JOB TITLE: VISION REHABILITATION THERAPIST INTERN

JOB CODE: 44215

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 a structured training program performing entry-level specialized professional work in vision rehabilitation therapy for persons who are blind or visually impaired.

An employee in this job is enrolled in the final semester of a bachelor’s or master’s degree program or certificate program in rehabilitation teaching, vision rehabilitation therapy, teacher of the visually impaired, or education with a concentration in visual impairment. Work involves participating in a highly structured internship involving formal and on-the-job training designed to provide practical work experience in rehabilitation therapy for blind or visually impaired children and adults. The internship enables employees to acquire working skills; knowledge of federal laws and regulations and state policy and procedures; and experience in teaching adaptive and coping skills to persons who are blind or visually impaired. Supervision is provided by a professional supervisor in conjunction with a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist who directs training, gives preliminary instructions, provides close guidance, and closely monitors and evaluates the provision of therapy services in progress. Upon successful completion of the internship and the degree or certificate program, interns will be eligible for promotion as a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.

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.

• Learns caseload management techniques for services provided to child, adult, and independent living older customers who are blind or visually impaired.

• 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.

• 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):

• Current enrollment in the final year of an accredited college or university bachelor’s or master’s degree or certificate 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.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• Authorization by the college or university for the student to participate in the commonwealth’s Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Intern program. Upon entering the internship, the student must be enrolled in the final semester of the appropriate degree or certificate program.