

Selection Plan

Scores based on:

  100% Evaluation of Education and Experience listed on supplemental
questionnaire.

***NOTE:  Names of eligible applicants can be made available to State
agencies upon

their request, immediately following the closing date and time.