Blind Rehabilitation Specialist- Living Skills Specialist

Summary

The Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation (VISOR) Program provides comprehensive, individualized patient instructional programs designed to increase independence and improve the quality of life for veterans and active-duty service members who have a visual impairment. The program offers adaptive training in low vision living skills, communications, leisure and manual skills, computer access, technology, and orientation and mobility to help them manage life with vision loss.

Duties

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), VA Medical Center Richmond, VA, Surgical Service, Ophthalmology Section, and VISOR Section (Advanced Outpatient Blind Rehabilitation.) The incumbent is a Living Skills (LS) Specialist in the VISOR Program, which serves both Medical Center patients and patients referred from the Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN). Major duties include, but not limited to: The incumbent is responsible for functioning as a full member of the Rehabilitation Team that includes Optometry, Ophthalmology, Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinators (VIST), Vision and Blind Rehabilitation Specialists, Audiology, Social Work, Rehabilitation Medicine Service (i.e. OT/PT/KT) and other related disciplines. The team is responsible for the total rehabilitation process of assigned patients. This includes acting as the Lead Therapist on assigned cases, evaluating patient needs, counseling, developing a plan of care, as well as individualized living skills treatment goals, implementing the plan, and recommending prosthetic issuance. The incumbent also evaluates new technology, provides and receives cross training instruction for other Blind Rehabilitation Specialists in low vision and blindness, and develops instructional material that can be utilized by any member of the team. Evaluates the patient's level of living skills: instruct techniques of reading and writing basic and advanced braille, script writing, and typing (both manual and electronic), instruct written communications, financial management including the use of talking calculators, abacus and braille mathematics code, adaptive listening and recording techniques, instruct all aspects of activities of daily living (including organization and time management, housekeeping, personal grooming, food preparation and kitchen management) and coordinate and instruct leisure time activities. The incumbent must keep abreast of the latest technology and instruction related to the living skills curricula. The Living Skills Instructor will also recommend appropriate prosthetic devices to be issued in accordance with national and local VHA standards and guidelines. Directly involved in deciding and justifying whether to issue or withhold issuance of prosthetic equipment. When participating in approved research activities, the incumbent is responsible for following all applicable research compliance and assurance policies and in contributing to the production of research results of high integrity. Interpreting documentation on assigned patients prior to scheduling assessment. Interpreting evaluations, assessments, medical, and other appropriate professional documentation on an on-going basis during the patient's rehabilitation program Assisting in the evaluation of new devices and techniques for inclusion into the team curriculum, helping to evaluate new aids and prosthetic devices relevant to living skills, and collaborating with research when requested. Keeping abreast of current literature, instructing strategies and technological advances specific to living skills, dual sensory loss, and sharing this information with other staff. Preparing, presenting and demonstrating living skills aids and treatment techniques to clinical trainees, patient family members/caregivers, VA personnel, community agency representatives, and others as appropriate. Serving as an integral member of a multi­disciplinary team for all patients assigned to the team . Performing other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Candidates will not be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who are not proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education:. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major field of study in blind or vision rehabilitation, closely related program in rehabilitation, special education for the visually impaired, family and consumer science education, or technology and industrial arts education. OR A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (without a major field of study as outlined in (1)(a) above) that included, or was supplemented by, at least one of the following: At least 30 semester hours of directly related, upper-level undergraduate courses (e.g., at least 200-course level or higher, or as identified by the college or university). One full year of directly related graduate level coursework (typically at least 15 -18 semester hours). A certificate from an accredited college or university in the core curriculum in orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation therapy, assistive technology for blind and visually impaired individuals, or low vision therapy and a directly related practicum/internship in the occupation, either included in the degree or post-degree. Foreign Graduates must have proof of a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in blind rehabilitation. Certification: (1) For GS-11 grade level and above. Applicants must possess at least one active, current, full, and unrestricted certification to be eligible for appointment. Certification must be granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), or another equivalent, closely related professional credential in special education or rehabilitation. NOTE: The ACVREP administers four certification programs: Low Vision Therapy, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Instruction and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. They may then use the designation for the certification they hold as listed in subparagraph below: (2) BRS who provide the following service must obtain certification granted by ACVREPas follows: (a) Orientation and mobility training - Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists COMS. (b) Communication and daily living therapy - Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists CVRT. (c) Low vision therapy - Certified Low Vision Therapists CLVT. (d) Assistive technology - Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist CATIS. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS), GS-11: (NOTE: Full performance level for BRS who are not VIST Coordinators.) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade. OR, Education.