University of Arkansas at Little Rock

TRANSITION SPECIALIST

LIGHTHOUSE OF THE BIG BEND JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Transition Specialist
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Assistant Director

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BASIC FUNCTION: Provides instruction to high school students who are blind and visually impaired. Provides instruction in adaptive travel skills, personal and home management, communications, social services, recreation/leisure, and vocational skills. The primary goal of this position is to provide the highest quality instructional services possible to transition-age students who are blind or visually impaired. Curriculum includes but is not limited to the following: Independent Living Services, Vocational Services, Braille, Keyboarding and Computer Technology Training, and Orientation and Mobility Services.

WORK DIRECTION: Works under the direction of the Senior Transition Specialist

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct comprehensive functional assessments to identify immediate and long term goals;
• Develop, with clients, individualized service plans;
• Provide center-based, outreach and itinerant instructional services appropriate to the assessed needs and goals of the client;
• Travel within the eleven county area served by the Lighthouse to provide services to students who are blind in their school, home, work, or group setting as required;
• Teach a variety of experiential classes during the daily Summer Transition Program, (June – August) both at the facility and off-site as required;
• Coordinate the implementation of service plans and curriculum;
• Prepare and follow lesson plans;
• Facilitate the individual’s and family’s psychosocial adjustment to blindness;
• Participate in any Transition Services team meetings with other providers including the school systems in each county to ensure the comprehensive delivery of services;
• Communicate with other instructors, supervisors, and staff regarding client progress and provide written documentation as requested;
• Assist in the development of the Transition curriculum;
• Prepare correspondence, reports, and other required case management information that are clear, concise, behavioral, objective, measurable, and reflect functional outcomes related to instructional process;
• Identify and acquire instructional materials necessary to support the Transition curriculum;
• Participate in available continuing education and staff development opportunities;
• Promote community education and awareness through public speaking, community committees, and consultations;
• Contribute to continuous programmatic quality improvement by innovating and/or seeking opportunities to promote professional growth;
• Participate in agency activities and events as appropriate and necessary;
• Adhere to the “Rehabilitation Teaching Code of Ethics” which is included in the Lighthouse’s Personnel Policy;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

POSITON REQUIREMENTS:

• Required relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Visual Disabilities or in related field (e.g. Special Education, Education, Occupational Therapy, etc.);
• Prefer certification as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, and/or eligible for certification;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required;
• Computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, e-mail and Internet required;
• Prefer expertise with assistive technology such as screen magnifiers, screen readers, note taking devices, Braille translation software, refreshable Braille displays, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

EARLY INTERVENTION /ORIENTATION & MOBILITY SPECIALIST

Lighthouse of the Big Bend Job Description

TITLE: Early Intervention/Orientation & Mobility Specialist
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Senior Early Intervention Specialist

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BASIC FUNCTION: Provides approximately 25 hours/week early childhood intervention services, working with families of children from newborn to age 5 who are blind or visually impaired; provides approximately 15 hours per week orientation and mobility services to transition and college students. Services are primarily provided in the home and at schools in the eleven counties of the Big Bend.

WORK DIRECTION: Works under the direction of the Senior Early Intervention Specialist.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Travel within the eleven county area served by the Lighthouse to provide services to children age 0-5, and students age 14 and up who are blind in their home, school, or group setting as required;
• Conduct assessments to establish, in consultation with parent(s) or guardian, an individual service plan including immediate and long term goals;
• Provide home, community and center-based instruction as appropriate to the needs of the child or student;
• Prepare and follow curriculum and lesson plans;
• Collaborate with other community agencies as a member of the child’s and family’s IFSP team in accordance with the Early Steps Program (Part C) and with local school districts as a member of the child’s IEP team (Part B);
• Facilitate the client and family’s psychosocial adjustment to blindness or visual impairment;
• Complete required reports to document client’s progress, including evaluations, goals, and daily and monthly progress reports;
• Prepare correspondence, reports, and other required case management information that are clear, concise, behavioral, objective, measurable, and reflect functional outcomes related to instructional process;
• Identify and acquire instructional materials necessary to support the Early Intervention or Orientation & Mobility curriculum;
• Participate in available continuing education and staff development opportunities;
• Contribute to continuous programmatic quality improvement by innovating and/or seeking opportunities to promote professional growth;
• Participate in agency activities and events as appropriate and necessary;
• Adhere to the “Rehabilitation Teaching Code of Ethics” which is included in the Lighthouse’s Personnel Policy;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

POSITON REQUIREMENTS:

• Relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, preferable in Visual Disabilities as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired or related field;
• Certification in Orientation & Mobility instruction, and/or eligible for certification;
• VIISA and INSIGHT certification (must obtain if not certified);
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required;
• Computer skills including word processing, Access database, e-mail and Internet required.