Agency
Dept of Health and Human Services
Division
Blind Services
Job Classification Title
Vision Rehabilitation Specialist (NS)
Position Number
60043097
Grade
NC09
About Us
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.
Description of Work
The Orientation and Mobility Specialist provides individualized assessment and instruction to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind to support independent living, community participation, and employment goals. The position evaluates consumer needs, functional abilities, and readiness for travel training and develops individualized instruction plans based on assessment findings.
Work includes teaching orientation and mobility techniques, recommending appropriate resources, and coordinating referrals when additional services are needed. Services are delivered in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments and are designed to increase safe, independent travel and navigation skills. The position requires extensive direct client interaction and frequent travel within diverse community settings.
Key Duties Include:
– Conducting comprehensive orientation and mobility assessments to evaluate consumer needs, goals, readiness, motivation, and functional travel skills.
– Assessing consumers’ understanding of spatial awareness, directional concepts, environmental navigation, and independent travel techniques.
– Developing individualized training plans based on assessment results, visual functioning, physical condition, and identified barriers to independent mobility.
– Providing one-on-one instruction in orientation and mobility techniques, including sensory development, concept development, pre-cane skills, sighted-guide techniques, and cane travel methods.
– Teaching route planning, street crossings, soliciting assistance, public transportation use, and travel strategies for a variety of home, community, and workplace environments.
– Instructing consumers in the use of residual vision, low-vision devices, electronic travel aids, and other techniques that support safe and independent travel.
– Evaluating previous orientation and mobility training, current travel skills, and individual goals to determine appropriate instructional approaches and service recommendations.
– Identifying locomotor, auditory, visual, cognitive, or other physical factors affecting mobility and coordinating referrals to appropriate specialists and service providers.
– Documenting assessment findings, training activities, consumer progress, and recommendations in accordance with program requirements and professional standards.
– Delivering services in diverse settings, including homes, schools, businesses, community locations, retail environments, and outdoor travel routes under varying environmental conditions.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences
Salary Grade Range: $41,206.00 - $72,113.00
Recruitment Range: $41,206.00 - $71,119.00
Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.
The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred :
Documented experience applying orientation and mobility theories, techniques, and instructional methodologies to address the functional impact of visual impairments and support independent travel outcomes for consumers.
Proficiency providing orientation and mobility instruction to consumers across multiple age groups, including adapting training approaches,…