JOB TITLE: VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST

JOB CODE: 44210

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Vision Rehabilitation job series describes work in providing rehabilitation therapy for persons who are blind or visually impaired to enhance their vocational opportunities, independent living, and educational development.

DEFINITION: This is specialized professional work in providing rehabilitation therapy to persons who are blind or visually impaired.

An employee in this job teaches children, adults, and independent older persons who are blind or visually impaired in their homes, work sites, and other community settings. Work involves helping the individual to achieve a better personal and social adjustment to blindness by assisting in the habilitation and rehabilitation process through instruction in the adaptive and coping skills necessary to meet the demands of daily living or for engaging in a gainful occupation. An employee is expected to exercise sound judgment in evaluating individual potential for rehabilitation and for planning and coordinating implementation of instructional programs to meet individual needs. This work may include providing guidance and training to practicum interns. Employees also qualified in orientation and mobility may provide orientation and mobility services to customers. Work is performed independently under the direction of a professional supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, case records, and reports to determine suitability of plans and instruction and for overall performance.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):

• Conducts thorough evaluations of the physical and intellectual conditions of child, adult, and independent living older customers who are blind or visually impaired as they relate to vision rehabilitation therapy, social situations, attitudes and personality traits, and potential for benefiting from proposed services.

• Assesses the development of infants and toddlers for the purpose of designing infant stimulation programs and functional vision utilization programs that can be implemented as an aid to the development of the child.

• Develops individualized plans of instruction for child, adult, and independent living older customers who are blind or visually impaired.

• Provides group or individual therapeutically oriented instruction and related counseling to persons who are blind or visually impaired in such areas as personal management and techniques of daily living; functional vision utilization; home management, including food preparation, housekeeping, and household mechanics; communication skills; and orientation, pre-cane, and safety techniques within the immediate environment.

• Teaches communication skills including braille reading and writing, keyboarding, and assistive technology.

• Counsels and trains family members during and after the adjustment to blindness period.

• Makes recommendations for the procurement of adaptive aids and appliances for child, adult, and independent living older customers who are blind or visually impaired.

• Provides training to child, adult, and independent living older customers who are blind or visually impaired in the use of adaptive aids and appliances.

• Consults with and trains staff of community facilities and programs where persons who are blind or visually impaired reside, work, recreate, or receive services.

• Consults with vocational rehabilitation and casework personnel on customer services.

• Participates actively with community agencies to facilitate public relations and ensure the utilization of all available customer resources.

• Participates in developing new courses of instruction and evaluates existing methods and techniques of teaching.

• Reports needs for special services to appropriate resources.

• Prepares case records on services provided to individuals and groups and compiles reports and statistics on teaching activities.

• Develops, prepares, and outlines an orientation and mobility program designed to teach child, adult, and independent living older customers who are blind or visually impaired to travel within and around their homes.

• Directly instructs child, adult, and independent living older customers who are blind or visually impaired in the development of human guide techniques and pre-cane skills.

• Provides counseling and guidance related to orientation and mobility designed to assist the customer in personal adjustment to blindness.

• Manages caseloads involving services provided to child, adult, and independent living older customers who are blind or visually impaired, which may include caseloads involving customers with additional disabilities.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques of teaching adaptive and coping skills to children and adults who are blind or visually impaired and their families.

• Knowledge of educational, social, and health problems affecting persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Knowledge of individual and group behavior, with special emphasis on persons who are blind or visually impaired individuals.

• Knowledge of eye pathology and visual functioning and their implications for instruction and social adjustment.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of casework and vocational rehabilitation.

• Knowledge of the availability and use of special materials, accessible formats, and equipment for teaching persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Knowledge of disabling conditions other than blindness that may affect the functioning of persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Knowledge of technological assistive devices used in the adaptation and rehabilitation of persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in training persons who are blind or visually impaired in the use of technological assistive devices.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used to instruct blind or visually impaired individuals in personal management, daily living, functional vision utilization, home management, and braille and communication skills.

• Knowledge of desktop computer software, such as word processing and email.

• Skill in reading and writing braille.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• Successful completion of the commonwealth’s Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern program;

or

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree or certificate from an approved college or university program in rehabilitation teaching of the blind or visually impaired, vision rehabilitation therapy, teacher of the visually impaired, or education with a concentration in visual impairment, that includes a practicum;

or

• Possession of an active Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist certificate issued by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).